Your 2026 Daytime Emmy Lead Actress Nominees

The complete list is coming out tomorrow, but the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced two more categories for the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmys. Read on to find the names of the nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Talk Show.

And the Daytime Emmy Goes To

The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmys | Image: NATAS

Entertainment Tonight announced the names of the five actresses who are nominated in the category of Outstanding Lead Performer in a Drama Series - Actress. They are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera, Days of our Lives), Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree, Beyond the Gates), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless), Heather Tom (Katie Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful), and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree, BTG).

In 2025, Kristen DiMera shifted into protective mama bear mode to protect her daughter, Rachel (then, Alice Halsey), who had shot her uncle EJ (Dan Feuerriegel). Dani dealt with the split from her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett), Phyllis battled nearly all of Genoa City to take control of Newman Enterprises, and she toasted her bitter rival, Christine (Lauralee Bell), who remarried Phyllis's ex-husband, Danny (Michael Damian).

Katie also went into protective mama mode, keeping her son, Will (Crew Morrow), safe from Luna (Lisa Yamada). Also, Anita Dupree faced mortality after discovering she had breast cancer.

Last year's winner in this category was Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, General Hospital). Haiduk has been nominated in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in the past. Tom and Stafford have won, respectively, six and three awards in various acting categories. This is the first nomination for Mosley and Tunie.

Previously, Tunie played Jessica Griffin on ATWT, and Mosley played Maya on B&B.

Outstanding Talk Show

Another category that's been announced is Outstanding Talk Show. Here are the nominees in the category: 3rd Hour of Today, NBC; The Drew Barrymore Show, CBS Media Ventures; The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios; Live with Kelly and Mark, Disney Entertainment Distribution; Today with Jenna & Friends, NBC, and The View, ABC.

The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out on Friday, October 30.