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Apple TV emerged as the most successful studio at the 2026 Emmy Awards, taking home 28 trophies and finishing ahead of HBO Max, Netflix and Amazon. The result marks the first time Apple reached the top of the Emmy tally.
Apple’s wins included six for ‘Pluribus’, three for ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’, three for ‘Palm Royale’, one for ‘Slow Horses’, and one for ‘Mr. Scorsese.’ HBO Max finished second with 21 Emmys.
Apple TV is increasingly drawing comparisons with HBO, with some analysts even calling the streaming service ‘the new HBO’. Following the awards ceremony, HBO boss Casey Bloys was asked about Apple’s performance and its first-time finish as the No. 1 platform at the Emmys.
Speaking to Deadline during HBO Max’s afterparty at the San Vicente Bungalows, Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, acknowledged Apple as a strong competitor. “Well, I’m very very happy because I think that they’re very handsome competitors, Zack and Jamie,” Bloys said.
He pointed to HBO’s long history of competition with major entertainment companies, naming Showtime, FX, AMC, Netflix and Amazon among others. “Look, we’ve had formidable competitors in going back to Showtime, FX, AMC, Netflix, Amazon, so (when) Apple, everybody, keeps us on our toes, I think we do our best work,” he said.
Bloys also acknowledged the scale of Apple’s business, adding, “It’s a little scary that they’re a trillion-dollar company, but we’ll continue to do what we do, which is put out the best shows that we can.”
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Apple’s Emmy performance comes as HBO continues its long association with television’s biggest awards. HBO's first entry into the Emmys was in 1988, and it went on to become a dominant force, initially competing with broadcast networks before facing basic and premium cable networks and, more recently, streaming platforms.
In 2026, HBO shared the No. 1 position with Netflix for the most Emmy wins. This year, however, Apple TV finished ahead with 28 wins, while HBO collected 21.
HBO won Outstanding Drama Series for ‘The Pitt’ and ‘Outstanding Limited’ or Anthology Series for DTF St. Louis. Netflix finished third with 16 wins, with awards going to shows including ‘Beef,’ ‘Love on the Spectrum,’ ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘The Beast in Me.’
Former Apple CEO Tim Cook also congratulated Apple TV’s creators, cast and crews following the ceremony, praising the work recognized for ‘Widow’s Bay,’ ‘Pluribus,’ ‘Slow Horses,’ ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles,’ ‘Palm Royale’ and ‘Mr. Scorsese.’
