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National Academy Announces 2021 Emmy® Awards Timetable

2021

December 1, 2020

To Our Emmy® Community —

We at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences stand in awe of and gratitude for your resilience in the face of what has been — and continues to be — one of the most challenging times in the history of the television industry. This awful pandemic has taken from us cherished friends and loved ones, left many more without meaningful income, and forever transformed how we think about our workplaces and public gatherings.

Like many of you, we hunger for a return to some semblance of normalcy. The latest news on multiple vaccines nearing approval is promising. For NATAS, it is an encouraging sign that the ultimate “normal” — a return to in-person ceremonies — may be on the horizon. 

The current timetables articulated by manufacturers project mass availability of vaccinations for the entire U.S. population by mid-summer 2021, potentially permitting a return to more traditional in-person ceremonies later in the fall. However, we have determined that delaying our 2021 events to possibly allow for a compressed calendar of in-person Emmy® ceremonies late in the year would result in unacceptable delays to our awards cycle for 2022.

Instead, we have decided to remain “virtual” in the format of our ceremonies for 2021 while relying on a substantially pre-COVID awards calendar. In so doing, we believe we will be best-positioned to return to a full, on-time, traditional schedule of in-person ceremonies in 2022.

Accordingly, with all dates subject to change, the highlights of the year ahead are:

42ND ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS
Call for Entries:
TOMORROW, December 2, 2020
Final Entry Deadline: Monday, February 15, 2021
Nominations Announced: End of April 2021
Virtual Ceremony: Tuesday, June 8, 2021

48TH ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS
Call for Entries:
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Final Entry Deadline: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Nominations Announced: May/June 2021
Virtual Ceremonies: June/July 2021
(Considering two- and three-night formats, across any combination
of currently-considered dates: F 6/25/21, Sa 7/17/21, Su 7/18/21.)

42ND ANNUAL NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY® AWARDS
Call for Entries:
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Final Entry Deadline: Thursday, April 8, 2021
Nominations Announced: End of July 2021
Virtual Ceremonies:
Tuesday, September 21, 2021 (News Categories)
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 (Documentary Categories)

72ND ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING EMMY® AWARDS
Recipients Announced: January 2021
Virtual Ceremony: Recognition throughout the year,
with a special program during the NAB Show
Sunday, October 10, 2021

Stay tuned for more details regarding specific competitions, including full rules and category descriptions, early deadlines, entry fees, and other information.

Despite being born of unintended necessity, our 2020 ceremonies proved to be among our best. We hope to build on this creative success in making the 2021 virtual gatherings even more inclusive and engaging celebrations of excellence. Looking ahead to 2022, we’ve already started booking venues and can’t wait to welcome you back in person!

Thank you for all your ongoing support of the Emmy® Awards and for the continuity and comfort you provide our shared television audience in this challenging time. Stay safe, take care, and keep up the excellent work.

Best wishes,

Adam Sharp
President & CEO
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Inc.