Emmys introduce legacy award to honor TV shows with lasting cultural impact

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Television Academy is expanding the Emmy Awards with the introduction of a major new honor: the Legacy Award.

Announced on January 8, 2026, the accolade is designed to recognize television programs that have made a “profound and lasting impact” on audiences while continuing to influence culture, society, and the industry itself.

According to the Academy, eligibility requirements are intentionally rigorous. To qualify, a show must have produced at least 60 episodes across a minimum of five seasons. Beyond longevity, contenders must demonstrate sustained relevance or influence, whether through shaping a genre, inspiring new audiences, or leaving a measurable mark on popular culture. Franchise properties will be evaluated collectively rather than as individual installments, and a series may only receive the Legacy Award once.

Both concluded and ongoing series are eligible. Classic programs that are no longer on the air but remain culturally significant can be considered alongside long-running hits still in production. Shows nearing their final seasons may also qualify, provided they meet the criteria for impact and episode count.

Nominations for the Legacy Award can be submitted by members of the Television Academy’s Board of Governors or its Special Awards Committee. Additionally, members of the entertainment industry—and even the general public—may put forward candidates through formal letters to the Academy. Final recipients will be selected annually by the committee overseeing special honors.

The award will take the form of an engraved Emmy statuette. Depending on the year, it may be presented during the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Creative Arts Emmys, the Academy’s Televerse festival, or its Hall of Fame ceremony. The Television Academy says the Legacy Award aims to formally celebrate the shows that defined television history and continue to resonate long after their debut.