After weeks of speculation, the Television Academy has adjusted the Emmy Awards season schedule, making allowances for the unprecedented challenges that have arisen during the ongoing public health crisis, while also cleaving to the previously established calendar.
Despite postponements and cancellations across the country (and world) due to the threat from coronavirus (COVID-19) have made headlines, the official Emmy schedule for submissions, judging and voting had gone largely unchanged until the Academy’s announcement on March 27. Previously, the organization had modified restrictions involving For Your Consideration panels, mandating that all events be held via livestream or pre-recorded video without an audience, the better to practice social distancing. Now, the awards body has suspended the FYC season as a whole.
The most significant alteration of the Emmy Awards schedule is an extension of the entry deadline for eligible entries, shifting the date from May 11, as originally scheduled, to June 5. The start of nomination voting originally slated for June 29 will now start on July 2 and feature a shortened election period, closing 11 days later on July 13.
From there, the Academy continued to compress the schedule, cutting the period between the announcement of nominations and the start of final voting from more than a month to just over three weeks, allowing the calendar to completely realign, with the close of final round voting still being held on August 31.
As for now, the TV Academy has stated that both the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 12 and 13, as well as the Primetime Emmy Awards on September 20 will proceed as scheduled.
The organization did note, however, that it was continuing to monitor the national and statewide directives and mandates spurred by the pandemic and would abide by recommendations made by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the L.A. County Department of Public Health.
June 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020
Eligibility period for Emmy submissions
Friday, June 5
Entry deadline for all entries presented between 6 p.m. – 2 a.m. June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020, including hanging episodes.
Friday, June 5
Upload deadline for entry materials
Thursday, July 2
Nomination voting begins
Monday, July 13
Nomination voting concludes
Tuesday, July 28
Nominations for the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards announced
Tuesday, August 11
Deadline for nomination errors and omissions
Friday, August 14
Final round of videos available for viewing
Friday, August 21
Final voting begins
Monday, August 31
Final voting concludes
Monday, September 14
Creative Arts Emmys: Virtual Telecast airing via Emmys.com (Reality and Nonfiction categories)
Tuesday, September 15
Creative Arts Emmys: Virtual Telecast airing via Emmys.com (Variety categories)
Wednesday, September 16
Creative Arts Emmys: Virtual Telecast airing via Emmys.com (Scripted categories, Night No. 1)
Thursday, September 17
Creative Arts Emmys: Virtual Telecast airing via Emmys.com (Scripted categories, Night No. 2)
Saturday, September 19
Creative Arts Emmys: Virtual Telecast airing via FXX (“an eclectic mix of awards across all genres”)
Sunday, September 20
ABC Telecast of the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards
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