Daytime Emmy Awards 2025: Complete Nominee List, Historic Firsts & Biggest Snubs Unveiled

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has unveiled the first wave of 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards nominees, setting the stage for the 52nd annual ceremony on October 17 in Pasadena. Below is a breakdown of the newly announced contenders, early trends, and what they signal for daytime television this year. Key Highlights • General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, and Days of Our Lives are the only three series competing for Outstanding Daytime Drama, a rare trim field that underscores ongoing contraction in the soap genre. • The Kelly Clarkson Show seeks a repeat victory in Outstanding Daytime Talk Series but faces fresh competition from The Jennifer Hudson Show and Live with Kelly and Mark. • NATAS introduced the new Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category after retiring Younger Performer, reflecting an industry shift toward recognizing breakout adult actors. Outstanding Daytime Drama Series • General Hospital (ABC) – Last year’s winner enters with 19 total nods, again making it the most-nominated daytime drama of the season. • Days of Our Lives (Peacock) – Streaming momentum keeps the 60-year-old franchise in the thick of the race. • The Young and the Restless (CBS) – CBS’s flagship soap celebrates its 12,500th episode with multiple marquee nominations. Lead Acting Races Lead Actress is dominated by Y&R, which claims four of six slots thanks to Sharon Case, Eileen Davidson, Melissa Claire Egan, and Michelle Stafford. They’re joined by GH’s Nancy Lee Grahn and Laura Wright, guaranteeing the trophy stays with one of the two powerhouse soaps. On the men’s side, Y&R icon Peter Bergman faces a Days trio (Eric Martsolf, Greg Rikaart, Paul Telfer) and GH’s Dominic Zamprogna, setting up a classic network-versus-streamer rivalry. Daytime Talk Show Showdown The Kelly Clarkson Show leads the talk pack after an A-list guest roster and viral musical duets kept ratings soaring. The Drew Barrymore Show and The View remain formidable, while The Jennifer Hudson Show seeks its first win in only its third season. Lifestyle, Culinary & Travel Categories Netflix scores multiple mentions—Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut, You Are What You Eat, and Selena + Restaurant—signaling the streamer’s aggressive nonfiction push. Food Network mainstays Be My Guest with Ina Garten and Delicious Miss Brown also return, while Roku’s Emeril Cooks gives the legendary chef his first Daytime Emmy nod since 2011. What Happens Next The full list of nominations will be released July 10 at 9 a.m. PT, followed by blue-ribbon judging panels in August. Winners will be revealed live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, continuing the network’s decades-long association with the Daytime Emmys. Why It Matters With only three soaps in contention and a surge of streaming-platform nominees, the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards reflect a daytime landscape in rapid transition. Expect story-line buzz, social-media campaigns, and possible category upsets as networks and streamers vie for prestige ahead of fall advertising upfronts. Stay tuned here for the complete nominee list, snubs, and expert predictions as the road to the 52nd Daytime Emmys heats up.