Nigerian-Descent Actresses Ayo Edebiri, Joy Sunday Earn 2026 Emmy Nominations

 

Two actresses of Nigerian descent, Ayo Edebiri and Joy Sunday, have secured nominations at the 78th Primetime Emmy Award.

The nominees for the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards were announced on Wednesday, with Edebiri receiving a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her acclaimed performance as Sydney Adamu in The Bear.

 

The latest nod marks a step higher in the Nigerian-American actress’ Emmy journey. Edebiri, whose father is from Edo State, has become one of the Television Academy’s most recognised young performers, having previously won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the same role.

Edebiri also made history in an earlier awards cycle by becoming the first woman to receive acting and directing nominations in the comedy category in the same year for The Bear, following her directorial debut with the episode Napkins.

 

 

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Joining her on this year’s list is fellow Nigerian-American actress Joy Sunday, who earned her first Primetime Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category for her portrayal of Detective Jodie Plumb in HBO’s DTF St. Louis.

Sunday, who was born in Staten Island, New York, to Nigerian parents, is widely known for playing Bianca Barclay in Netflix’s Wednesday. She has previously spoken about how watching Nollywood films while growing up inspired her passion for acting.

The nominations make Edebiri and Sunday the only performers with confirmed Nigerian roots to receive acting nominations at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards.

Their recognition continues a steady rise in Nigerian representation at the Emmys in recent years.

 

In 2025, Nigerian filmmaker Joel Kachi Benson made history as the first Nigerian to win an Emmy, taking home the News and Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary for Madu.

This year’s Primetime Emmy nominations are led by The Pitt with 25 nominations, followed by Hacks with 24.

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will be held on September 14, 2026, celebrating outstanding achievements in television programming released between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026.

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