The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) New York Chapter has opened submissions for the 69th Annual New York Emmy Awards, inviting television, digital, and media creators to submit their work produced in 2025 for regional recognition. The deadline for entries is Monday, March 2, 2026 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
A Celebration of Local Media and Creative Achievement
The New York Emmy Awards recognize outstanding work primarily intended for the New York tri-state area, including New York, parts of New Jersey, and Connecticut. Works that premiered or were distributed between January 1 and December 31, 2025 are eligible for entry. Submissions span a wide range of content categories that reflect the diversity of modern media production.
Leadership at the New York Chapter described this year’s submission period as an opportunity to showcase excellence across traditional television programming, digital initiatives, and short-form content. Past award ceremonies have honored regional storytellers, journalists, and industry professionals who contributed impactful work to local audiences.
Expanded Categories and New Submission Opportunities
For 2026, the New York Emmy Awards are offering what organizers characterize as the “most categories in our Sports competition in the Chapter’s history.” This expansion reflects growing investment in recognizing athletic media coverage and production achievements. Additionally, new general categories have been introduced:
- Tri-State Heritage: Celebrating work that reflects the culture, history, or identity of the New York tri-state area.
- Talk Program: Open to formats including video podcasts, expanding eligibility for creators producing talk content in long-form or episodic styles.
- Content Shorts: Designed to honor short-form excellence, particularly in social-first strategies that resonate with digital audiences.
These category adjustments are intended to be more inclusive of evolving media trends and production styles, especially where digital platforms intersect with traditional broadcast and regional storytelling.
New Interactive Entry Experience
Organizers are also spotlighting a new interactive online entry form for 2026 submission season. According to the press release, this updated process is designed to make submissions more user-friendly compared with previous manual or PDF-based workflows. Prospective entrants are advised to read eligibility rules carefully, as several category and procedural updates have taken effect this year.
To submit entries, participants must create or sign into an Emmy Express account and can choose either paid membership or a guest membership, both of which allow entry submission, though membership confers discounted entry fees.
Timeline and Awards Events
Submissions close on March 2, 2026, after which judging takes place in the spring across panels drawn from sister regional NATAS chapters. Selected nominees will be announced later in 2026, with the 69th Annual New York Emmy Awards Gala scheduled for October 10, 2026. Additionally, the 4th Annual New York Sports Emmy Awards will be held in September, with the exact date and location to be announced in the spring.
It’s not necessary to be a member of the New York Chapter to enter, but membership benefits — including lower entry fees and access to networking opportunities — remain a key draw for frequent nominees.
Regional Awards in a Broader Context
The New York Emmy Awards are part of a wider ecosystem of regional Emmy competitions across the United States, administered by NATAS. These regional awards serve to highlight talent and production quality across local markets and storytelling communities — complementing national Emmy events that recognize broad-reach programming and excellence in primetime, daytime, sports, news, documentary, and technical achievement.
For creators and media teams in the New York area, the 69th Annual New York Emmy Awards present an opportunity to gain peer recognition, expand professional visibility, and celebrate achievements in a range of traditional and digital media formats.
More about awards:
Staff Report
Staff Report
Staff Report
