The Emmy Award for Drama Series: What to Look For

The Emmy Awards are one of the only award shows held in the fall, just before the biggest television season of the year. However, they are also among the most sought-after awards out there, with many seeking to become an EGOT (someone with an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).

This year, there is stark competition for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, with the introduction of new television shows and the return of old favorites. If you are on the fence about placing your bet and deciding who will receive a nomination this year, this article will tell you everything you need to know about the prospective 2025 Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series nominees.

Gold Derby predicts Severance has an 18.2% chance of being nominated for the Emmy for Best Drama Series. :: See the current odds HERE.

When Are The Emmy Nominations Announced?

The nominations for Outstanding Drama Series will be announced along with the rest of the category nominations on July 15, 2025, after two rounds of voting from judges. These judges are made up of peers within the industry and those who are part of the Television Academy rather than the public. At the moment, submissions are being received by the Emmy Corporation, which will then be voted on.

When Are The Winners Announced?

If your nominated favorite is also the favorite of the judges, this will be announced on September 14 at 8 pm ET. The ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, which was also the location for the 2024 ceremony. The ceremony will be broadcast on CBS, allowing you to see whether your final bet wins live.

What Series Are Nominated?

To make an effective bet, it is important to know what series will most likely be nominated for an award. The possible candidates include:

• Severance
• The Last of Us
• The White Lotus
• Yellowjackets

A big hit for Apple’s streaming service Apple TV, Severance has everything a TV show needs: a high budget, a nail-biting plot, and a faultless cast including Adam Scott and Christopher Walken. Blending sci-fi with a good mystery, Severance is one of the most-talked-about and highly-rated shows currently on television, with the show logging 589 minutes watched, more than any other Apple TV show.

A couple of years ago, The Last of Us was the only show on people’s lips, and this hasn’t changed, with high-quality graphics, a gripping plot, and a cast of 3D characters that leave viewers on the edge of their seats. Not only this, but The Last of Us is one of the most popular video-game adaptations in years, with both gamers and non-gamers tuning in to Sky to watch.

The White Lotus, a black comedy-drama, turns the hotel management trope around with each season throwing a new location and country into the mix. Full of instantly recognizable characters with foibles and dysfunctions, including the highly-praised Jennifer Coolidge, who has been lauded for her role in the drama, remains perfect for those looking for a fictional fly-on-the-wall show that provides the same thrills as reality TV.

From its folk horror to the mystery pervading the center of the story, Yellowjackets makes for edge-of-your-seat television, with a seamless cast of both young and mature actors, an increasingly wild and cannibalistic plot, and high production values that create an immersive and threatening experience. Add to that stunning sound and cinematography of the Canadian wilderness, and this could be the dark horse in the race for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmy Awards 2025.

You’ll have to wait and see to find out the official nominees.

Those who think Yellowjackets could be nominated against the big hitters could win $10100 by betting $100 on Gold Derby.