The Television Academy has established a new Emmy award, the Legacy Award, marking the first addition of a major award category in nearly two decades. The organization announced on Thursday that this award will recognize television programs for their "profound and lasting impact" on audiences and their continued relevance within society, culture, and the industry.
Eligibility Criteria
Programs are eligible for the Legacy Award only once. Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- A minimum of 60 episodes across at least five seasons.
- Demonstrated sustained relevance, influence, or inspiration to a television genre, existing or new audiences, or society and culture.
- Franchise properties will be considered and awarded as a complete entity.
Examples of programs that meet these eligibility criteria include:
- All in the Family (1971-1979, nine seasons)
- Will & Grace (1998-2006, 2017-2020, 11 seasons)
- Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present, 22 seasons)
- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present, 17 seasons)
- The Late Show (1993-2026, 27 seasons)
Nomination and Selection Process
Nominations for the Legacy Award can be submitted by members of the TV Academy's board of governors, its special awards committee, or through letters to the TV Academy from industry members or the public. Recipients will be chosen annually by the Special Awards Committee, which was formerly known as the Governors Award Committee.
Award Presentation
The Legacy Award will consist of an engraved Emmy statuette. Its presentation may occur during various events, including the Primetime Emmys telecast, the Creative Arts Emmys ceremonies, the TV Academy’s Televerse festival, or the Hall of Fame ceremony. The specific presentation venue will be determined annually by the TV Academy.