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Clayton Davis
Chief Awards Editor
byClaytonDavis See All
Hulu / Netflix / Paramount+ A friendly reminder: Latinos are still here.
Emmy nomination voting closes Monday, June 22, at 10 p.m. PT. For those who track Latino representation in awards conversations year-round, the 2026 submissions reveal a deeper and more diverse bench of contenders than the eventual nominations are likely to reflect. The names below are not a wish list; rather, they are performers currently on the Television Academy ballot, and several could find a legitimate pathway to hearing their names called on nomination morning. Being realistic, not many of them will, but Variety is here to remind the members to consider…everyone.
Between the current political climate in the United States and the growing attacks aimed at Latino communities, this has been a discouraging stretch for anyone paying attention, particularly those who hoped the entertainment industry’s diversity gains would prove durable. UCLA’s latest Hollywood Diversity Report, released earlier this month, reinforced a message the business has been sending loud and clear: As budgets tighten and the commitment to inclusion wanes, representation for people of color is slipping, especially in film and streaming.
Meanwhile, the Latino population in the United States surpassed 68 million in 2024, and researchers estimate that Latinos generated $4.4 trillion in economic output. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Latino GDP has grown faster than that of any major economy, outpacing even India and China. According to the latest Latino GDP report from UCLA and California Lutheran University, the economic contribution of U.S. Latinos now exceeds that of Japan, making it equivalent to the world’s fourth-largest economy.
Yet when looking at one corner of the entertainment industry, a more encouraging story emerges. Television — and, specifically, this year’s Emmy ballot — is not entirely moving in lockstep with that broader retreat.
In no particular order, here are 11 Latino contenders that Variety deems worthy of Emmy voters’ consideration.
Honorable mentions: Stephanie Beatriz (“Twisted Metal” in lead comedy actress); Diego Calva (“The Night Manager” in supporting drama actor); Eiza González (“Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice” in lead actress, limited or movie); Gabriel Luna (“Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” in supporting actor, limited or movie); Justina Machado (“Matlock” in guest drama actress); Natalie Morales (“The Beast in Me” in supporting actress, limited or movie); Catalino Sandino Moreno (“From” in supporting drama actress); Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (“Loot” in supporting comedy actress); Anthony Ramos (“Ironheart” in lead actor, limited or movie)
See all Primetime Emmy predictions-
Raúl Castillo (‘Task’)
Image Credit: HBO Max Category: Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Castillo, a respected character actor since “Looking,” turns up in Brad Ingelsby’s HBO Max crime drama, the follow-up to “Mare of Easttown.” He has never been Emmy-nominated, though he is an Independent Spirit nominee for “We the Animals” and a Gotham nominee for “The Inspection.” With a prestigious pedigree and the kind of grounded work the Academy gravitates toward, he could be an accompanying voice with his co-star Tom Pelphrey, giving him a real shot in a category that prizes exactly this register.
