How to watch the 2020 virtual Emmy Awards tonight

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards air tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
• As a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the event will be held virtually, with nominees filmed remotely from their homes.
• If you sign in with a participating TV provider, you can stream the Emmys through ABC.com or the ABC app in select markets.

Tonight at 8 p.m. ET, ABC will broadcast the 72nd Emmy Awards, recognizing the best primetime TV programs released between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020. Though originally scheduled to be held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the show will now be conducted virtually to maintain social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

Jimmy Kimmel will host the virtual show from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, while nominees will be filmed remotely from their homes. To assist the nominees with the unique situation, the Television Academy provided cameras to each of the participants. This setup will allow everyone to appear live during the broadcast.

When it comes to nominations, HBO's "Watchmen" leads the pack with a total of 26 nominations across various categories, including Best Limited Series. Meanwhile, streaming services dominate the "Best Drama" category, with a total of five out of the eight nominees coming from either Netflix, Hulu, or Disney Plus.

To see who wins live, you'll have to tune into the show when it airs tonight. Thankfully, ABC is offering a few different viewing options, so you can decide whether to watch through traditional cable, antenna, or streaming apps.

How to watch the 2020 Emmys

If you have a cable plan or over-the-air TV antenna, you can watch the 72nd Emmy Awards live on the ABC network. If you'd prefer to stream the show, you can also use your pay-TV provider account to watch the Emmys live on ABC.com or through the ABC app.

With that said, the ABC live stream is restricted to certain locations, so you'll need to verify that your provider supports your local market. You can see a full list of supported pay-TV providers and locations here. The ABC app is available on most connected devices, including smartphones, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku players, Fire TV products, Chromecast, and Samsung smart TVs.

If you don't already have ABC through a cable plan, you can also stream the 2020 Emmy Awards through the ABC channel on select live TV streaming services, including Hulu + Live TV, Fubo TV, YouTube TV, and AT&T TV. Of those options, Hulu + Live TV offers the most affordable plan at $54.99 a month. For that price, you get access to ABC and a total of around 65 live channels.

Hulu, FuboTV, and YouTube TV all offer free trial periods for new members as well. If you're a cord-cutter looking for a way to stream the Emmys for free, signing up for one of these trials is a good option.

What shows are nominated for 2020 Emmys?

The Primetime Emmy Awards are spread across a variety of categories, led by top prizes for Best Drama Series and Best Comedy Series. You can view a complete list of all the 2020 Emmy nominees here.

Below is a rundown of the shows nominated in the top Drama and Comedy categories:

Best Drama Series

• "Better Call Saul"
• "The Crown"
• "The Handmaid's Tale"
• "Killing Eve"
• "The Mandalorian"
• "Ozark"
• "Stranger Things"
• "Succession"

Best Comedy Series

• "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
• "Dead to Me"
• "The Good Place"
• "Insecure"
• "The Kominsky Method"
• "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
• "Schitt's Creek"
• "What We Do in the Shadows"