3 Emmy-nominated shows on Netflix you must watch this weekend (July 17–19)

Published Jul 17, 2026, 1:12 PM EDT Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 2800 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions. Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston. Following the announcement of the 2026 Emmy Awards nominations, these three Netflix series are all must-watch contenders worth watching this weekend. Netflix received a whopping 111 Emmy nominations this year for its original series, movies, specials, and more, ranking second overall behind HBO Max's 122 nominations for shows like The Pitt, Hacks, and The Gilded Age. Not far behind is Apple TV with 87 nominations for top shows such as Widow's Bay, Pluribus, and Slow Horses. The following three Netflix series all received the most nominations for the world's largest streaming platform this year, and interestingly, only one was a brand-new installment in 2025. The other two were new seasons of hit series on Netflix, which include a political thriller and a tension-fueled drama. The new series is a psychological thriller that became a worldwide streaming sensation, amassing nearly 7 million views in its first four days. If you're looking for the best Emmy-nominated Netflix shows right now, you've come to the right place. The Diplomat The Diplomat is nominated for seven 2026 Emmy Awards for its 8-part third season, which was released in October 2025. The nominations include: Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Keri Russell), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Rufus Sewell), Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Bradley Whitford), and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Allison Janney). This marks Russell's eighth career Emmy nomination and Janney's 16th nomination, which includes seven wins. Now three seasons in with a fourth season on the way, The Diplomat is widely considered the best modern political drama series on Netflix. Russell stars as Kate Wyler, a U.S. Ambassador stationed in London who tries to maintain alliances with the furious British Prime Minister after one of his warships is attacked. Wyler is married to Sewell's Hal, who has his own political aspirations but still cares deeply for his wife. Combining political intrigue with likable characters and a mysterious, high-stakes plot, The Diplomat is a must-watch. The Beast In Me The Beast in Me received an impressive nine nominations at the 2026 Emmys following its arrival on Netflix in mid-November 2025. They include: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Claire Danes), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Matthew Rhys), and Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. The series also received nominations in these Creative Arts categories: Casting, Costumes, Sound Editing, and Main Title Theme Music. The Beast in Me is a gripping psychological drama that spans eight episodes and earned an 85% Rotten Tomatoes score. It follows an author named Auggie Wiggs (Danes) who takes an interest in her mysterious new neighbor, Nile Jarvis (Rhys), who was once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance. Wiggs, who has become a ghost of her former self, pours herself into investigating Nile also as a means to distract herself from the death of her young son. The Beast in Me could extend Netflix's dominant streak in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category this year, previously won by Beef, Baby Reindeer, and Adolescence. Beef Beef, which originally started as a limited series in 2023, expanded with a second season in April 2026 and received 16 Emmy nominations, the highest of any contending Netflix show. They include: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Lead Actor for Oscar Isaac, Lead Actress for Carey Mulligan, Supporting Actor for Charles Melton, Supporting Actress for Youn Yuh-jung, and Directing and Writing for series creator Lee Sung-Jin. Beef season 1 won 8 Emmys in 2023, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series​​​​​​. Beef season 2 features a completely different story and slate of characters from season 1, but still rests on themes of dysfunction, desperation, power, and corruption. The series takes place at a ritzy country club on the California coast, where a young couple witnesses a frightening altercation between their boss and his wife. Determined to keep this information under wraps, Joshua (Isaac) coerces the young couple in return for silence and loyalty. Out of all the 2026 Emmy-nominated Netflix series, Beef is one you don't want to miss.