Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series is an award presented since 1951 by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). The award goes to the producers of the series. The award is often cited as one of the "main awards" at the Emmys ceremonies.

History Since its institution in 1951 the award has changed names many times in its history. It was first called Best Dramatic Show from 1951 to 1954, then Best Dramatic Series in 1955 and 1956. In 1957, no specific award for drama was given, but in 1958 the category was split into two separate categories, Best Dramatic Anthology Series, and Best Dramatic Series with Continuing Characters with a winner selected from each category. The following year, the category was differently split into two separate categories, Best Dramatic Series – Less Than One Hour. In 1960, the name was changed yet again to Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama; this name was kept from 1960 to 1964. In 1966, it had its sixth name change to Outstanding Dramatic Series or Outstanding Series-Drama; this was used from 1966 until recently, when it became Outstanding Drama Series.

In 1988, Rumpole of the Bailey (PBS) was initially nominated in the Outstanding Miniseries category but the Academy ruled that the nomination was not valid a few days later and later allowed the program to compete in the Outstanding Drama Series category.

Since 2000, every single winner has been a serial drama: The West Wing (2000–2003), The Sopranos (2004, 2007), Lost (2005), 24 (2006), Mad Men (2008–2011), Homeland (2012), Breaking Bad (2013–2014), Game of Thrones (2015–2016, 2018–2019), The Handmaid's Tale (2017), Succession (2020, 2022-2023), The Crown (2021), Shōgun (2024) and The Pitt (2025-2026). Since the advent of Hill Street Blues in 1981, every winner has had some serialized arcs with the exception of Law & Order. The majority of these shows have won between their first and fifth seasons. Only one show have been exceeded with more than sixth seasons onwards who have won multiple times is Game of Thrones with sixth, seventh, and eighth; the remaining shows within more than sixth seasons who also won one are The Sopranos with sixth and Law & Order with seventh.

Since 1967, they are the only non-US series or television series from outside the United States to be nominated including The Avengers, The Forsyte Saga, The First Churchills, Elizabeth R, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Upstairs, Downstairs, Rumpole of the Bailey, Downton Abbey, Bodyguard, Killing Eve, Squid Game, and Slow Horses; most non-US series are entirely United Kingdom, Squid Game is the only Asia and South Korea to do so. Elizabeth R and Upstairs, Downstairs are the only two to win, while the latter is the only one to win multiple times.

Game of Thrones, Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Mad Men, and The West Wing share the record for most wins in the category with four. Law & Order holds the record for most nominations in the category with eleven, while Better Call Saul holds the record for most nominations without a win with seven.

Since 2022, Squid Game (Korean) and Shōgun (Japanese) are the only non-English language series to be nominated in that category; Shōgun being the first to win.

Since 2023, The Last of Us and Fallout are the only series based on their respective video games to be nominated in that category.

Winners and nominations The following tables, divided by decade, display the winners and nominees of the "Drama Series" award, according to the Primetime Emmy Awards database:

1950s Year Program NetworkBest Dramatic Show 1951(3rd) Pulitzer Prize Playhouse KECA-TV Fireside Theatre KTLA I Remember Mama KTTV, CBS The Philco Television Playhouse KNBH, NBC Studio One KTTV, CBS 1952(4th) Studio One CBS Celanese Theatre ABC The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse NBC Pulitzer Prize Playhouse ABC Robert Montgomery Presents NBC 1953(5th)In 1953, two separate series categories existed, Best Dramatic Program and Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program, and an award was given in each category. Robert Montgomery Presents won Best Dramatic Program, while Dragnet won Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program. Best Dramatic Program Robert Montgomery Presents NBC Celanese Theatre ABC Kraft Television Theatre NBC The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse Studio One CBS Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program Dragnet NBC The Big Story NBC Foreign Intrigue Syndicated Martin Kane, Private Eye NBC Racket Squad CBS 1954(6th)In 1954, two separate series categories existed, Best Dramatic Program and Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program, and an award was given in each category. The United States Steel Hour won Best Dramatic Program, while Dragnet won Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program. Best Dramatic Program The United States Steel Hour ABC Kraft Television Theatre NBC The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse Robert Montgomery Presents Studio One CBS Best Mystery, Action or Adventure Program Dragnet NBC Foreign Intrigue NBC I Led 3 Lives Syndicated Suspense CBS The Web 1955(7th)In 1955, three separate series categories existed, Best Dramatic Series, Best Mystery or Intrigue Series and Best Western or Adventure Series, and an award was given in each category. The United States Steel Hour won Best Dramatic Series, Dragnet won Best Mystery or Intrigue Series, while Stories of the Century won Best Action or Adventure Series. Best Dramatic Series The United States Steel Hour ABC Four Star Playhouse CBS Medic NBC The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse Studio One CBS Best Mystery or Intrigue Series Dragnet NBC Foreign Intrigue NBC I Led 3 Lives Syndicated Racket Squad Waterfront Best Western or Adventure Series Stories of the Century Syndicated The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok Syndicated Annie Oakley Death Valley Days CBS The Roy Rogers Show NBC 1956(8th)In 1956, two separate series categories existed, Best Dramatic Series and Best Action or Adventure Series, and an award was given in each category. Producers' Showcase won Best Dramatic Series, while Disneyland won Best Action or Adventure Series. Best Dramatic Series Producers' Showcase NBC Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre NBC Climax! CBS Studio One The United States Steel Hour Best Action or Adventure Series Disneyland ABC Alfred Hitchcock Presents CBS Dragnet NBC Gunsmoke CBS The Lineup 1957(9th)In 1957, two separate series categories existed, Best Series – Half Hour or Less and Best Series – One Hour or More, and an award was given in each category. The Phil Silvers Show, a comedy, won Best Series – Half Hour or Less, while Caesar's Hour, another comedy, won Best Series – One Hour or More. For this year (and also in 1965), dramas competed directly against comedies, musical variety, and other shows. Best Series – Half Hour or Less The Phil Silvers Show (comedy) CBS Alfred Hitchcock Presents (anthology) CBS Father Knows Best (comedy) NBC The Jack Benny Program (comedy) CBS Person to Person (interview) Best Series – One Hour or More Caesar's Hour (comedy) NBC Climax! (drama) CBS The Ed Sullivan Show (musical variety) Omnibus (educational) The Perry Como Show (musical variety) NBC 1958(10th)In 1958, two separate drama series categories existed, Best Dramatic Series with Continuing Characters and Best Dramatic Anthology Series, and an award was given in each category. Gunsmoke won Best Dramatic Series with Continuing Characters, while Playhouse 90 won Best Dramatic Anthology Series. Best Dramatic Series with Continuing Characters Gunsmoke CBS Lassie CBS Maverick ABC Perry Mason CBS Wagon Train NBC Best Dramatic Anthology Series Playhouse 90 CBS Alfred Hitchcock Presents CBS Climax! Hallmark Hall of Fame NBC Studio One CBS 1959(11th)In 1959, three separate drama series categories existed, Best Dramatic Series – Less Than One Hour, Best Dramatic Series-One Hour or Longer and Best Western Series, and an award was given in each category. Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre won Best Dramatic Series-Less Than One Hour, Playhouse 90 won Best Dramatic Series – One Hour or Longer, while Maverick won Best Western Series. Best Dramatic Series – Less Than One Hour Alcoa-Goodyear Theatre NBC Alfred Hitchcock Presents CBS General Electric Theater The Loretta Young Show NBC Naked City ABC Peter Gunn NBC Best Dramatic Series – One Hour or Longer Playhouse 90 CBS The United States Steel Hour CBS Best Western Series Maverick ABC Gunsmoke CBS Have Gun – Will Travel The Rifleman ABC Wagon Train NBC

1960s Year Program Producers NetworkOutstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama 1960(12th) Playhouse 90season 4| | CBS|- | DuPont Show of the Month | | CBS |- | The Moon and Sixpence | | rowspan="2"|NBC |- | Ford Startime(Entire series)

| The Untouchables(Season 1) | | ABC |- | rowspan="6" style="text-align:center" | 1961(13th) |- style="background:#FAEB86;" | Hallmark Hall of Fame(Season 11)| | NBC|- | Naked City(Season 2) | | ABC |- | Sacco-Vanzetti Story | | NBC |- | The Twilight Zone(Season 2) | | CBS |- | The Untouchables(Season 2) | | ABC |- | rowspan="7" style="text-align:center" | 1962(14th) |- style="background:#FAEB86;" | The Defenders(Season 1)| | CBS|- | Alcoa Premiere(Season 1) | | rowspan="2" | ABC |- | Ben Casey(Season 1)

| Naked City(Season 3) | | ABC |- | rowspan="6" style="text-align:center" | 1963(15th) |- style="background:#FAEB86;" | The Defenders(Season 2)| | CBS|- | Alcoa Premiereseason 2 | | ABC |- | The Dick Powell Showseason 2 | | rowspan="2" | NBC |- | The Eleventh Hourseason 1

| Naked City(Season 4) | | ABC |- | rowspan="6" style="text-align:center" | 1964(16th) |- style="background:#FAEB86;" | The Defenders(Season 3)| | CBS|- | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatreseason 1 | | NBC |- | East Side/West Side(Entire series) | | CBS |- | Mr. Novakseason 1 | | rowspan="2" | NBC |- | The Richard Boone Show(Entire series)

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series

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