The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special is awarded to one television series or special each year. Before 1986, limited series and television movies shot on videotape competed alongside variety series and specials. They would later compete separately for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie. Beginning in 2019, nominations are divided between variety series and specials, proportional to the number of submissions of each.

In the following list, the first titles listed in gold are the winners; those not in gold are nominees, which are listed in alphabetical order. The years given are those in which the ceremonies took place:

Winners and nominations

Outstanding Tape Sound Mixing 1970s Year Program Episode Nominees Network 1976 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"Anniversary Show" Dave Williams ABC New Year's Eve at Pops Vernon ColemanPBS New York Philharmonic with André Previn and Van Cliburn (Live from Lincoln Center) John Pfeifferm 1977 Outstanding Achievement in Tape Sound Mixing John Denver and Friend Doug Nelson ABC The Adams Chronicles"John Quincy Adams, President" Emil Neroda PBS The American Music Awards John Black, Doug Nelson, Norman H. Schwartz ABC Police Story"Ice Time" Jerry Clemans, Michael T. Gannon, Tom Huth, Phil Seretti NBC Outstanding Individual Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical CraftsAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The nominees did not meet the benchmark and no award was given. The 28th Annual Emmy Awards Doug Nelson, Dick Wilson ABC 1978 Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back Ron Bryan, Edward J. Greene, Thomas J. Huth NBC The Lawrence Welk Show"Roger Williams" Dick Wilson Syndicated The Neil Diamond Special: I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight Val Garay, Bob Gaudio, Rick Ruggieri, Phillip J. Seretti, John Walker NBC Our Town Ron Estes Perry Como's Easter by the Sea Ron Bryan, Grover Helsley, Thomas J. Huth, Eric Lee Levinson, Larry Stephens ABC1979 Outstanding Achievement in Tape Sound Mixing Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin Edward J. Greene, Dennis S. Sands, Phillip J. Seretti, Garry Ulmer NBC The Muppets Go Hollywood Ed Greene CBS Perry Como's Early American Christmas Tom Huth, Gordon Klimuck ABC Return Engagement (Hallmark Hall of Fame) Phillip J. Seretti, Georja Skinner NBC The 3rd Barry Manilow Special Doug Nelson ABC Outstanding Individual Achievement - Creative Technical CraftsAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. Giulini's Beethoven's 9th Live — A Gift from Los Angeles Tom Ancell PBS

1980s Year Program Episode Nominees Network1980 Outstanding Achievement in Tape Sound Mixing Sinatra: The First 40 Years Bruce Burns, Jerry Clemans NBC The Crystal Gayle Special Terry Farris, Tom Huth, Blake Norton CBS The Donna Summer Special Jerry Clemans, Doug Nelson, Juergen Koppers ABC Kenny Rogers and the American Cowboy Jerry Clemans, Billy Sherrill CBS The Oldest Living Graduate Donald Worsham NBC Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights Jerry Clemans, Gordon F. Klimuck, Doug Nelson CBS Outstanding Individual Achievement - Creative Technical Crafts Luciano Pavarotti and the New York Philharmonic (Live from Lincoln Center) Mark Schubin PBS Live from Studio 8H: A Tribute to Toscanini Scott Schachter NBC1981 Outstanding Achievement in Tape Sound Mixing John Denver with His Special Guest George Burns: Two of a Kind Jerry Clemans, Doug Nelson, Donald Worsham ABC Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters"The Gatlin Brothers" Jerry Clemans, Matt Hyde, Don WorshamNBC Kent State Don Johnson, Phillip J. Seretti Perry Como's Spring in San Francisco Jerry Clemans, Ed Greene, Phillip J. Seretti ABC San Francisco Inaugural Gala Tom Ancell PBS Outstanding Individual Achievement - Creative Technical CraftsAs a juried award, nominees had to garner 50% approval to win the award. The nominee did not meet the benchmark and no award was given. Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne and Luciano Pavarotti (Live from Lincoln Center) Mark Schubin PBS 1982 Perry Como's Easter in Guadalajara Chris Haire, Richard J. Masci, Doug Nelson ABC Ain't Misbehavin' Bill Cole, Allen Patapoff, Joe RalstonNBC Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters"Ray Charles and Sylvia" Jerry Clemans, Matt Hyde, Don Worsham Debby Boone... One Step Closer Chris Haire, Russell Terrana, Don Worsham Sinatra, The Man and His Music Jerry Clemans, Joe Ralston

Outstanding Tape Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Special Year Program Episode Nominees Network 1983 Sheena Easton... Act One Ron Estes, Edward J. Greene, Carroll Pratt NBC Andy Williams: Early New England Christmas Barton Michael Chiate, Jerry Clemans, Phillip J. SerettiCBS The Eddie Rabbitt Special Bruce Burns, Jerry Clemans, Russ Terrana, Don Worsham

Outstanding Live and Tape Sound Mixing and Sound Effects for a Limited Series or Special Year Program Episode Nominees Network 1984 Outstanding Live and Tape Sound Mixing and Sound Effects for a Limited Series or Special Anne Murray's Winter Carnival... From Quebec Edward J. Greene, Carroll Pratt CBS The Magic of David Copperfield VI: Floating Over the Grand Canyon Jerry Clemans, David E. Fluhr, Richard J. Masci, Joe Ralston CBS Mister Roberts (NBC Live Theatre) John Kantrowe, Joe Ralston NBC The 114th Edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Barbara Issak, Eric Lee Levinson, Donald Worsham CBS Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul Jerry Clemans, Craig Porter, Donald Worsham Syndicated Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Sound Achievement The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson "Linda Ronstadt and Nelson Riddle" Ron Estes, John Strain NBC 1985 Motown Returns to the Apollo Edward J. Greene, Robert Liftin, Carroll Pratt, Russ Terrana NBC Gidget's Summer Reunion Glen Anderson, Robert L. Harman, Jeremy Huenack Syndicated Salute to Lady Liberty William Angarola, Aaron Baron, Ed Barton, Thomas J. Huth CBS Sweeney Todd (Great Performances) Mark Bovos, Thomas J. Huth, Michael Mitchell PBS WonderWorksWords by Heart Mark Bovos, Thomas J. Huth, Michael Mitchell PBS

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special Year Program Episode Nominees Network 1986 Mr. Previn Comes to Town Tom Ancell, David E. Fluhr PBS The 28th Annual Grammy Awards Ed Greene, Carroll Pratt, Paul Sandweiss, Don WorshamCBS The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts Robert Elder, Ed Greene, Carroll Pratt, Paul Sandweiss Neil Diamond... Hello Again Ed Greene, Marshall King, Carroll Pratt, Alan Sides The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Ron Estes, Roger Cortes, Carroll Pratt NBC 1987 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and George Hamilton" Ron Estes, Roger Cortes, Carroll Pratt NBC Carnegie Hall: The Grand Reopening Aaron Baron, Bud Graham, Edward J. Greene CBS Vladimir Horowitz: The Last Romantic (Great Performances) Lee Dichter, Larry LoewingerPBS Minnelli on Minnelli: Liza Remembers Vincente Eric Lee Levinson 1988 Dolly"Down in New Orleans" Barton Michael Chiate, Gordon Klimuck ABC Bob Hope's USO Christmas from the Persian Gulf: Around the World in Eight Days Steve Deaver, Michael T. Gannon, Tom Huth, Murray McFadden, Billy YoudelmanNBC The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"Dan Aykroyd and Miami Sound Machine" Ron Estes, Roger Cortes 1989 Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or a Special Kenny, Dolly and Willie: Something Inside So Strong Larry Brown, Robert Douglass, David E. Fluhr, Edward J. Greene NBC The Arsenio Hall Show"LeVert, Patti D'Arbanville and Peter DeLuise" Barton Michael Chiate, Gordon Klimuck Syndicated The Glenn Miller Band Reunion Tom Ancell, David E. Fluhr, Carroll PrattPBS Gregory Hines: Tap Dance in America (Dance in America: Great Performances) Ed Greene, Carroll Pratt The Magic of David Copperfield XI: The Explosive Encounter Jeff Courtie, David E. Fluhr, Carroll Pratt, Paul Sandweiss CBS The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"Jonathan Winters and Kenny Loggins" Ron Estes, Roger Cortes NBC Outstanding Sound Mixing for Special Events The 31st Annual Grammy Awards Ed Greene, Carroll Pratt, Paul Sandweiss, Don WorshamCBS

1990s