The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Production Design for Variety Special is awarded to one television special each year. Prior to the category's creation in 2016, specials and regular series competed together as Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Programming. The two had also been divided in 1977 and 1978.
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.
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Winners and nominations
1970s Outstanding Art Direction for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special Year Program Nominees Network 1977(29th) America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music Robert Kelly CBS Billy the Kid: American Ballet Theatre (Great Performances) Jac Venza PBS The George Burns Special Roy Christopher, John Hueners CBS Les Patineurs: American Ballet Theatre (Great Performances) William Mickley PBS The 28th Annual Emmy Awards Brian Bartholomew, Keaton S. Walker ABC 1978(30th) The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots Romain Johnston, Kerry Joyce ABC Cher... Special Brian C. Bartholomew ABC How to Survive the '70s and Maybe Even Bump Into Happiness Roy Christopher, Don RemacleCBS Mitzi... Zings Into Spring Robert Kelly They Said It with Music: Yankee Doodle to Ragtime Robert Checci, John Dapper, Romain Johnston CBS: On the Air Jan Scott, Earl Carlson CBS 1979(31st) The 51st Annual Academy Awards Roy Christopher ABC
1980s Year Program Nominees Network 1980(32nd) The 52nd Annual Academy Awards Ray Klausen ABC 1988(58th) The 60th Annual Academy Awards Charles Lisanby, Keaton S. Walker ABC
2010s Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Nonfiction, Event or Award Special Year Program Nominees Network 2016(68th) Grease: Live David Korins, Joe Celli, Jason Howard Fox He Named Me Malala Alexander Fuller, Lori West Nat Geo Lemonade Hannah Beachler, Chris Britt, Kim Murphy HBO The Oscars Derek McLane, Gloria Lamb, Matt Steinbrenner ABC The Wiz Live! Derek McLane, Erica Hemminger, Mike Pilipski NBC 2017(69th) Hairspray Live! Derek McLane, Joe Celli, Jason Howard NBC Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner John Yeck TBS The 74th Annual Golden Globes Brian Stonestreet, John Zuiker NBC The Oscars Derek McLane, Alana Billingsley ABC Super Bowl LI Halftime Show Starring Lady Gaga Bruce Rodgers, LeRoy Bennett, Shelley Rodgers, Lindsey Breslauer Fox
Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special Year Program Nominees Network 2018(70th) Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Jason Ardizzone-West, Melissa Shakun NBC The Carol Burnett Show: 50th Anniversary Special Joe Stewart, Joseph Mark Sarno CBS The 75th Annual Golden Globes Brian Stonestreet, John Zuiker NBC The 60th Annual Grammy Awards Brian Stonestreet, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb CBS The Oscars Derek McLane, Alana Billingsley, Kristen Merlino ABC 2019(71st) Rent: Live Jason Sherwood, Adam Rowe, John Sparano Fox The 61st Annual Grammy Awards Brian Stonestreet, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb CBS Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé Ric Lipson, Rachel Duncan, Andrew Makadsi Netflix Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons Bernard Vyzga, Richard Rohrer, Ron OlsenABC The Oscars David Korins, Alana Billingsley
2020s Year Program Nominees Network 2020(72nd) The Oscars Jason Sherwood, Alana Billingsley ABC The 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards Brian Stonestreet, Angel Herrera NBC The 62nd Grammy Awards Brian Stonestreet, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb, Jason Howard CBS The Little Mermaid Live! Misty Buckley, Joe Celli, Jason HowardABC Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" Bernard Vyzga, Richard Rohrer, Ron Olsen 2021(73rd) The Oscars David Rockwell, Joe Celli, Alana Billingsley, Jason Howard ABC Friends: The Reunion John Shaffner, Greg Grande, Daren Janes HBO Max The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards Brian Stonestreet, John Zuiker NBC The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards Misty Buckley, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb, Matt Steinbrenner CBS Stephen Colbert's Election Night 2020: Democracy's Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 Jim Fenhagen, Larry Hartman, Riley Mellon, Brendan Hurley Showtime 2022(74th) The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent Bruce Rodgers, Shelley Rodgers, Maria Garcia NBC The 64th Annual Grammy Awards Julio Himede, Kristen Merlino CBS Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes Stephan Olson, Raf Lydon, Jerie Kelter ABC The Oscars David Korins, Margaux Lapresle Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 Willo Perron, Steve Morden, Marc Manabat Prime Video 2023(75th) The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna Bruce Rodgers, Shelley Rodgers, Lindsey Breslauer, Maria Garcia, Lily Rodgers Fox Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love Tamlyn Wright, Travis Deck NBC Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl Misty Buckley, Joe Celli, Raquel Tarbet Disney+ The 65th Annual Grammy Awards Julio Himede, Kristen Merlino CBS The Oscars Misty Buckley, Alana Billingsley, John Zuiker ABC 2024(76th) The Oscars Misty Buckley, Alana Billingsley, John Zuiker, Margaux Lapresle ABC Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic Steve Morden, James Yarnell, John SparanoCBS The 66th Grammy Awards Julio Himede, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb, Ellen Jaworski, Kaydee Lavorin Friel Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas Misty Buckley, Laura Woodroffe, Richard Olivieri Apple TV+ The 76th Annual Tony Awards Steve Bass, Aaron Black, Star Theodos Kahn CBS 2025(77th) The Oscars Misty Buckley, Alana Billingsley, John Zuiker, Margaux Lapresle ABC Beyoncé Bowl Willo Perron, Brian Stonestreet, Gloria Lamb, Jonathan Stoller-Schoff, Marina Skye Netflix The 67th Annual Grammy Awards Julio Himede, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb, Ellen Jaworski, Margaux Lapresle, Kaydee Lavorin CBS SNL50: The Anniversary Special Akira Yoshimura, N. Joseph DeTullio, Patrick Lynch, Melissa Shakun, Charlotte Hayes Harrison, Sabrina Lederer NBC SNL50: The Homecoming Concert Keith Ian Raywood, Anthony Bishop, Aaron Black Peacock 2026(78th) The Muppet Show Denise Pizzini, Chet Maxwell, Robert Aguirre, Bethany Barton Disney+ The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny Bruce Rodgers, Shelley Rodgers, Lily Rodgers, Julio Himede, Leticia Leon NBC 68th Annual Grammy Awards Julio Himede, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb, Ellen Jaworski, Scott Welborn, Kaydee Lavorin CBS The Oscars Misty Buckley, Alana Billingsley, John Zuiker, Jonathan Stoller-Schoff ABC 78th Annual Tony Awards Steve Bass, Star Theodos Kahn, Aaron Black CBS
Notes
References
External links Academy of Television Arts and Sciences website