The 2026 Daytime Emmys gave a warm welcome to Beyond the Gates, the first new broadcast soap opera since 1999. And even though BTG lost the top series prize to General Hospital, the history books will remember this night as a celebration of “Black Girl Magic.”
Beyond the Gates received 15 nominations — the most ever for a debut soap — and won four during Friday’s ceremony. The CBS program chronicles a powerful Black family in the affluent community of Fairmont Crest.
The show’s biggest win was for Tamara Tunie as Best Lead Actress, making her only the second Black woman to win this category after Mishael Morgan in 2022. Tunie portrays Anita Williams Dupree, the family matriarch who’s married to Vernon Dupree, played by the Emmy-snubbed Clifton Davis.
“My heart is so full right now,” Tunie declared at the podium. “There are a host of Black actresses who paved the way for me. I feel them as I stand here tonight, beginning with the legendary Cicely Tyson, the first Black woman to appear on a daytime television show, Guiding Light.
“Congratulations to my sister nominees,” she continued, “especially my TV wild child, Dani, who is portrayed by the beaming light that is Karla Mosley.” Tunie concluded her speech by saying, “I love you, daytime — I’m so happy to be back!”
BTG also claimed the Best Emerging Talent prize for Ambyr Michelle as Eva Thomas. The young actress thanked God, aka her “bestie,” and said that her new Emmy represented “a promise fulfilled.” Michelle shouted out her “Beyond the Gates family” and all of the “beautiful Black women and girls” who were watching at home.
Black Girl Magic was the unofficial theme of the evening, as Tunie and Michelle were joined in the winner’s circle by Black female entertainers like Sherri Shepherd (Best Talk Series Host), Tracee Ellis Ross (Best Travel & Adventure Program), Keke Palmer (Best Daytime Short Form Program), and Star Jones (Best Daytime Personality — Daily).
Beyond the Gates‘ other two wins were in the craft categories: Best Hairstyling & Makeup and Best Lighting Direction. The hair and makeup team said on-stage, “This award represents so much. It’s more than a moment. It represents years of hard work, faith, sacrifice, perseverance, and the people who helped make this dream possible.”
Here’s the complete list of nominations (and wins) for the first year of Beyond the Gates:
- Best Daytime Drama Series
- Best Lead Actress for Karla Mosley as Dani Dupree
- Best Lead Actress for Tamara Tunie as Anita Williams Dupree — winner
- Best Supporting Actress for Trisha Mann-Grant as Leslie Thomas
- Best Supporting Actor for Timon Kyle Durrett as Bill Hamilton
- Best Supporting Actor for Mike Manning as Bradley “Smitty” Smith
- Best Emerging Talent for Ambyr Michelle as Eva Thomas — winner
- Best Emerging Talent for Arielle Prepetit as Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne
- Best Guest Performance for Jasmine Burke as June Hughes
- Best Writing Team
- Best Casting
- Best Hairstyling & Makeup — winner, tied with The Kelly Clarkson Show
- Best Lighting Direction — winner
- Best Music Direction & Composition
- Best Technical Direction & Video
Because the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences adheres to calendar-year eligibility, BTG won for the episodes that aired in 2025. The episodes airing this year will be eligible at the 2027 Daytime Emmys.
See the complete list of 2026 Daytime Emmy winners.
2026 Daytime Emmy Awards: Red carpet arrival photos
