2025 Daytime Emmy Predictions

The Daytime Emmys are a big night for daytime TV, especially soap operas. This year The Young and the Restless is leading the way with 19 nominations. But General Hospital wasn’t that far behind with 16 nominations.

The soaps and its cast pulled out all the stops with their dramatic storylines and emotional performances. So who will win big on the Oct. 17th show?

Outstanding Drama Series

Nominees:

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless

Should Win: Days often doesn’t get any Emmy love, but they gave gripping storylines in 2024. From the death of beloved character Doug Williams to Nicole getting her baby back, there were plenty of tearjerking moments. 2024 was a phenomenal year for the Peacock series and they’re deserving of an Emmy win.

Will Win: It’s going to come down to Y&R and GH. Although Y&R had some good storylines, GH continued to wow audiences with its suspenseful storylines and surprise returns. GH has been unstoppable in the Drama Series race and look for them to continue their streak.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Sharon Case (The Young and the Restless)

Eileen Davidson (The Young and the Restless)

Melissa Claire Egan (The Young and the Restless)

Nancy Lee Grahn (General Hospital)

Michelle Stafford (The Young and the Restless)

Laura Wright (General Hospital)

Should Win: It’s been 26 years since Sharon Case win her Daytime Emmy for Supporting Actress. She’s often overlooked for her performances, but she finally received recognition for amazing work during Sharon’s downward spiral in 2024. Since last year was her 30th anniversary with the show, what better way to cap it off then with a win.

Will Win: Case has tough competition, especially from her co-stars. If anyone is deserving more than Case, it’s Eileen Davidson. The actress had a poignant storyline with her character Ashley suffering from dissociative identity disorder. Although the storyline was met with criticism, Davidson wowed with her gripping performance and could win her third Daytime Emmy this year.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Peter Bergman (The Young and the Restless)

Eric Martsolf (Days of Our Lives)

Greg Rikaart (Days of Our Lives)

Paul Telfer (Days of Our Lives)

Dominic Zamprogna (General Hospital)

Should Win: Paul Telfer is one of Days' best actors and 2024 was a knockout year for him. Telfer had gut-wrenching material to work with as Xander learned one crushing secret revelation after another. As a fan you're heart broke when Xander unleashed his pain and anger over his mother Fiona's betrayal. Telfer has proved himself as the show's new leading man and should be rewarded with an Emmy win.

Will Win: Peter Bergman is a Daytime Emmy darling having received 25 nominations and 3 wins. Bergman had an emotionally charged storyline where Jack risked his sobriety to help Nikki overcome her alcohol addiction. Jack and Nikki's standalone episode was one of the best moments from 2024. Bergman's performance in that episode is enough to have him win his 4th Emmy award.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Linsey Godfrey (Days of Our Lives)

Courtney Hope (The Young and the Restless)

Kate Mansi (General Hospital)

Emily O’Brien (Days of Our Lives)

Susan Walters (The Young and the Restless)

Should Win: Linsey Godfrey has been nominated six times for a Supporting Actress award, three of which are for her role as Sarah on Days. 2024 saw the actress give a gripping performance as Sarah was paralyzed from a hit and run accident. The storyline was undoubtedly tough and emotional for Godrey who was involved in a real-life hit-and-run accident in 2015. Godfrey's ability to dig into her real-life emotions made the storyline that much more poignant.

Will Win: GH fans have been critical of Kate Mansi taking over the role of Kristina. However, the actress put in good work this year with Kristina and Molly's surrogacy storyline, and the loss of her baby. The tearjerking storyline had Mansi front-and-center as Kristina grieved her daughter's death and sought payback for baby Irene's death.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Tajh Bellow (General Hospital)

Blake Berris (Days of our Lives)

Michael Graziadei (The Young and the Restless)

Gregory Harrison (General Hospital)

Jonathan Jackson (General Hospital)

Should Win: 20 years after his nomination for Younger Actor, Michael Graziadei is nominated for Supporting Actor. The actor gave an emotional performance in 2024 as Daniel mourned Heather's death, then faced prison time for her murder. Graziadei showed off a range of emotions from sadness to worry to anger as Daniel faced an uncertain future. Although he's came up empty in his previous nominations, he has a good shot at Supporting Actor.

Will Win: Jonathan Jackson is a fan favorite at the Daytime Emmys, earning 10 nominations and 5 wins. His last win came in 2012 and 13 years later he scored another nomintion for Supporting Actor. Jackson's shocking return and involvement in Lulu's storyline will have the actor walking away with Emmy #6.

Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Linden Ashby (The Young and the Restless)

Clint Howard (The Bold and the Beautiful)

Jacqueline Lopez (General Hospital)

Alley Mills (General Hospital)

Valarie Pettiford (The Young and the Restless)

Avery Kristen Pohl (General Hospital)

Should Win: Primetime star Valarie Pettiford made a return to daytime TV as the new Amy Lewis on Y&R. Pettiford put on an emotional and heartwarming performance as Amy sought Nate's help with finding her long-lost son Damian. But the mother and son reunion was wrought with many emotions as Amy revealed her cancer diagnosis. Pettiford's been a great addition to Y&R and has showed off her dramatic skills. She was deserving of her Daytime Emmy nomination and should win on Friday night.

Will Win: Clint Howard added soap star to his resume when he joined B&B as the eccentric Tom Starr. Tom was a homeless man, who became involved in Deacon and Sheila's lives. While Howard's time on the show was brief, he's a famous name in Hollywood and the Emmys love to reward big-named stars.

Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Olivia d’Abo (The Bay)

AnnaLynne McCord (Days of Our Lives)

Ashley Puzemis (Days of Our Lives)

Christian Weissmann (The Bold and the Beautiful)

Lisa Yamada (The Bold and the Beautiful)

Should Win & Will Win: While all the acting categories are unpredictable, this one seems easy to predict. While all these stars had breakout years, none was better than Lisa Yamada. The actress easily transitioned from good girl to bad girl as Luna unleashed her criminal side. Whether she was torturing Steffy or conning Bill, Luna keep things interesting. Yamada was outstanding her villainous performance and is deserving of a Daytime Emmy.