The Women’s Media Center analysis of 2026 Oscar nominations finds that despite a notable increase in representation this year, women continue to make up less than one-third of nominees in non-acting categories. Even though the 21st century has seen women break through as winners in the notoriously male-dominated category of Best Director — three women have won so far in this category — this progress is not representative of significant increases for women nominated overall in non-acting categories. The total percentages for nominated women in non-acting categories continue to stall at no more than 32% every year.

Pie charts illustrating the findings of the Women's Media Center 2025 Report: Gender and Non-Acting Emmy Nominations

For the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2,634 people have been nominated in 102 non-acting categories. Of these nominees, 855 (33%) are women, 1,774 (67%) are men, and five (less than 1%) are nonbinary. These percentages show slightly lower female representation compared to the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.

It should come as no surprise that women continue to be in the minority of nominees for annual Academy Awards. Women in the film industry continue to come up against a proverbial glass ceiling, each year comprising no more than 32% of the Oscar nominees in non-acting categories. In 2025, the percentage of women nominees dropped below 30%: Of the 216 Oscar nominees in non-acting categories, 59 (27%) are women, and the other 157 (73%) are men. This is a decrease from 2024, when women were 32% of non-acting Oscar nominees, compared to 68% men.

It should come as no surprise that women continue to be in the minority of nominees for annual Academy Awards. Women in the film industry continue to come up against a proverbial glass ceiling, each year comprising no more than 32% of the Oscar nominees in non-acting categories. In 2025, the percentage of women nominees dropped below 30%: Of the 216 Oscar nominees in non-acting categories, 59 (27%) are women, and the other 157 (73%) are men. This is a decrease from 2024, when women were 32% of non-acting Oscar nominees, compared to 68% men.

When it comes to progress for women nominees in non-acting categories, it’s business as usual for the Primetime Emmys: The total percentage of women who got nominations in non-acting categories has continued to stall at below 40% every year.

Six pie charts highlighting the number and percentage of women, men, and non-binary nominees for the 2024 non-acting Emmy Awards.

Women made modest year-to-year gains in the non-acting nominations for the 2024 Academy Awards with 32% going to women, matching the previous high set in 2021. The increase can be largely attributed to more women nominees in the major categories of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing, and in the below-the-line crafts categories of Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Documentary Feature. But despite increases, the number of women recognized with Oscar nominations for these behind-the-camera roles continues to lag woefully behind that of men. Even with an all-time high of 32%, more than twice as many nominations — 68% — are going to men in the 18 non-acting categories.

Women made modest year-to-year gains in the non-acting nominations for the 2024 Academy Awards with 32% going to women, matching the previous high set in 2021. The increase can be largely attributed to more women nominees in the major categories of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing, and in the below-the-line crafts categories of Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Documentary Feature. But despite increases, the number of women recognized with Oscar nominations for these behind-the-camera roles continues to lag woefully behind that of men. Even with an all-time high of 32%, more than twice as many nominations — 68% — are going to men in the 18 non-acting categories.

The “Women of Color in U.S. News Leadership 2023” report spotlights 20 women of color top executives in media who are visible, powerful, and transformational. These dynamic women in television, print, digital, and radio now occupy a seat at the table in an industry long dominated by White men. They lead at a time when the need to grow audiences, increase the bottom line, and keep pace with a rapidly changing digital world gains urgency. Perhaps paramount to the ability to do all of this is creating newsrooms that are inclusive, diverse, and representative. They are working to ensure that the voices, experiences, and stories of everyone, especially women and people of color, are included in media.

For the annual Primetime Emmy Awards, the total numbers of women who get nominations in non-acting categories have continued to hit a proverbial “glass ceiling” of below 40% every year. The total numbers have not changed from the previous year: For the 2023 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, 33% of the non-acting nominees were women, the same percentage for the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. And in typically male-dominated categories, things are getting worse for women.

For the annual Primetime Emmy Awards, the total numbers of women who get nominations in non-acting categories have continued to hit a proverbial “glass ceiling” of below 40% every year. The total numbers have not changed from the previous year: For the 2023 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, 33% of the non-acting nominees were women, the same percentage for the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. And in typically male-dominated categories, things are getting worse for women.

Men have received 78% of non-acting Oscar nominations over the past 17 years and women 22%, according to an analysis by the Women’s Media Center. The report, “WMC Investigation: 17-Year Analysis of Gender & Non-Acting Academy Award Nominations,” concludes that there have been modest improvements in female representation from 2007 to 2023 but also that progress has been slow and uneven.

Men have received 78% of non-acting Oscar nominations over the past 17 years and women 22%, according to an analysis by the Women’s Media Center. The report, “WMC Investigation: 17-Year Analysis of Gender & Non-Acting Academy Award Nominations,” concludes that there have been modest improvements in female representation from 2007 to 2023 but also that progress has been slow and uneven.