The Daytime Emmy Awards 2025 took center stage this October, bringing together the brightest stars of daytime television for a night filled with milestones, emotional tributes, and record-breaking wins. The 52nd annual ceremony marked a significant moment in the awards’ history, with new categories, historic achievements, and a fresh fall date that gave the event renewed visibility.
A New Date, A New Energy
The 52nd Daytime Emmy Awards were held on October 17, 2025, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California. This year’s ceremony marked a notable shift from the traditional spring calendar to an autumn schedule. The change aligned the event closer to the broader awards season and aimed to highlight the growing cultural impact of daytime television.
Television personality Mario Lopez hosted the show solo for the first time, bringing an energetic tone that kept the ceremony both lively and heartfelt. From opening monologues to unexpected acceptance speeches, the night was filled with memorable moments.
Top Contenders Leading the Race
Before the ceremony, the nominations generated considerable buzz across the daytime entertainment landscape. Several long-running favorites and fresh programs emerged as top contenders:
- The Young and the Restless led the field with 19 nominations.
- General Hospital followed closely with 16 nominations.
- Days of Our Lives earned 13 nominations, cementing its reputation as a daytime powerhouse.
This year also saw the introduction of a brand-new category: Outstanding Emerging Talent, created to recognize rising stars in daytime entertainment. This addition reflected the industry’s efforts to honor fresh voices alongside television legends.
Major Winners of the Night
Drama Categories Dominate
The drama categories remained the emotional core of the evening. Veteran actor Jonathan Jackson won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series for his portrayal of Lucky Spencer on General Hospital, marking his sixth career Emmy win.
Susan Walters secured Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance on The Young and the Restless, adding another accolade to her distinguished career.
Alley Mills took home the award for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama for her work on General Hospital as Heather Webber, earning widespread applause during her acceptance speech.
General Hospital also achieved strong victories in the writing, directing, and drama series team categories, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most decorated daytime dramas in recent years.
Talk Shows and Entertainment Series Shine
In the talk show and entertainment categories, Drew Barrymore won Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host for The Drew Barrymore Show, celebrating the program’s unique mix of celebrity interviews and personal storytelling.
Entertainment Tonight captured the award for Outstanding Entertainment News Series, continuing its dominance in that category.
Non-fiction programming also had a big night. Secret Lives of Orangutans, a nature documentary series, received multiple awards including Outstanding Daytime Personality (Non-Daily), making history when Sir David Attenborough, at age 99, became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner ever.
The cultural programming category was highlighted by Black Barbie, which earned recognition for excellence in arts, writing, and popular culture programming.
Lifetime Achievement and Historic Moments
One of the most emotional highlights of the ceremony came with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to journalist Deborah Norville. Her decades-long career on Inside Edition and her impact on broadcast journalism were celebrated with a standing ovation from the audience.
The historic moment of the night belonged to Sir David Attenborough, whose win at 99 years old set a new age record for Daytime Emmy history. His acceptance speech, delivered remotely, drew some of the night’s loudest applause and underscored the timeless appeal of educational and environmental programming.
In Memoriam: Honoring Daytime Legends
The ceremony’s In Memoriam segment paid touching tribute to legendary figures who passed away over the past year. Honorees included:
- Tristan Rogers, beloved for his role as Robert Scorpio on General Hospital
- Michelle Trachtenberg, remembered for her early work on All My Children
- Drake Hogestyn, a fan favorite from Days of Our Lives
- Eileen Fulton, Leslie Charleson, Joe Marinelli, and Phil Donahue, all of whom left a lasting legacy on daytime television
The tribute featured clips of their iconic performances, reminding viewers of the enduring power of daytime storytelling.
Notable Shifts and Trends
The Daytime Emmy Awards 2025 highlighted several evolving trends within the industry:
- Seasonal Rescheduling: Moving the ceremony to October proved successful, drawing increased media coverage and audience engagement.
- New Talent Recognition: The Emerging Talent category suggests a growing focus on nurturing the next generation of daytime stars.
- Streaming Crossover: More programs with streaming and hybrid formats appeared among nominees, signaling how daytime storytelling is expanding beyond traditional broadcast slots.
- Historic Wins: Attenborough’s record-breaking achievement and the continued dominance of legacy soap operas demonstrated how daytime programming blends history with innovation.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As the industry heads toward the 2026 awards cycle, several developments are worth watching. Established series like The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, and Days of Our Lives continue to evolve their storylines to appeal to both longtime fans and younger viewers. Meanwhile, talk shows and documentary programs are expanding their formats to fit streaming platforms, opening the door for more diverse content to compete in future ceremonies.
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is also expected to evaluate further refinements to eligibility windows and category structures, ensuring the awards remain relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape.
The Daytime Emmy Awards 2025 delivered a blend of nostalgia, innovation, and powerful storytelling. Share your favorite winners and moments in the comments, and stay tuned for the next chapter of daytime television history.