Television Academy Launches Legacy Award for Enduring Shows

The Television Academy announced on Thursday the creation of the Legacy Award, a new honorary Emmy recognizing television programs that have delivered profound and lasting impacts on audiences while maintaining relevance to society, culture, and the industry. This marks the first major addition to the Emmys lineup in nearly two decades.

The award aims to honor groundbreaking series that have endured over time, featuring stories and characters with multigenerational appeal. "The Legacy Award celebrates groundbreaking programming that has stood the test of time, delivering stories that continue to engage audiences and featuring iconic and timeless characters with multigenerational appeal," said Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego in a statement. He added that the honor allows the organization to recognize more of television's rich history and the storytellers whose work has resonated with viewers worldwide.

To qualify, a program must have aired at least 60 episodes across a minimum of five seasons and demonstrate sustained relevance, influence, or inspiration to a television genre, existing or new audiences, or broader society and culture. Franchise properties, such as...