Why Meghan Markle Wasn’t at the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards

Meghan Markle had plenty of reason to celebrate this summer after With Love, Meghan earned her first-ever Emmy nomination. But when the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards took place in Los Angeles on September 14, the Duchess of Sussex was nowhere to be seen.

The explanation, however, has less to do with Meghan choosing to avoid the ceremony and more to do with which Emmy ceremony her Netflix series is actually competing in.

With Love, Meghan is nominated for a Daytime Emmy

Meghan celebrated the nomination in July, sharing her excitement on Instagram and congratulating the cast, producers and wider team behind With Love, Meghan.

The Netflix lifestyle series was nominated for Outstanding Lifestyle Series at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. Sony Pictures Television and Archewell Productions were also listed among the producers.

The nomination marked Meghan’s first Emmy recognition. The series is competing against A Different Breed, George to the Rescue, The Motherhood and The Wizard of Paws.

That distinction explains why Meghan did not attend Monday night’s Primetime Emmy ceremony at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.

The Primetime Emmys and Daytime Emmys are separate ceremonies. The winner of With Love, Meghan‘s category will be announced at the Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, October 30. As of the latest reports, it has not been confirmed whether Meghan will attend that event.

Meghan is now spending more time in Britain

Meghan’s absence also comes at a notable moment in her family’s life.

She and Prince Harry recently returned to the UK after spending six years in the United States. A representative for the Sussexes said the couple planned to spend an extended period in Britain during the autumn, giving Archie and Lilibet more time in a country that remains an important part of their family history.

The family’s return has already featured prominently on Meghan’s social media.

In one of her first family posts since returning to Britain, she shared footage of Harry and the children enjoying the countryside. The clips showed the family outdoors, with the children riding bikes, fishing, playing in puddles and spending time around a fire.

The move has also placed Meghan back in Britain at a time when speculation about her professional future has intensified.

What about Meghan’s acting comeback?

Before the family’s UK return, reports circulated that Meghan could make a return to acting by appearing in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen.

The speculation gained attention after reports suggested she was in discussions about a role. However, no official casting announcement has confirmed Meghan’s involvement.

Theo James, one of the show’s lead actors, subsequently dismissed the speculation as “a lot of hot air” when asked about the rumors. He said the focus was on season two, while plans for the third season remained in development.

Netflix has renewed The Gentlemen for a third season, with James and Kaya Scodelario set to return. But Meghan’s participation has not been officially announced.

That leaves her acting future in the UK uncertain, despite continued interest in whether she could take on another screen role.

A different chapter for With Love, Meghan

Meanwhile, Meghan’s Emmy-nominated lifestyle project is also entering a different phase.

The first season of With Love, Meghan premiered on Netflix in March 2025, followed by a second season and a holiday special later that year. The series has not been renewed for a conventional third season.

Instead, a Sussex spokesperson previously told Variety that With Love, Meghan would continue as seasonal specials, suggesting the project could return periodically rather than as a standard full season.

For now, the most immediate milestone is still ahead: the October 30 Daytime Emmy ceremony.

So while Meghan was absent from the Primetime Emmys on September 14, her Emmy story is far from over. With Love, Meghan remains in contention for the Outstanding Lifestyle Series award — and the next ceremony will determine whether her first Emmy nomination becomes her first Emmy win.