The Television Academy has officially given the green light to a second season of its highly successful Televerse festival. This announcement comes as no surprise, as TV Academy president/CEO Maury McIntyre had previously hinted at plans for an encore event and had expressed a desire to improve upon the inaugural festival.
One of the notable changes for the upcoming season is the shift to a Friday/Saturday/Sunday format, as opposed to the previous year’s Thursday/Friday/Saturday schedule. The second Televerse is scheduled to take place from Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.
The first Televerse drew in over 2,500 attendees, with TV Academy members making up approximately 75% of the audience and the remaining 25% consisting of the general public. The event featured Phase 2 FYC panels from Emmy-nominated shows, marking the first time sanctioned campaign events were held after the Emmy nominations. Panels for acclaimed shows like “The Pitt,” “Severance,” “The Studio,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Slow Horses,” and “Top Chef” were among the highlights. Additionally, nominated shows that couldn’t host a panel were given the option to screen an episode.
Collaborating with the team behind the ATX TV Festival, Televerse also included TV reunion panels (“Bones,” “Queer as Folk”), industry-focused discussions on diversity, filming in L.A., and the influence of AI on the entertainment industry. The festival showcased premieres like “The Rainmaker” and masterclasses led by industry veterans like Henry Winkler and Beau Willimon. The festivities culminated with the TV Academy’s Hall of Fame celebration on Saturday night, offering a total of around 40 sessions.
TV Academy chair Cris Abrego emphasized the importance of Televerse in connecting creators with fans and shaping the future of television. The upcoming season aims to feature established voices in the industry, highlight emerging talent, explore new creative approaches and technologies, and recognize leaders driving the evolution of the business.
While specific programming details are yet to be revealed, the TV Academy has confirmed the commitment of various industry partners from networks, studios, and streaming platforms for Televerse 2026. Plans for the festival’s profitability and its potential to become a staple event on the TV calendar are also in motion, with hopes of making it an annual success.
In line with the 2026 Emmy calendar, the TV Academy recently announced that next year’s Emmy telecast is scheduled for Monday, September 14, on NBC. Stay tuned for more updates on Televerse as programming announcements are expected to be made early next year.
