Squid Game, the global sensation that captivated audiences around the world, has found itself completely overlooked in the 2025 Emmy Awards nominations. The event, often referred to as the Oscars of television, released their nominations on July 15, 2025, and despite the widespread acclaim for Squid Game, the show was noticeably absent from the list.
The Big Surprise: Squid Game Missing from Emmy Nominations
Netflix, as expected, secured a significant number of nominations across various shows. Series like Severance and The Penguin led the pack with 27 and 24 nominations, respectively. However, the absence of Squid Game from this prestigious list came as a shock. This surprising omission raised eyebrows, especially given the success of the show’s second season, which aired in December 2024, perfectly fitting within the eligibility window for the 2025 Emmys. The award season rules for the Emmy Awards focus on shows released between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025.
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Why Did Squid Game Fail to Secure Nominations?
Though Squid Game was a global cultural phenomenon and still remains Netflix’s most-watched series to date, its failure to land an Emmy nomination this year is thought to be linked to its previous success. In 2022, the show received 14 nominations, but it won only six awards. At the time, many industry professionals and fans felt the series’ recognition overshadowed other deserving shows, such as Stranger Things and This Is Us.
The Emmy nominations, as always, spark heated debates about which series truly deserve recognition. For the Academy, it could have been a conscious decision to avoid potentially reigniting the same conversation about other worthy shows being sidelined in favor of Squid Game.
Bela Bajaria’s Disappointment with the Snub
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s head of global TV programming, expressed her surprise and disappointment over the lack of recognition for Squid Game. In a statement to Variety, she stated, “I am disappointed for Director Hwang and the cast. For Director Hwang to not be recognized in that way, considering the amount of audiences around the world who loved it so much and that it really resonated with people… I’m disappointed when it doesn’t get recognized in the way that it should have.”
Despite this year’s snub, the future looks bright for Squid Game. The third season, expected to conclude the series, is set to debut next year. The Korean drama will once again be eligible for the 2026 Emmy Awards, and the question remains: will the show receive the recognition it undoubtedly deserves next time?
Other Surprising Snubs in 2025
Squid Game is not alone in its Emmy misfortune. The 2025 nominations saw a range of surprising omissions. For example, Yellowjackets season 3, once a favorite at the Emmys, failed to garner any nominations this year. Similarly, A Man on the Inside, a standout comedy on Netflix, was also left out, as was Diego Luna’s omission for his role in Andor, despite the series earning 14 nominations.
With Netflix leading the way with a total of 120 nominations across all categories, it is clear that the streaming giant continues to dominate the television landscape. However, even giants like Squid Game cannot always secure a spot among the most prestigious awards in the industry.
