Iowa PBS is celebrating a strong showing in the 2026 Upper Midwest Emmy® Awards, earning 18 nominations across a wide range of categories.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences — Upper Midwest Chapter announced the nominees Tuesday. The nominations recognize Iowa PBS productions, talent and behind-the-scenes professionals for their work in storytelling, history, entertainment, arts, lifestyle and other areas.
Among the nominated programs are “Behind the Blue Ribbon” in the Documentary — Cultural category and “The Legacy of 4-H” in Documentary — Historical.
“Iowa Life” also received several nominations, including for Episode #306, a feature on musician Jamie Poulsen at Abbey Road Studios, a profile of retired Colonel Gerry Berry and a story highlighting Em’s Coffee Company.
Other Iowa PBS nominations include coverage of the 2025 Des Moines Symphony’s Yankee Doodle Pops, Des Moines Metro Opera Presents “The Cunning Little Vixen,” and “An Irish Christmas With Michael Londra.”
The network also received recognition for the 2025 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, “Market to Market: Rural Racing Economics,” “Road Trip Iowa: Primrose Restaurant,” and stories highlighting the Meskwaki Nation and Iowa wrestling legend Frank Gotch.
Individual Iowa PBS professionals were also nominated for work in hosting, editing, photography, motion graphics and visual effects.
The 2026 Upper Midwest Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, in Bloomington, Minnesota.
The Emmy Awards recognize outstanding television professionals and productions across the Upper Midwest.
For a complete list of nominees and additional information about the awards, visit midwestemmys.org.
Iowa PBS programming, along with WORLD and Create, is available to stream through Iowa PBS Live and other PBS platforms.
Source: Iowa PBS / National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences — Upper Midwest Chapter
