Only Murders in the Building has officially secured 7 Primetime Emmy Awards to date. While the Hulu original series is frequently recognized in high-profile categories such as Outstanding Comedy Series and Lead Actor, its actual victories have established a specific pattern of dominance within the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The show’s success is anchored in its technical brilliance, particularly in production design and sound, alongside its ability to attract legendary talent for guest appearances.

To understand the Emmy trajectory of this series, one must look beyond the marquee categories and into the specialized crafts that bring the Arconia to life. As of late 2025 and moving into the 2026 awards cycle, the series maintains a formidable reputation as a perennial nominee that consistently elevates the standard for televised comedy production.

The Definitive Count of Emmy Victories

Since its debut, the show has navigated multiple competitive television seasons, facing off against juggernauts like Ted Lasso, The Bear, and Hacks. Despite the intense competition, it has carved out a niche for itself. The 7 wins recorded so far are distributed across categories that highlight the show's aesthetic and narrative depth.

The breakdown of major wins includes:

  • Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Nathan Lane (2022)
  • Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour): (Multiple wins across different seasons)
  • Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation: (2022)
  • Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score): (2024)
  • Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: (2024)

These wins indicate that the Television Academy views the series as a benchmark for technical execution. While fans often advocate for the lead trio to take home acting trophies, the industry’s professional branches—the designers, engineers, and composers—have been the ones consistently delivering the gold.

The Power of the Guest Star in the Arconia

One of the most significant Emmy milestones for the series was the victory of Nathan Lane. His portrayal of Teddy Dimas provided the show with its first major acting win. The category of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series is often crowded with high-profile names, but Lane’s performance, particularly in the critically acclaimed silent episode "The Boy from 6B," made a denial impossible for voters.

The "Guest Star" strategy of the show is not merely about cameos; it is about narrative integration. Winning in this category requires a performance that changes the trajectory of the season. Following Lane’s success, the show has continued to nominate luminaries like Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Da'Vine Joy Randolph, in particular, has been a standout as Detective Williams, bringing a grounded reality to the heightened atmosphere of the show’s central mysteries.

The series leverages the "Guest" categories to acknowledge legendary actors who might not commit to a full-time series but provide the gravitas necessary to elevate a comedy-mystery. This approach has turned the show into a prestigious destination for A-list talent, ensuring a steady stream of nominations year after year.

Production Design as a Narrative Tool

The Arconia, the fictional Upper West Side apartment building where the series takes place, is more than just a setting; it is arguably the fourth lead character. The Emmy wins for Production Design are a direct result of the meticulous work done to differentiate the lives of the central characters through their environments.

The design team, led by industry veterans, creates spaces that reflect the internal lives of Charles-Haden Savage, Oliver Putnam, and Mabel Mora.

  • Charles’s Apartment: Reflects a controlled, somewhat dated, and lonely precision, consistent with his history as a procedural TV star.
  • Oliver’s Apartment: A theatrical, maximalist explosion of velvet, stage memorabilia, and faded grandeur, perfectly capturing the essence of a struggling Broadway director.
  • Mabel’s Apartment: A work in progress, showcasing transition, secrets, and a modern aesthetic that contrasts with the building’s pre-war bones.

Winning the Emmy for Production Design requires a show to demonstrate how the physical world enhances the storytelling. The Arconia’s secret passageways, the detailed elevator interiors, and the distinct architectural flair of the hallways provide a visual language that the Television Academy has rewarded repeatedly.

Sound and Score: The Mystery’s Pulse

Sound mixing and music composition are often overlooked by the general public, but they are vital to the "cozy mystery" genre that this show defines. The 2022 win for Sound Mixing was a testament to the show’s ability to balance dialogue, ambient city noise, and a rhythmic musical score without losing the intimacy of the character moments.

The 2024 wins for Music Composition and Original Music and Lyrics further solidified the show’s auditory identity. Siddhartha Khosla’s score is iconic, using a specific "caper" style that evokes both tension and whimsy. The inclusion of original songs—particularly in the third season’s Broadway-themed arc—allowed the show to compete in the music categories, successfully securing wins for songwriting that blended comedic wit with genuine musical theater quality.

The "Snub" Phenomenon in Major Categories

A frequent topic of discussion among industry analysts is the show’s relationship with the "Big Six" categories: Best Series, Best Lead Actor (Steve Martin and Martin Short), Best Lead Actress (Selena Gomez), Best Supporting Actor/Actress, and Best Writing/Directing.

Despite being a staple of the nomination lists for the 74th, 75th, 76th, and 77th Emmy Awards, the show has faced a "ceiling" in these categories.

  1. The Competitive Landscape: The rise of The Bear shifted the definition of "Comedy" at the Emmys. While Only Murders is a traditional multi-layered comedy, The Bear brought a high-intensity dramatic energy that captured the momentum of the Television Academy voters.
  2. The "Split Vote" Risk: When both Steve Martin and Martin Short are nominated for Lead Actor in the same year, there is a statistical risk of voters splitting their preferences, allowing a single nominee from another show (like Jeremy Allen White or Jason Sudeikis) to take the lead.
  3. Genre Bias: Mystery-comedies are often viewed as "entertaining" rather than "transformative." While the writing is sharp and the directing is stylish, voters sometimes lean toward shows that tackle heavy social themes or experimental formats when deciding the "Best Series" winner.

However, the nomination of Selena Gomez for Lead Actress in 2024 was a historic moment, marking her first acting nomination after years of being recognized only as a producer. This indicates a growing respect for her performance within the trio, even if a win has remained elusive.

Why the Show Remains an Emmy Powerhouse

The fact that the series has 7 wins despite the fierce competition is an achievement that speaks to its consistency. In the streaming era, many shows flame out after two seasons. Only Murders in the Building has managed to maintain its quality and its "Awards Season" relevance through four seasons and into its future developments.

The Television Academy rewards "prestige comedy," and this show fits the bill perfectly. It features veteran legends of the industry, a modern pop-culture icon, and a production value that rivals feature films. Even when it does not win the top prize, the sheer volume of nominations—often exceeding 20 per season—ensures that the show is considered a pillar of the current television landscape.

Seasonal Breakdown of Emmy Performance

Season 1: The Arrival

The first season was a breakout hit, introducing the concept of the "podcast within a show." It received 17 nominations and won 3 awards. The focus was on the technical introduction of the Arconia and the standout guest performance by Nathan Lane. This season established that the show was not just a vanity project for Steve Martin but a serious contender in the TV space.

Season 2: The Sophomoric Success

The second season expanded the lore of the building. It continued the streak of technical nominations. While it didn't sweep the major categories, it solidified the show's place as a "safe bet" for the Academy. The sound and production design remained the gold standard for half-hour comedies during this cycle.

Season 3: The Broadway Expansion

Season 3 took a massive risk by moving the action toward a Broadway theater. This move was a strategic masterstroke for the Emmys, as it allowed the show to compete in music and lyrics categories. The addition of Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd led to a surge in acting nominations. The show walked away with 3 wins in 2024, specifically rewarding the musical and compositional elements of the "Death Rattle Dazzle" storyline.

Season 4 and Beyond: The Legacy Phase

As the show entered its fourth season (and looked toward 2025/2026), it shifted locations to Los Angeles for part of the narrative. This provided new opportunities for production design and guest stars. The 77th Emmy nominations continued to reflect the Academy's affection for the cast, particularly Martin Short, who remains a favorite for Lead Actor honors.

The Technical Categories That Matter

To understand the value of the 7 wins, one must look at what those categories represent in the industry.

Outstanding Music Composition

A win in this category means the show's "sound" is considered the best on television. For a mystery, music is the primary tool for building suspense. The theme song alone has become a shorthand for the show’s brand, and the Academy’s recognition of Siddhartha Khosla acknowledges the difficulty of balancing mystery and comedy through sound.

Outstanding Production Design

This award is judged by peers in the Art Directors Guild. For the show to win this repeatedly signifies that the industry's top designers view the Arconia sets as the most sophisticated half-hour environments currently in production. The attention to detail—down to the wallpaper patterns and the lighting fixtures—is what wins these trophies.

Outstanding Guest Performance

These awards are often the most competitive. Winning here means the show provides a platform where actors can do their best work in a limited amount of screen time. The writing for guest characters must be exceptionally sharp to allow an actor to make an Emmy-winning impact in just one or two episodes.

Summary of the Emmy Impact

Only Murders in the Building has proven that a show can be an "Emmy winner" without necessarily winning the "Best Comedy" trophy every year. Its 7 wins represent a diverse range of excellence, from the acting chops of veteran guest stars to the invisible art of sound mixing and the visible art of production design.

The show’s legacy at the Emmys is one of consistency. It is a show that the Academy respects for its craft, its casting, and its contribution to the comedy-mystery genre. As the series continues, the question is not if it will be nominated, but how many technical and guest categories it will dominate in the next cycle.

What is the total number of Emmy wins for Only Murders in the Building?

The series has won a total of 7 Primetime Emmy Awards to date. These wins are primarily in the Creative Arts categories, including Guest Actor, Production Design, Sound Mixing, and Music Composition.

Has Selena Gomez won an Emmy for her role in the show?

While Selena Gomez has been nominated for her acting (Lead Actress in a Comedy Series) and as a producer (Outstanding Comedy Series), she has not yet won an individual Primetime Emmy for her role as Mabel Mora. However, she shares in the show's overall success as an executive producer on a multi-nominated series.

Who was the first actor to win an Emmy for Only Murders in the Building?

Nathan Lane was the first actor to win an Emmy for the show. He won the award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2022 for his role as Teddy Dimas.

Why does the show win so many technical awards?

The show is recognized for its high production value. The setting of the Arconia requires complex and detailed production design, and the mystery-comedy hybrid necessitates precise sound mixing and iconic music, all of which are categories the Television Academy highly values.

How many times has the show been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series?

The show has been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series for every season it has been eligible, including the 74th, 75th, 76th, and 77th Emmy Awards. While it has not yet won the top prize, its consistent presence in this category marks it as one of the most successful comedies of the 2020s.

Conclusion

With 7 Emmy wins and dozens of nominations, Only Murders in the Building remains a powerhouse in the television industry. Its success in the Creative Arts categories highlights the immense talent working behind the scenes, from the set designers who build the Arconia to the composers who write its hauntingly catchy tunes. While the "Big Six" wins have been elusive, the show's cumulative impact on the awards circuit confirms its status as a modern classic. As long as the murders continue in the Arconia, the Emmy nominations are sure to follow.