AceShowbiz - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) held the fourth annual Children's & Family Emmy Awards at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City on Monday night, honoring outstanding achievements in programming for young audiences and their families.

The ceremony celebrated numerous talents, with notable wins including Joe Locke for Best Lead Performer for his portrayal of Charlie Spring in Heartstopper, and John Lithgow who took home the award for his voice role as Minister Bolinar in Spellbound. Actors Ana Gasteyer and Andrew Garfield each earned their first Emmy Awards; Ana Gasteyer was recognized for her recurring voice role as Crabitha in RoboGobo, while Andrew Garfield won for his appearance on Sesame Street.

Additionally, Tabitha Brown received the Emmy for Best Children’s Personality for her show Tab Time, which also won for Writing for a Preschool or Children’s Series. The Walt Disney Company emerged as the most awarded organization of the night, securing 22 honors across its various studios and content brands.

In his opening remarks, NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp praised the honorees for their creativity and dedication, stating, "Today's honorees reflect the extraordinary creativity and care that go into serving television’s youngest audiences and the families who watch alongside them." He emphasized the positive impact of children’s programming in a divided world, highlighting how these creators inspire and educate young viewers worldwide.

The awards ceremony was hosted by actor, director, and puppeteer John Tartaglia and featured a memorable opening performance of the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood theme song "Won't You Be My Neighbor" by singer Regina Spektor. This event marked the first time that every competitive category in the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards was presented in a single evening.

The night’s top honors included the Outstanding Preschool, Children’s or Family Viewing Series award, which went to Sesame Street on HBO Max. Other nominees in this category included Jane on Apple TV+, Kids Baking Championship on Food Network, Ms. Rachel from the YouTube channel Ms. Rachel, Odd Squad on PBS Kids, and Tab Time.

For Outstanding Young Teen Series, the winner was Star Wars: Skeleton Crew on Disney+, beating contenders like Goosebumps: The Vanishing, Heartstopper, Sweet Tooth, and Time Bandits.

The Outstanding Fiction Special was awarded to Descendants: The Rise of Red on Disney+, with other nominees including Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip, Girl Haunts Boy, and Henry Danger: The Movie.

In the Outstanding Informational Program category, A Real Bug's Life from National Geographic won the award. Other nominees included Building Outside the Lines, Harlem Ice, Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World, and Super Animals.

The Outstanding Preschool Animated Series accolade went to The Tiny Chef Show on Nickelodeon, surpassing series such as Carl the Collector, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Molly of Denali, and Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.

Win or Lose on Disney+ won Outstanding Children’s or Young Teen Animated Series, competing against Big City Greens, Dream Productions, Wolf King, and Wylde Pak.

The award for Outstanding Animated Special was claimed by Ultraman: Rising on Netflix, with nominees including An Almost Christmas Story, Kiff: The Haunting of Miss McGravy’s House, Kiff: Lore of the Ring Light, and That Christmas.

Outstanding Short Form Live Action Program was awarded to Andrew Garfield and Elmo Explain Grief from the Sesame Workshop YouTube Channel, highlighting Andrew Garfield's impactful contribution to children’s programming. Other nominees were Girls' Voices Now, My Way, and Together We Can.

In the Outstanding Short Form Animated Program category, Daffy in Wackyland from HBO Max secured the win. It competed against titles like Acoustic Rooster: Jazzy Jams, Count on June Bug, Eva the Owlet, How Not to Draw, and Road Trip.

The Outstanding Lead Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program award went to Joe Locke for his role as Charlie Spring in Heartstopper. Other nominees included Kit Connor for Nick Nelson in Heartstopper, Danya Griver in Malory Towers, Lisa Kudrow in Time Bandits, Jude Law in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, David Schwimmer in Goosebumps: The Vanishing, and Nina Toussaint-White in The Primrose Railway Children.

The Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program category was won by Nonso Anozie for his role in Sweet Tooth. Other nominees included Rosalind Chao and Stefania LaVie Owen, both from Sweet Tooth, Ellie Goldstein from Malory Towers, and Dara Reneé from Descendants: The Rise of Red.

The Outstanding Younger Performer award was earned by Christian Convery for his role as Gus in Sweet Tooth, competing with nominees Ravi Cabot-Conyers from Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lucian-River Chauhan from Me on Apple TV+, Ava Joyce McCarthy in The Primrose Railway Children, Naledi Murray and April V. Woods from Sweet Tooth and Malory Towers respectively.

Outstanding Puppetry Performer was awarded to Leslie Carrara-Rudolph for her work as Abby Cadabby and Tango on Sesame Street. Other nominees included Frankie Cordero, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Ryan Dillon, and Carmen Osbahr, all associated with Donkey Hodie or Sesame Street.

In the voice performance categories, Ana Gasteyer took home Outstanding Voice Performer in a Preschool Program for her role as Crabitha in RoboGobo. Other nominees were Pamela Adlon in SuperKitties, Dee Bradley Baker in Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Jay Thomas Manuel in Donkey Hodie, and Amber Riley in Disney Jr.’s Ariel.

Outstanding Single Role Voice Performer in a Children’s or Young Teen Program included nominees such as Erik Todd Dellums for The Dragon Prince and Cynthia Erivo in RoboGobo, though the full winner was not listed in the source.

The fourth annual Children's & Family Emmy Awards highlighted the depth and diversity of programming available to young audiences today. The event honored the artists, performers, and creators who dedicate their talents to producing meaningful, entertaining, and educational content for children and families across various platforms.

With a record-setting ceremony presenting every category in a single night, the awards showcased a wide range of genres, from live-action and animation to informational programming and short-form content. The significant presence of streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, Apple TV+, and HBO Max underscored the evolving landscape of children’s television and digital media.

The recognition of first-time winners such as Ana Gasteyer and Andrew Garfield also reflected the expanding opportunities for established actors to contribute to children’s media in impactful ways. Their wins affirm the importance of high-quality performances that resonate with young viewers and their families.

Overall, the ceremony reinforced the vital role that children’s programming plays in educating, entertaining, and inspiring the next generation, while celebrating the talent and creativity behind these beloved shows and performers.