Minnesota PBS has earned 19 nominations for the 2026 Upper Midwest Emmy Awards, recognizing the station’s work across documentary, public affairs, arts and culture, history, lifestyle, social issues, digital storytelling and live programming.
From the music and migration that shaped Minneapolis’ West Bank to the history of Minneapolis policing, from Dakota connections to Bdote to the artists, makers and communities shaping Minnesota today, these nominations reflect the breadth of stories Minnesota PBS tells — stories that help us better understand where we come from, who we are and the communities we share.
Here are the 19 nominated projects:
The Wild West Bank Sound — Documentary, Cultural
The Wild West Bank Sound takes viewers into Minneapolis’ West Bank, a neighborhood that became an unlikely epicenter of music and culture beginning in the 1960s. Blending rare archival photographs and footage with memories from musicians and community voices, the documentary explores how immigration, creativity, and a remarkable mix of musical traditions helped shape the neighborhood’s enduring legacy.
Paradox: Echoes of Reform & the Minneapolis Police — Documentary, Historical
Historian Yohuru Williams leads viewers through more than a century of Minneapolis police history in Paradox, examining the long and complicated story of police reform in the city. Through archival footage, historical research, and contemporary interviews, the series explores how the past continues to shape the city’s public safety conversation today.
Almanac — Public Affairs Program
For decades, Almanac has provided Minnesotans with in-depth reporting and conversation about the people, policies and issues shaping the state. The program brings together newsmakers, elected officials, community leaders, and journalists to examine the issues that matter most to Minnesotans, while providing context and perspective beyond the day’s headlines.
A St. Thomas Christmas: Love Divine — Entertainment, Long Form
Recorded at Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall, A St. Thomas Christmas: Love Divine brings together hundreds of University of St. Thomas student musicians for an annual celebration of the season.
Learning to Look — Arts, Short Form
Watch as a group of young art lovers share their unfiltered, funny, and deeply thoughtful reactions to “It’s a Delicate Balance” by Christi Belcourt at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Emma Beatrez’s Artist Diary — Arts/Entertainment, Short Form
Part of Minnesota PBS’ Artist Diaries series, this short offers an intimate glimpse into Minneapolis artist Emma Beatrez and her creative world. The series is designed to bring viewers inside an artist’s thoughts and creative process through highly stylized, dreamlike storytelling.
Healing Art and Science of Facial Prosthetics — Health/Medical
Artists and prostheticians combine meticulous craftsmanship and medical expertise to create lifelike facial prosthetics that can help patients restore not only their appearance, but also a sense of confidence and identity. The story also highlights Minnesota’s long history of innovation in the field, dating back to the 1800s.
Just Like Mom Used to Make — Historical/Cultural/Nostalgic
James Beard Award-nominated chefs Mike Brown and Bob Gerken are known for flipping food on its head at their restaurant, Travail Kitchen and Amusements. After showing off their fancy, fine dining creations, the chefs go back to their roots and head into the kitchen with their moms to cook childhood favorites the old-fashioned way.
Wicked Minnehaha — Historical/Cultural/Nostalgic
Long before Minnehaha Falls became one of Minnesota’s most beloved destinations, the area had a considerably wilder reputation. Wicked Minnehaha takes viewers back to the 1800s, when the area was associated with whiskey, crime, gambling, prostitution, and political corruption.
Lost Key Dog Sledding — Lifestyle, Short Form
Kaomi Lee meets two women who launched their own dog-sledding team and completed their first year of racing in Minnesota. The story follows Emily Ford and Anna Hennessy as they navigate the demanding world of competitive mushing, highlighting the work, camaraderie, and determination behind the sport — and the growing presence of women on Minnesota’s dog-sledding trails.
Why You Should Touch Clay Every Day — Lifestyle, Short Form
Visit Minnesota pottery artist Sayge Carroll from Mudluk Pottery to learn how clay pottery can be a relaxing practice that brings joy into anyone's life.
$40M Museum to Honor Veterans — Military
Kaomi Lee reports on plans for a new $40 million Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum near Camp Ripley. The proposed 40,000-square-foot facility is intended to provide significantly more space to tell the stories of Minnesota’s veterans and military history.
Almanac at the Capitol — Politics/Government
Broadcast live from the Minnesota State Capitol, Almanac at the Capitol gives viewers a front-row seat to the state legislative process. Hosted by Mary Lahammer, the program follows lawmakers, legislation, negotiations, and the issues driving debate at the Capitol, providing reporting and analysis throughout the legislative session.
Bdote: A Birthing Island — Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Bdote: A Birthing Island explores the profound Dakota connection to the place where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers meet. Through Dakota oral histories and the story of Ramona Kitto Stately’s great-great-grandmother, the film reveals Bdote as a place of creation, birth, ceremony, and cultural memory while also confronting the trauma of colonization, displacement, and the U.S.-Dakota War.
A Community of 10,000 Fights Google’s Data Center — Societal Concerns
Hermantown officials hope their community is the next to secure a hyperscale data center. They say a Fortune 50 company in their city would significantly expand the tax base and add jobs. But a resident group opposes the plan and say secrecy over the project and environmental concerns have created deep mistrust.
House of Our Stories — Societal Concerns
House of Our Stories follows Minnesota’s Latino community as it works toward establishing the state’s first Latino Museum. The short focuses on Aaron Johnson-Ortiz and community leaders preparing a major exhibition of larger-than-life alebrijes — vibrant Mexican folk-art sculptures — on Raspberry Island in St. Paul.
MN State Photo Has Some Secrets — Content Shorts
A familiar Minnesota image turns out to be not quite what it seems. This short unpacks the surprising story behind Grace, Minnesota’s official state photograph. The story also explores the mystery surrounding Charles Wilden, the man pictured in the photograph, whose life remains largely unknown more than a century later.
Scott Trotman — Director, Live/Recorded Live Program or Newscast
This nomination recognizes Scott Trotman’s direction, highlighting the production expertise behind Minnesota PBS’ live and recorded programming. The category recognizes the creative and technical leadership required to coordinate a complex live or live-to-tape production and translate it into a polished experience for viewers.
Nathan Reopelle — Editor, Short or Long Form Content
This nomination recognizes Nathan Reopelle’s editing, a critical part of transforming reporting, interviews, archival material, and visual storytelling into compelling finished work. The nomination reflects the creative judgment and technical skill required to shape a story in the edit bay — determining pacing, structure, and the moments that ultimately connect with an audience.