# Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Production Design for Variety Special is awarded to one television special each year. Prior to the category's creation in 2016, specials and regular series competed together as Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Programming. The two had also been divided in 1977 and 1978.
In the following list, the first titles listed in gold are the winners; those not in gold are nominees, which are listed in alphabetical order. The years given are those in which the ceremonies took place.

## Winners and nominations
### 1970s

Outstanding Art Direction for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special
| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 1977 (29th) | Individual Art Direction or Scenic Design for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special | Individual Art Direction or Scenic Design for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special | Individual Art Direction or Scenic Design for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special |
| 1977 (29th) | America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music | Robert Kelly | CBS |
| 1977 (29th) | Billy the Kid: American Ballet Theatre (Great Performances) | Jac Venza | PBS |
| 1977 (29th) | The George Burns Special | Roy Christopher, John Hueners | CBS |
| 1977 (29th) | Les Patineurs: American Ballet Theatre (Great Performances) | William Mickley | PBS |
| Achievement in Coverage of Special Events – Individuals |||
| 1977 (29th) | The 28th Annual Emmy Awards | Brian Bartholomew, Keaton S. Walker | ABC |
| 1978 (30th) | Individual Art Direction for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special | Individual Art Direction for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special | Individual Art Direction for a Comedy-Variety or Music Special |
| 1978 (30th) | The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots | Romain Johnston, Kerry Joyce | ABC |
| 1978 (30th) | Cher... Special | Brian C. Bartholomew | ABC |
| 1978 (30th) | How to Survive the '70s and Maybe Even Bump Into Happiness | Roy Christopher, Don Remacle | CBS |
| 1978 (30th) | Mitzi... Zings Into Spring | Robert Kelly | CBS |
| 1978 (30th) | They Said It with Music: Yankee Doodle to Ragtime | Robert Checci, John Dapper, Romain Johnston | CBS |
| Special Classification of Outstanding Individual Achievement |||
| 1978 (30th) | CBS: On the Air | Jan Scott, Earl Carlson | CBS |
| 1979 (31st) |
| Individual Achievement – Special Events |||
| 1979 (31st) | The 51st Annual Academy Awards | Roy Christopher | ABC |

### 1980s

| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 1980 (32nd) |
| Individual Achievement – Special Events |||
| 1980 (32nd) | The 52nd Annual Academy Awards | Ray Klausen | ABC |
| 1988 (58th) |
| Individual Achievement – Special Events |||
| 1988 (58th) | The 60th Annual Academy Awards | Charles Lisanby, Keaton S. Walker | ABC |

### 2010s

Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Nonfiction, Event or Award Special
| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 2016 (68th) |
| 2016 (68th) | Grease: Live | David Korins, Joe Celli, Jason Howard | Fox |
| 2016 (68th) | He Named Me Malala | Alexander Fuller, Lori West | Nat Geo |
| 2016 (68th) | Lemonade | Hannah Beachler, Chris Britt, Kim Murphy | HBO |
| 2016 (68th) | The Oscars | Derek McLane, Gloria Lamb, Matt Steinbrenner | ABC |
| 2016 (68th) | The Wiz Live! | Derek McLane, Erica Hemminger, Mike Pilipski | NBC |
| 2017 (69th) |
| 2017 (69th) | Hairspray Live! | Derek McLane, Joe Celli, Jason Howard | NBC |
| 2017 (69th) | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner | John Yeck | TBS |
| 2017 (69th) | The 74th Annual Golden Globes | Brian Stonestreet, John Zuiker | NBC |
| 2017 (69th) | The Oscars | Derek McLane, Alana Billingsley | ABC |
| 2017 (69th) | Super Bowl LI Halftime Show Starring Lady Gaga | Bruce Rodgers, LeRoy Bennett, Shelley Rodgers, Lindsey Breslauer | Fox |
Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special
| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 2018 (70th) |
| 2018 (70th) | Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert | Jason Ardizzone-West, Melissa Shakun | NBC |
| 2018 (70th) | The Carol Burnett Show: 50th Anniversary Special | Joe Stewart, Joseph Mark Sarno | CBS |
| 2018 (70th) | The 75th Annual Golden Globes | Brian Stonestreet, John Zuiker | NBC |
| 2018 (70th) | The 60th Annual Grammy Awards | Brian Stonestreet, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb | CBS |
| 2018 (70th) | The Oscars | Derek McLane, Alana Billingsley, Kristen Merlino | ABC |
| 2019 (71st) |
| 2019 (71st) | RENT | Jason Sherwood, Adam Rowe, John Sparano | Fox |
| 2019 (71st) | The 61st Annual Grammy Awards | Brian Stonestreet, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb | CBS |
| 2019 (71st) | Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé | Ric Lipson, Rachel Duncan, Andrew Makadsi | Netflix |
| 2019 (71st) | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons | Bernard Vyzga, Richard Rohrer, Ron Olsen | ABC |
| 2019 (71st) | The Oscars | David Korins, Alana Billingsley | ABC |

### 2020s

| Year | Program | Nominees | Network |
| 2020 (72nd) |
| 2020 (72nd) | The Oscars | Jason Sherwood, Alana Billingsley | ABC |
| 2020 (72nd) | The 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards | Brian Stonestreet, Angel Herrera | NBC |
| 2020 (72nd) | The 62nd Grammy Awards | Brian Stonestreet, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb, Jason Howard | CBS |
| 2020 (72nd) | The Little Mermaid Live! | Misty Buckley, Joe Celli, Jason Howard | ABC |
| 2020 (72nd) | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" | Bernard Vyzga, Richard Rohrer, Ron Olsen | ABC |
| 2021 (73rd) |
| 2021 (73rd) | The Oscars | David Rockwell, Joe Celli, Alana Billingsley, Jason Howard | ABC |
| 2021 (73rd) | Friends: The Reunion | John Shaffner, Greg Grande, Daren Janes | HBO Max |
| 2021 (73rd) | The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards | Brian Stonestreet, John Zuiker | NBC |
| 2021 (73rd) | The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards | Misty Buckley, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb, Matt Steinbrenner | CBS |
| 2021 (73rd) | Stephen Colbert's Election Night 2020: Democracy's Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 | Jim Fenhagen, Larry Hartman, Riley Mellon, Brendan Hurley | Showtime |
| 2022 (74th) |
| 2022 (74th) | The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent | Bruce Rodgers, Shelley Rodgers, Maria Garcia | NBC |
| 2022 (74th) | The 64th Annual Grammy Awards | Julio Himede, Kristen Merlino | CBS |
| 2022 (74th) | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes | Stephan Olson, Raf Lydon, Jerie Kelter | ABC |
| 2022 (74th) | The Oscars | David Korins, Margaux Lapresle | ABC |
| 2022 (74th) | Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 | Willo Perron, Steve Morden, Marc Manabat | Prime Video |
| 2023 (75th) |
| 2023 (75th) | The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna | Bruce Rodgers, Shelley Rodgers, Lindsey Breslauer, Maria Garcia, Lily Rodgers | Fox |
| 2023 (75th) | Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love | Tamlyn Wright, Travis Deck | NBC |
| 2023 (75th) | Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl | Misty Buckley, Joe Celli, Raquel Tarbet | Disney+ |
| 2023 (75th) | The 65th Annual Grammy Awards | Julio Himede, Kristen Merlino | CBS |
| 2023 (75th) | The Oscars | Misty Buckley, Alana Billingsley, John Zuiker | ABC |
| 2024 (76th) |
| 2024 (76th) | The Oscars | Misty Buckley, Alana Billingsley, John Zuiker, Margaux Lapresle | ABC |
| 2024 (76th) | Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic | Steve Morden, James Yarnell, John Sparano | CBS |
| 2024 (76th) | The 66th Grammy Awards | Julio Himede, Kristen Merlino, Gloria Lamb, Ellen Jaworski, Kaydee Lavorin Friel | CBS |
| 2024 (76th) | Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas | Misty Buckley, Laura Woodroffe, Richard Olivieri | Apple TV+ |
| 2024 (76th) | The 76th Annual Tony Awards | Steve Bass, Aaron Black, Star Theodos Kahn | CBS |