Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Special

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Special is awarded to one television special each year. Prior to 2011, the award was bestowed as Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) for Variety, Music or Comedy Programming and included both series and specials.

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.

1990s
Between 2000 and 2010, series and specials competed together for Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic).