Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special is awarded to one television series or special each year. Before 1986, limited series and television movies shot on videotape competed alongside variety series and specials. They would later compete separately for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie. Beginning in 2019, nominations are divided between variety series and specials, proportional to the number of submissions of each.

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
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Outstanding Tape Sound Mixing

1980s
Outstanding Tape Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Special

Outstanding Live and Tape Sound Mixing and Sound Effects for a Limited Series or Special

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special 

Programs with multiple awards

 * 2 awards
 * The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Programs with multiple nominations

 * 8 nominations
 * American Idol


 * 7 nominations
 * The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson


 * 6 nominations
 * Last Week Tonight with John Oliver


 * 5 nominations
 * The Voice


 * 4 nominations
 * Saturday Night Live
 * The Tonight Show with Jay Leno


 * 2 nominations
 * The Arsenio Hall Show
 * Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
 * The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
 * Dancing with the Stars
 * The Late Show with Stephen Colbert