Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) is presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to recognize exceptional pre-recorded variety specials. This category honors specials that are primarily focused on variety acts, including but not limited to music performances, comedy sketches, dance routines, and monologues. The key distinguishing factor from the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category is that the winning program must be pre-recorded prior to its broadcast.

Eligibility for this award requires that the special be predominantly of a variety format, meaning it emphasizes entertainment through various acts rather than relying on a single narrative or competition. The "pre-recorded" designation confirms the program was not broadcast live at the time of its initial presentation. This allows for extensive editing and post-production enhancements.

The award recognizes the contributions of various individuals involved in the creation of the winning special, typically including the producers, directors, writers, and performers. The specific list of individuals receiving the award can vary depending on the production credits and the Academy's guidelines for each year.

Prior to 2015, pre-recorded and live variety specials were often considered within the same Emmy category. The separation into distinct categories acknowledges the differing production and creative challenges inherent in live versus pre-recorded broadcasts.