The International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the International Emmy Awards, the primary awards ceremony of the International television industry. The category is described on the official IATAS website as being open to drama series which are "a dramatic production in which theme, storyline, and main characters are presented under the same title, with the intention to develop beyond a first season." The award was first given in 2002, for the awards covering programmes screened in 2001.