The 15th Daytime Emmy Awards were held in 1988 to commemorate excellence in daytime programming from the previous year (1987).

Winners in each category are in bold.

Oustanding Daytime Drama Series

• All My Children
• As the World Turns
• One Life to Live
• Santa Barbara
• The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series

• Larry Bryggman (As the World Turns)
• David Canary (All My Children)
• Robert Gentry (All My Children)
• Stephen Nichols (Days of Our Lives)

Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series

• Helen Gallagher (Ryan's Hope)
• Elizabeth Hubbard (As the World Turns)
• Susan Lucci (All My Children)
• Erika Slezak (One Life to Live)
• Marcy Walker (Santa Barbara)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series

• Bernard Barrow (Ryan's Hope)
• Nicolas Coster (Santa Barbara)
• Justin Deas (Santa Barbara)
• Mark La Mura (All My Children)
• David Lewis (General Hospital)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series

• Lisa Brown (As the World Turns)
• Maeve Kinkead (Guiding Light)
• Robin Mattson (Santa Barbara)
• Arleen Sorkin (Days of Our Lives)
• Ellen Wheeler (All My Children)

Outstanding Young Man in a Daytime Drama Series

• Scott DeFreitas (As the World Turns)
• Andrew Kavovit (As the World Turns)
• Ross Kettle (Santa Barbara)
• Billy Warlock (Days of Our Lives)

Outstanding Ingenue in a Daytime Drama Series

• Tichina Arnold (Ryan's Hope)
• Andrea Evans (One Life to Live)
• Lauren Holly (All My Children)
• Julianne Moore (As the World Turns)
• Robin Wright (Santa Barbara)