| Election Name: | 1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska |
| Country: | Nebraska |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1972 United States Senate election in Nebraska |
| Previous Year: | 1972 |
| Next Election: | 1984 United States Senate election in Nebraska |
| Next Year: | 1984 |
| Election Date: | November 7, 1978 |
| Image1: | File:1979 p80 J James Exon.jpg |
| Nominee1: | J. James Exon |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 334,096 |
| Percentage1: | 67.66% |
| Nominee2: | Donald Eugene Shasteen |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 159,708 |
| Percentage2: | 32.34% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Carl Curtis |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | J. James Exon |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Carl Curtis decided to retire instead of seeking a fifth term. In the elections, the Democratic nominee J. James Exon won the open seat. This election was the first time ever that a Democrat won the Class 2 Senate seat in Nebraska, as the second time ever that a non-Republican won this seat (along with the 1936 election).