Emmy Awards 2026 live: The Pitt, Widow's Bay, Hacks among early winners

Summary

Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay opened up the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards with a celebrity-filled musical number - she's the first woman to host the show in 15 years
Actress Jean Smart won her eighth Emmy - and fifth consecutive for the comedy series Hacks - which tied her for the most acting awards, while British actress Kate O'Flynn got the first win of the night for Widow's Bay, telling BBC her a message for those back home - "to our family and friends, we did it!"
Leading the pack in nominations is medical drama The Pitt, which is up for 25 awards - read more about the show here.
Following close behind is the comedy series Hacks then Widow's Bay, Pluribus and Beef - check out the other Emmy nominees here
Stars including Zendaya and Nicole Kidman to Colman Domingo and Matthew Rhys turned heads earlier tonight on the red carpet at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. See all the looks here

Live Reporting

Edited by Oliver O'Connell with Nardine Saad, Regan Morris and David Willis reporting from Los Angeles

Taylor Swift makes cameo in prerecorded skitpublished at 02:14 BST
Image source, Getty Images
As part of a prerecorded skit, host Mariska Hargitay and her costars from Law & Order SVU tried to solve the mystery of whether Taylor Swift would appear at the Emmys.
Swift then appeared, joining in as a character trying to solve the case, which took us on a tour of the nominees and Swift's album and personal life.
One of Swift's cats is named Olivia Benson after Hargitay's character on the Law & Order series.
Allison Janney tells us she was '100% sure' she wasn't going to winpublished at 02:12 BST
Nardine Saad
at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards
Before she addressed media backstage, Emmy winner Alison Janney made organisers cut back to the ceremony so she could see who would win the next award. It was Noah Wyle, for his performance in The Pitt.
Janney, who made an instantly meme-able facial expression when she was announced as the best supporting actress in a drama, says she was "genuinely shocked" by her win because of how big of a deal The Pitt has become
"We really didn't think it was going to go my way. So I felt just excited and relaxed," she says.
She was, she says, "100% sure I wasn't gonna win".
Janney adds: "I didn't have to go through that at all today. It was lovely getting ready for this event and this is a great surprise."
Image source, Getty Images

Tom Pelphrey wins for Taskpublished at 02:06 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Tom Pelphrey wins the award for best supporting actor in a drama series for his role in HBO's Task.
The nominations included:
- Patrick Ball - The Pitt (HBO Max)
- Billy Crudup - The Morning Show (Apple TV)
- Shawn Hatosy - The Pitt (HBO Max)
- Gerran Howell - The Pitt (HBO Max)
- Jack Lowden - Slow Horses (Apple TV)
- Tom Pelphrey - Task (HBO Max) - winner
- Carlos-Manuel Vesga - Pluribus (Apple TV)
"To my favorite actor in this room, my love, my best friend, my partner, the very pregnant Kaley Cuoco. I love you more than anything, and our family is the crown jewel of my life," Pelphrey says in his acceptance speech, as Cuoco, who was nominated in 2021 and 2022 for her work in The Attendant, tears up.
Actresses Rachel Sennott and Odessa A'Zion presented the award.
Image source, Getty Images
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Kaley Cuoco teared up as her husband thanked her in his acceptance speech.
The Pitt's Noah Wyle wins outstanding lead actor in a drama seriespublished at 01:56 BST
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Noah Wyle wins outstanding lead actor in a drama series for The Pitt.
The nominations included:
- Sterling K. Brown - Paradise (Hulu)
- Gary Oldman - Slow Horses (Apple TV)
- Mark Ruffalo - Task (HBO Max)
- Rufus Sewell - The Diplomat (Netflix)
- Noah Wyle - The Pitt (HBO Max) - winner
"This is overwhelming," Wyle says in his acceptance speech. "I have to acknowledge the work of my fellow nominees. Your work is inspirational. I watch you. I learn from you."
Comedian and actor John Mulaney presented the award.

The Traitors wins for best reality competitionpublished at 01:52 BST
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
The Traitors wins the Emmy for best reality competition programme, for the third year in a row.
The nominations included:
- Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Survivor (CBS)
- Top Chef (Bravo)
- The Traitors (Peacock) - winner
"We want to thank all our loved ones who support us and let us go off into the Scottish Highlands and play with weird things," British Alan Cumming, the host, says as he accepts the award alongside others who worked on the show.
He also urges Americans to register to vote.
The award was presented by the cast of the rebooted Baywatch.
Kate O'Flynn can't wait to see the Patricia costumes this Halloweenpublished at 01:50 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Widow's Bay star and Emmy winner Kate O'Flynn says backstage that she's "completly gobsmacked" and "on top of the world" by her win in the spooky comedy.
O'Flynn says that Patricia's "awkwardness and her bravery and humour" resonated with audiences.
"I think everyone just has felt like Patricia in that way," she says.
She's also been pleasantly surprised by "an army" of people turned up dressed as Patricia at this year's DragonCon, saying it was "insane".
"So I'm excited to see Halloween and all the antlers come out and take over the world," she joked.
Speaking to the BBC, the British actress had a message for everyone back home: "Just to our family and friends, we did it. It's great. I don't know what to say. I don't know."

Stephen Root wins for Widow's Baypublished at 01:44 BST
Image source, Reuters
Stephen Root wins outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for Widow's Bay.
The nominations included:
- Colman Domingo - The Four Seasons (Netflix)
- Paul W. Downs - Hacks (HBO Max)
- Harrison Ford - Shrinking (Apple TV)
- Nick Offerman - Margo's Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)
- Stephen Root - Widow's Bay (Apple TV) - winner
- Michael Urie - Shrinking (Apple TV)
- Tyler James Williams - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
In his acceptance speech, he says: "I was so happy to be included in this incredible journey that we had today."
Sofia Vergara presented the award.
Rhea Seehorn takes the trophy for lead actress in a dramapublished at 01:40 BST
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Rhea Seehorn wins for lead actress in a drama series for her role in Apple TV's Pluribus.
The nominations included:
- Carrie Coon - The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
- Chase Infiniti - The Testaments (Hulu)
- Keri Russell - The Diplomat (Netflix)
- Rhea Seehorn - Pluribus (Apple TV) - winner
- Zendaya - Euphoria (HBO Max)
In her acceptance speech, Seehorn thanks her fellow nominees for their brilliant performances, adding that Keri Russell sent her a card "quoting Gloria Steinem, saying, 'We are linked, not ranked,' and I feel that way about all you women."
She was presented the award by Florence Pugh and Julia Garner.

Allison Janney wins for The Diplomatpublished at 01:27 BST
Image source, NBC via Getty Images
Allison Janney wins for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for The Diplomat.
The nominations included:
- Taylor Dearden as Dr Mel King (The Pitt)
- Fiona Dourif as Dr Cassie McKay (The Pitt)
- Allison Janney as President Grace Penn (The Diplomat) - winner
- Katherine LaNasa as Charge Nurse Dana Evans (The Pitt)
- Sepideh Moafi as Dr Baran Al-Hashimi (The Pitt)
- Julianne Nicholson as Sinatra (Paradise)
- Karolina Wydra as Zosia (Pluribus)
"The seven women who were nominated for this award were fantastic and spectacular," she says, having looked visibly shocked and surprised when her name was read out.
She was presented the award by Alan Cumming and Emmy Rossum.
Rhys wins for The Beast in Mepublished at 01:23 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Welsh actor Matthew Rhys wins best lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for his role in Netflix's The Beast in Me.
The nominations included:
- Riz Ahmed - Bait (Prime Video)
- Jason Bateman - Black Rabbit (Netflix)
- Charlie Hunnam - Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)
- Oscar Isaac - Beef (Netflix)
- Matthew Rhys - The Beast In Me (Netflix) - winner
"This is a real shock because, not least because the calibre and company of the actors in this category," Rhys says in his acceptance speech.
He was presented the award by Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanz of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame.

Jean Smart takes win for Hackspublished at 01:16 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Jean Smart wins best lead actress in a comedy series for her role portraying Deborah Vance in HBO's Hacks.
She was presented the award by Zendaya.
The nominations included:
- Quinta Brunson - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- Ayo Edebiri - The Bear (FX/Hulu)
- Elle Fanning - Margo's Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)
- Lisa Kudrow - The Comeback (HBO Max)
- Jean Smart - Hacks (HBO Max) - winner
Kate O'Flynn on accepting supporting actress Emmypublished at 01:13 BST
British actress Kate O'Flynn accepts her award saying: "Thank you for trusting this Lancashire Lass for playing a sassy broad like Patricia."
Image source, Getty Images

Kate O'Flynn wins for Widow's Baypublished at 01:12 BST
British actress Kate O'Flynn wins for best supporting actress in a comedy series for Apple TV's Widow's Bay.
Comedy legend Amy Poehler presented her with the award.
The nominations included:
- Dale Dickey - Widow's Bay (Apple TV)
- Hannah Einbinder - Hacks (HBO Max)
- Janelle James - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- Kate O'Flynn - Widow's Bay (Apple TV) - winner
- Michelle Pfeiffer - Margo's Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)
- Megan Stalter - Hacks (HBO Max)
- Jessica Williams - Shrinking (Apple TV)
First woman to host Emmys in 15 yearspublished at 01:10 BST
Mariska Hargitay points out that she is the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years.
"NBC is celebrating its hundredth year," Hargitay says, "and I have been on 'Law and Order: SVU' for all of them!"
Hargitay has starred in Law & Order SVU for decades and tonight she jokes she doesn't understand the word "finale" as the series appears to be running forever.
She then parodies Nicole Kidman's famous AMC movie theatre ads with Kidman playing along by protesting.

Mariska Hargitay opens the show singing 'I love TV screens'published at 01:06 BST
Image source, Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Host Mariska Hargitay opens the show with a musical number based on Joan Jett and the Blackheart's I Love Rock & Roll.
New York Knicks Jalen Brunson makes a cameo - Hargitay is a big Knicks fan.
She is name checking many of the shows and stars of the night, while singing "I love TV screens".
That's it for the red - or in this case, blue - carpet, now on with the showpublished at 00:59 BST 15 September
After that flurry of entrances from TV's best and brightest, it's now on with the show at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Host Mariska Hargitay will be taking to the stage shortly and we'll bring you all the awards and other highlights as the night goes on.
Stick with us!

Stars stream in up until the last minutepublished at 00:59 BST 15 September
It's almost show time and the stars are still streaming in.
Image source, Getty Images
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Allison Janney is nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for her role as President Grace Penn in The Diplomat.
Image source, Getty Images
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Stephen Colbert and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert received nine nominations.
Image source, Getty Images
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Jason Bateman is nominated for four awards tonight.
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Jack Lowden is nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his role in the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses.
Image source, Getty Images
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Hannah Einbinder is nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her role as Ava Daniels in Hacks.
By the numbers: This year's most-watched showspublished at 00:55 BST 15 September
Image source, Getty Images
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Audiences clocked more than 130 million hours of the HBO drama The Gilded Age between June 2025 and May 2026
The Primetime Emmy Awards are voted on by active members the Television Academy, which is made up of more than 27,000 professionals (including actors, directors and writers).
Their opinion doesn't always indicate how popular a series is with viewers, but this year data from Nielsen, the company relied on for decades to measure television audiences, show that many of tonight's nominees were also the most watched programmes within the Emmy eligibility window.
Drama series:
1. The Pitt: Not only leading in nominations this year, the medical drama was viewed for about 400 million hours between 1 June 2025 and 31 May 2026
2. The Gilded Age: The HBO drama finished at number two with 131.5 million viewing hours
3. The Diplomat: The Netflix series starring Keri Russell came in at number three, with 102 million viewing hours
Comedy series:
1. Abbott Elementary: The ABC comedy once again outranked all other comedy series, garnering 181 million viewing hours
2. Shrinking: Apple TV's fan favourite clocked just a little more than half that, with 99.8 million viewing hours
3. Only Murders in the Building: And just behind Shrinking was Hulu's murder-mystery-comedy series, which came in at 99.3 million hours
Limited series: The Beast in Me
Netflix continues to dominate the limited series category when it comes to viewing hours, as its psychological thriller clocked 123.1 million viewing hours, outpacing Peacock's All Her Fault by a landslide (73.4 million).
*This data can include previous seasons of a show.

Zendaya, Nicole Kidman, and other stars make their entrancespublished at 00:46 BST 15 September
Some of Hollywood's biggest stars, including Zendaya and Nicole Kidman, have made their entrances. Both actresses are nominated for Emmy awards tonight.
Image source, Getty Images
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Zendaya is nominated for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for Euphoria.
Image source, Getty Images
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Nicole Kidman is nominated tonight as an executive producer for the Apple TV+ series Margo's Got Money Troubles.
Image source, Getty Images
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Shailene Woodley won her first-ever Emmy this year for her role in the Hulu series Paradise.
Image source, Getty Images
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Michael J. Fox, pictured next to spouse and actress Tracy Pollan, is nominated for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series category for his role in Shrinking.
Image source, Getty Images
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Rufus Sewell is nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his role as Hal Wyler in Netflix's political drama The Diplomat.
Nominees, presenters and other stars walk the blue carpetpublished at 00:44 BST 15 September
Emmy-nominated stars are arriving alongside actors who will be presenting at this evening's ceremony, including Sarah Michelle Gellar and LL Cool J.
Image source, Getty Images
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Emmy Rossum, who stars in Hulu's Furious, is presenting at tonight's ceremony
Image source, Variety via Getty Images
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Elle Fanning is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Apple TV's Margo's Got Money Troubles
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
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Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz, who starred in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, will be presenting tonight.
Image source, Getty Images
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Kaley Cuoco, who stars in MGM's Vanished, arrives with her partner Tom Pelphrey, who is nominated for his role in HBO's Task
Image source, Reuters
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LL Cool J, star of NCIS: New York, will be presenting tonight