By Mahnoosh Arsalan
Staff Writer
The 2026 Emmy Awards was a grand celebration of the arts, specifically highlighting and honoring our everyday on-screen heroes. Hosted by Emmy winner Mariska Hargitay, star of “Law & Order: SVU,” the event took place at the Peacock Theater in California on Sep. 14th and had a star-studded attendance, bringing in up-and-coming stars like “The Pitt” actor Patrick Ball to cinema icon Nicole Kidman. Actors were celebrated, legends were honored and the art of television was ultimately given the recognition it deserves.
Hargitay had a big night ahead of her, as she was the first woman to host the ceremony in 15 years since Jane Lynch in 2011. She also won two awards for her documentary, “My Mom Jayne,” telling the story of her late mother, actress Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay started the show off with a parody skit about the many nominated shows of the night. She showed appreciation to each television nominee with positivity and anticipation for the night ahead.
The new comedy-horror series from Apple TV “Widow’s Bay” made quite the impact at the ceremony, with Matthew Rhys winning the award for Outstanding Comedy actor. Rhys also received another Outstanding Actor award for his role in the limited series “The Beast in Me,” making history as the only actor to ever receive two Best Actor Emmys in a single night. On top of that, Rhys’ show “Widow’s Bay” completely swept the night away by winning a total of 14 awards for a single season. Hiro Murai won the award for Outstanding Directing for a comedy series, making him the first Asian director to win this award. This is an incredible accomplishment; “Widow’s Bay” cleared the Emmy race.
Jean Smart, iconic actress and star of “Hacks,” made history as the first woman to win Outstanding Actress in a comedy series award for every single season of a show. “Hacks” is an extremely beloved show, and Smart is an extremely beloved and talented actress. The show just ended with their fifth and final season. This makes this feat all the more extraordinary and exciting for fans. Smart now has eight Emmys to her legacy, and the show has a total of 14 Emmys.
HBO Max’s “The Pitt” was the most nominated show of the night, leading with 25 nominations. This is a huge feat for the show and for television history in general, something to truly celebrate. The iconic show ended up gaining two wins at the ceremony, one going to Noah Wyle for Outstanding Actor in a drama series, and one for Best Drama Series. Wyle now has two Emmys for the same role, and the show has a total of 11 Emmys. The cast took the opportunity to tease information about the next season of the show during the ceremony and red carpet, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. The new season of “The Pitt” airs in January 2027.
Hartigay participated in a mid-show skit imitating her show “Law & Order; SVU,” which starred popstar Taylor Swift, ultimately leading to intense online speculation. Fans believe her appearance in the skit stands a clue or hint for her next album, ultimately causing a spectacle within fan bases.
The awards ceremony took a sentimental turn when honoring those who have passed away this year. Stars like Dolly Parton and Tim Curry were highlighted, reminding audiences of the immense heartache. This small memorial was respectful, meaningful and absolutely necessary to remember who has gone too soon.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards show was a beautiful and graceful celebration of the past year in television and the iconic figures seen on everyone’s screens. While shows like The Oscars and The Grammys get immense recognition and love, the television academy had its chance to get its flowers, and did so in a poise, fun and memorable manner.
