2026 Emmy Awards Live Updates: Biggest Moments, Surprises, And Highlights

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It's television's biggest night ... on a Monday, for some reason. Yes, tonight is the 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, celebrating the very best in television — or, more specifically, the very best television that aired between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026, and pretty much every show is represented (save for the enormous hit "Heated Rivalry," because it's a Canadian production that's technically not a co-production with an American company).

Last weekend, the Creative Arts Emmys handed out a number of trophies to shows like "Widow's Bay," the Apple TV comedy-horror hit that's a frontrunner in several major categories during tonight's ceremony, as well as tonight's host Mariska Hargitay, who won two Emmys for her documentary "My Mom Jayne" (a piece about her late mother, Jayne Mansfield). So what's left to discuss tonight? The year's best comedies and dramas will be crowned, with "Widow's Bay" and "Hacks" probably neck and neck in the former category and reigning champion "The Pitt" as the one to beat in the latter. Hargitay, the longtime star of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and first-time host, will emcee the entire ceremony.

Follow along here for live updates from me, a TV obsessive who follows the Emmys religiously every single year and would probably be scribbling these observations in an old notebook if I wasn't tasked with running this blog. Onwards, and let's see who wins these Emmys!

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• I pointed this out to some of my coworkers on Slack, but this ceremony is moving at a pretty quick pace. Yes, it's the back half, which always feels slower, but they're sort of breezing through this without making it feel like we're missing anything vital or too much play-off music. Not bad!

• Limited or anthology series goes to "DTF St. Louis," which, when you combine this with the wins from the Creative Arts Emmys, means this show cleaned up. Fine! I'll watch it!

• Niecy Nash-Betts, looking ridiculously hot, gives her wife a shout-out as she presents best limited or anthology series. One time I was in an elevator with her in New York and there was a couple fighting in there and when they left she went, "Whew, what a mess." I'd die for her.

• Reba McEntire is singing Dolly Parton's song "Appalachian Memories" as an homage to the formidable country superstar.

• I'm quite glad and unsurprised that Sally Field paid homage to Dolly Parton's philanthropy. A reminder: the Imagination Library has given millions of books to millions of children over the years.

• "If there are truly angels on Earth, then we just lost one," Sally Field says of her "Steel Magnolias" co-star. Hoo boy. 

• Oh, okay. It's time for the Dolly Parton tribute led by Sally Field. Buckle up! This is gonna be tough!

• Outstanding writing for a drama series goes to Vince Gilligan for "Pluribus," which rocks! Also, it's really confusing for me, a Philadelphian (go Birds) that there's a British guy who works on "Slow Horses" named Will Smith! Can he change his name?

• Newly minted Emmy winners Linda Cardellini and David Harbour (both for "DTF St. Louis") are gleefully presenting writing for a drama series, and I would do anything Cardellini asked me to do, ever.

• Basically the entire Emmys audience is in tears. So am I.

• Michael J. Fox is accepting his Bob Hope Humanitarian Award with grace and poise, as always. Fox's foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, works tirelessly to try to find a curse for Parkinson's, a neurogenerative disease that affect motor function, and he really has done astounding work through it over the years. Fox is, without question, one of Hollywood's most eternally beloved actors. It is, and I mean this so sincerely, lovely to see him accept this well-deserved award.

• Julianna Marguiles is presenting Michael J. Fox, her co-star on "The Good Wife," with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award — which honors actors and artists who also do great philanthropic work. This is the sixth-ever Bob Hope Humanitarian Award; Fox has publicly lived with Parkinson's disease since 1998 after getting diagnosed in 1991.

• Directing for a comedy series goes to Hiro Murai for "Widow's Bay," which is, mark my words, winning outstanding comedy series tonight.

• Marcello Hernandez inviting half the audience to his house for dinner is making me laugh. Sue me. (Please don't!)

• Amy Schumer is doing a commercial about perimenopause and I got really scared that she was going to be on the Emmys. Thank god. We appear to be safe.

• I'd rather let my dog chew my arm off than watch "American Horror Story 13." Bear in mind my dog has seven teeth. It would take forever.

• Stephen Colbert, a real one, is encouraging people to hire his former writers. That is, I have to say, extremely cool.

• Variety series, which Awkwafina correctly pointed out is a bunch of "tall white men," goes to "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" for its swan song. This is completely expected; even though "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" usually reigns supreme, the voters clearly wanted to show Colbert some love after his show was rather suspiciously canned when he spoke out against CBS's new ownership. 

• ... Awkwafina has an Emmy? For what?!

• Directing for a drama series goes to ... Saul Metzstein for "Slow Horses," preventing Noah Wyle from picking up a directing Emmy tonight!

• I think the less that's said about Shailene Woodley's getup, the better.

• Stop making Mariska sing parody songs! Oh, thank god. Andrew Rannells is here to actually perform.

• Katie Dippold just confirmed that Matthew Rhys' Welsh accent is fake. I knew it!!!

• Katie Dippold promises that she will not play it cool as an Emmy winner and make everyone acknowledge and perceive it when they enter her home. Relatable queen!!!

• Writing for a comedy series goes to ... Katie Dippold for "Widow's Bay!" Another great sign for the show's chances at best comedy series.

• Ladies Love Cool James is here, and also Scott Caan. What year is it?

• I just realized that Macauley Culkin will be joining the Catherine O'Hara tribute, and I'd like to pre-apologize for any typos I make while I'm crying too hard to see my laptop screen.

• GET THAT KERI CAM GOING, EMMY PRODUCERS!!!

• Lead actor in a comedy series goes to ... Matthew Rhys, a double winner tonight! He is now the first male actor to win two lead actor categories in the same year!

• Amanda Peet (sorry about calling your husband my nemesis, but it's true, Amanda) and Jon Hamm are pretending "Your Friends & Neighbors" is about a detective duo with silly names. It was not funny, and they acknowledge that immediately. 

• Lead actress in an anthology or limited series goes to ... Sally Field for "Remarkably Bright Creatures," edging out Sarah Pidgeon (whom I had marked as a clear winner)!

• My nemesis David Benioff is in the audience while Mariska Hargitay, in a "Game of Thrones" outfit she calls "hot as balls," introduces Emma D'Arcy and Emilia Clarke. (D'Arcy plays Clarke's ancestor on "House of the Dragon," the first prequel and spin-off of "Game of Thrones.")

• The team, including Miss Americana herself, "figures out" that Taylor Swift will be at the Chiefs opening game (which is airing right now) to support her husband Travis Kelce. Mariska and Taylor look directly into the camera. Olivia the cat? Still there. Taylor gets excited "hearing" the "dun-dun" and says it's her ring tone. I've ascended to a higher plane. Don't text. Don't call. Respect my privacy at this time.

• Meta moment. Olivia Benson the cat is also in the pre-tape. I'm not well!!!

• TAYLOR SWIFT IS IN THE PRE-TAPE. TAYLOR SWIFT IS IN THE PRE-TAPE. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. TAYLOR SWIFT IS IN THE PRE-TAPE.

• Mariska Hargitay and Taylor Swift are very good friends, by the way. They named their cats after each other (Swift's is Olivia Benson, and Hargitay's is named Karma after a song from Swift's album "Midnights"), and Hargitay attended Swift's July wedding.

• There's a pre-taped segment set in the "Special Victims Unit" squad room where they try to figure out through numerology if Taylor Swift will show up at the ceremony. I am a Swiftie. I am fed. I am happy.

• Kaley Cuoco is bawling in the audience as Tom Pelphrey, winning his first Emmy, graciously delivers his speech. Genuinely nice to see a seemingly nice guy come out on top! Pelphrey ends his speech by sending love to Cuoco, their daughter Matilda, and their unborn daughter. (Cuoco is enormously pregnant, like to the point where I'm worried about her even being here.)

• Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series goes to Tom Pelphrey, also known as Mr. Kaley Cuoco, for "Task!"

• Odessa A'Zion and Rachel Sennott are presenting supporting actor in a drama, and I have to respect that they're pretty clearly on beta blockers.

• Wait. Noah Wyle is holding the book, because John Mulaney handed it to him. I love everything that's happening right now!

• Lead actor in a drama series goes to Noah Wyle for "The Pitt" for the second year in a row, and with the utmost due respect to Wyle, get Mulaney back out here!

• John Mulaney has a copy of library book "A Guy's Guide to Being a Man's Man" by Frank Vincent and read it out loud. Why? I don't care!

• Oh my god, John Mulaney just referenced DJ Khaled's refusal to please his wife sexually. I'm on the floor. I'm deceased. Help.

• Is the Television Academy not asking John Mulaney to host, or is he always saying "no?"

• John Mulaney calls the nominees in lead actor in a drama series "not soft like the dad on 'Bluey'" and is now insisting that television had no men on it until the early 1960s. John Mulaney is also providing the first actual laughs of the night. 

• Oh, John Mulaney is here. This should be good.

• Reality TV competition show goes to "The Traitors." Well-deserved! This marks another Emmy for host and producer Alan Cumming (who also won outstanding host at the Creative Arts Emmys), and it's been the winner for the past three years. Sorry, Jeff Probst. The tribe has spoken (and we hated "Survivor 50").

• The cast of the "new" "Baywatch" is here? There's a new "Baywatch?" Anyway, everyone on this stage has the same face.

• I'm really excited for "Traitors: New Blood," by the way, even though I'm terrified that Tom Sandoval will show up and sing again.

• Stephen Root thanks fellow nominee Harrison Ford because Root's son was really psyched to hear his dad was in the same category as Ford. Always game for a bit, Ford reacts sweetly from the audience.

• Supporting actor in a comedy series goes to ... Stephen Root for "Widow's Bay!" Not only is this a good sign for "Widow's Bay" as the night progresses, Root is a treasure winning his first-ever Emmy.

• Sofia Vergara is presenting supporting actor in a comedy series. We're really jumping around in the categories tonight. Not sure why, but we're rolling with it.

• Nick Offerman's first job, according to an informal audience survey, is that he painted erotic paintings, but he was a house painter. Because he painted in the nude. By rubbing his nude, paint-covered body on the houses. Because it was erotic for the houses. I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say Nick Offerman is the only real man left in the world.

• Colman Domingo, as always, has that sh** on.

• Lead actress in a drama series goes to Rhea Seehorn for her work in "Pluribus" and, I have to assume, her staggeringly great run in "Better Call Saul."

• Outstanding actress in a drama series is up next, with Julia Garner and Florence Pugh, my two best friends, presenting.

• Mariska's script is bad. Her dresses are great.

• They've got Jon Hamm doing sports gambling ads now? To quote that one Hannibal Buress meme, "Ha ha. That sucks, man."

• Keri Russell hooted and hollered in the audience as Allison Janney won. Can we get a Keri Cam going?

• Huge surprise as Allison Janney wins an Emmy for her supporting turn in "The Diplomat!" She can add it to her shelf, where she has previous awards for "Mom" and "The West Wing."

• Alan Cumming and Emmy Rossum are presenting supporting actress in a drama series, which is weird because we are suddenly pivoting from limited series categories, but whatever!

• Alan Cumming is here! Alan Cumming is here! Alan Cumming is here! Everyone shut up!!!

• Matthew Rhys' Welsh accent sounds like his fake one, largely because his American one is so good. It's not a dig. I'm just saying.

• Lead actor in a limited series or anthology goes to Matthew Rhys for "The Beast in Me," which is well-deserved but potentially means he's losing the lead actor in a comedy award for "Widow's Bay." He's nominated twice tonight!

• Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz are reminding us all that "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" premiered 30 years ago and that all of us are old and our bones hurt.

• Mariska is a really game host, but man, whoever wrote this script should be taken out back and [redacted, I'm at work].

• Mariska Hargitay, back from commercial, mentions that "The Muppet Show" is turning 50. She should have told Disney to give it a series order!

• Jean Smart tells the men to keep standing and begs women to sit down in their heels and Spanx. Jean Smart is perfect, and I think she should be preserved in amber.

• Jean Smart just won her final award for playing Deborah Vance on "Hacks," and with that, she has won an Emmy for every single season of "Hacks."

• Zendaya, maybe the most beautiful woman on the planet, is presenting lead actress in a comedy series.

• Kate O'Flynn won on her first nomination! Patricia forever!!! I always forget she's extremely British!!!

• After suggesting that the losers bully the winners, Amy Poehler presented the first award of the night, supporting actress in a comedy, to ... Kate O'Flynn for "Widow's Bay!!!"

• Amy Poehler just reminded four out of the five nominees — in every category — that most of them will turn out to be losers. (She and Tina Fey used to, pretty famously, throw a "losers" party after award shows.)

• Amy Poehler, thank god, is our first presenter of the night. One time, I met her and got so overwhelmed that I started crying. I was also eating potato chips, so I yelled at her through all the chips. It was weird! I made her uncomfortable. Anyway, Poehler is presenting supporting actress in a comedy series.

• Mariska does a send-up of Nicole Kidman's AMC ad and is stopped by Nicole Kidman, the second most consistently employed woman in television (who frankly upstages Mariska by wearing insane wigs in every role).

• Most of Mariska's monologue has been about how she's the most consistently employed woman in television, which is fair because it's true.

• As expected, Mariska makes jokes about famous people who delivered horrifying guest turns on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," including Martin Short (who played a fake psychic who turned out to be a pretty vicious murderer).

• As Mariska just noted, she is the first female host of the Emmys in 15 years. Depressing!!!!!!!!!!!

• Okay, the song is over, and Mariska looks ... perfect. No notes!

• "I Love TV Screens" is ... still going. There are guys wearing TV sets on their heads dancing behind Mariska onstage at the Peacock Theater, because it's 2026 and we live in hell.

• Mariska Hargitay just told the whole world she's DTW (down to watch) but also DTF. Has anyone told Peter Hermann?!

• Wow, Mariska really loves people named Brunson (Quinta and Jalen).

• She's singing a parody song set to "I Love Rock 'N Roll" called "I Love TV Screens." I hate parody songs!

• Mariska Hargitay opens the show with a pre-taped video featuring ... Knicks star Jalen Brunson!

• "Hacks" nominee Meg Stalter, noted lunatic (complimentary) who's fresh off a Broadway run in "Oh Mary," is ... dressed like an Emmy. Nobody is doing it like Stalter, the prettiest girl in America.

  omg Meg Stalter just showed up on the Emmys red carpet.......dressed up like a giant Emmy lol pic.twitter.com/hTe7FXf30Z

  — Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) September 14, 2026

• Did all of you know the USA Network is still airing original shows? Characters welcome, indeed. Anyway, I will not be watching "The Rainmaker." Sorry.

• The big shows to watch tonight (pun intended, I suppose) are "Hacks," "Widow's Bay," and "The Pitt." "Hacks" ran its excellent final season this year, "Widow's Bay" is the flashy new kid on the block (and crushed at the Creative Arts Emmys), and "The Pitt" has established itself as a big Emmy winner thanks to last year's ceremony and, again, the Creative Arts Emmys.

• Best and worst thing about E! having the only red carpet show is that I've now seen the ad for the "Real Housewives of New York" spin-off "The Golden Life" like, seven times.

• Living goddess Linda Cardellini says it's "relaxing" to attend this ceremony — because she won her first-ever Emmy (criminal!) last week at the Creative Arts Emmys for her supporting turn in the limited series "DTF St. Louis."

• Dan Levy, on the red carpet, just revealed that he'll be sharing a tribute to Catherine O'Hara. Get your tissues ready.

• E! has a new show coming called "Cocktail Wars" hosted by Joey Fatone and Lance Bass, if anyone's interested.

• Oh, hi! I didn't see you come in. I'm Nina, and I'm live-blogging the Emmys tonight. We're half an hour away from the start of the ceremony, and the E! interviewers are asking reliably stupid questions.