Emmys 2026 Deliver Records, Surprises, Emotional Moments
Christina Filliotis
Edited by Maya Assaad
Published: September 28th, 2026
The red carpet was rolled out, the celebrities showed up, and television’s biggest stars gathered in Los Angeles on September 14th for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards; a night full of big wins, surprising moments and plenty of shiny trophies.
Hosted by Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, this year’s ceremony celebrated some of the most talked-about shows and performances from the 2025-2026 television season. And while some winners felt predictable, the night certainly still had a few surprises up its sleeve.
The Apple TV+ comedy-horror series Widow's Bay took home Outstanding Comedy Series along with several acting, writing and directing awards. Combined with its wins from the earlier Creative Arts Emmys, the show finished with 14 Emmys, breaking the previous record of 13, set by The Studio last year for the most Emmys won by a comedy in a single year. Not bad for a first season.
The Pitt also had a major night. The medical drama won Outstanding Drama Series for the second year in a row, making it the firsts series since Mad Men to win the award for its two seasons. Noah Wyle, who stars in the series, also repeated his win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. It looks like one Emmy just wasn’t enough.
Then there was Jean Smart. The Hacks star who won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Deborah Vance, earning her fifth consecutive Emmy for the character. She also became the first woman to win the award for every season of a show’s run. At this point, the Emmys might as well keep her seat permanently reserved.
The night also slowed down for some more emotional moments. Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his decades of advocacy and contributions to Parkinson’s disease research, while the ceremony paid tribute to several beloved entertainers who have passed.
| Jean Smart
| Michael J. Fox
Between the speeches, celebrity appearances, historic wins and enough glitter to fill an entire dressing room, the 2026 Emmys gave viewers so much to celebrate….and plenty to debate, too. Whether viewers were cheering for their favourite shows or wondering why their favourite series was left empty-handed, one thing was clear: television had a very busy night.
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