The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on September 14, 2026, in Los Angeles, spotlighted The Pitt as the top contender with 25 nominations, while Hacks and Widow’s Bay vied for comedy honors. Host Mariska Hargitay opened the ceremony, which recognized shows airing between June 2025 and May 2026. The event took place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, starting at 5 pm local time (0000GMT Tuesday), and aired on NBC and Peacock in the US. It followed the Creative Arts Emmys held Sept. 5-6, where awards in technical, guest acting, and other categories were handed out.
The Pitt Leads the Pack
HBO Max’s The Pitt, a medical drama starring Noah Wyle, entered the 2026 Emmys as the most-nominated program with 25 nods, a record this year. The show, which follows Pittsburgh emergency room staff navigating political and social crises, won the top drama prize last year and is favored to repeat. If The Pitt doesn’t win, it would be an immense shock, said Christopher Rosen, a senior editor at The Ankler, citing its four early wins, including best casting. The series, which blends elements of “Urgences” and 24 Heures Chrono,
addresses issues like abortion rights, immigration policy, and gun violence.
Wyle, the lead actor, faces competition from Rhea Seehorn of Pluribus and Keri Russell of The Diplomate in the drama acting category. Meanwhile, The Pitt’s ensemble, including seven supporting actors, could dominate secondary roles.
What to expect at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards
Comedy Contenders and Surprises
In the comedy category, Hacks—starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder—arrived with 24 nominations, positioning it as a strong rival to Widow’s Bay, a Netflix series about a New England island’s dark secrets. Widow’s Bay earned six technical awards and a best guest actress win for Betty Gilpin, with lavenir.net suggesting it could become the most-awarded comedy in Emmy history, surpassing last year’s The Studio, which won 13 statuettes. The series, created by Katie Dippold, follows an eccentric mayor attempting to revitalize tourism on a haunted island, with Matthew Rhys portraying the title character. Rhys, who won an Emmy in 2018 for The Americans, is a favorite for his first Emmy in the comedy category.
Hacks’ Smart, 75, seeks a fifth Emmy for her role, potentially closing the gap with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman. She hasn’t lost yet—why would she now? Rosen said, highlighting her dominance in the category. Meanwhile, Pluribus, an Apple TV+ science-fiction drama, features Rhea Seehorn as a woman immune to a transformative force, drawing comparisons to speculative fiction classics.
The Host and the Night’s Uncertainties
Mariska Hargitay, best known for Law & Order: SVU, made history as the first woman to host the Emmys solo in 15 years. Her recent wins at the Creative Arts Emmys for a documentary about her mother, Jayne Mansfield, underscored her return to the spotlight. The ceremony, broadcast on NBC and Peacock, also honored Dolly Parton, who died in August 2026, with a tribute.
Emmy Awards 2026
While The Pitt and Hacks dominated headlines, the limited-series category saw surprises. HBO Max’s DTF St. Louis, a dark comedy about a troubled love triangle, won six awards, including two for David Harbour and Linda Cardellini. lavenir.net noted its unexpected rise could end Netflix’s three-year streak in the category. Other contenders include Netflix’s Beef and Apple TV+’s Pluribus, which compete for limited-series recognition.
Acting FrontRunners and Controversies
Several established stars could add to their Emmy collections, while others seek their first wins. Jean Smart is looking to extend her success for Hacks, while Noah Wyle is among the leading acting contenders for The Pitt. Rhea Seehorn is also drawing attention for her performance in Pluribus. Veteran actor Harrison Ford, 84, is nominated for his first Emmy for his supporting role in Shrinking, a comedy about a therapist and his clients. Mark Ruffalo, who plays an ex-priest turned FBI agent in Task, is another notable name in the field. Zendaya is in the running for the final season of Euphoria, joining a drama acting field that includes previous Emmy winners like Carrie Coon, who portrays a 19th-century socialite in The Gilded Age.
The ceremony also highlighted the competitive race for best actress in a drama, featuring Rhea Seehorn, Keri Russell, and Carrie Coon. In the comedy category, Steve Carell and Jason Segel are among the favorites, with Carell’s role in Rooster and Segel’s performance in Shrinking earning critical acclaim.
With The Pitt and Hacks leading the charge, the 2026 Emmys marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing celebration of television excellence.