The 2026 Emmy Awards was one to remember.
Matthew Rhys made history as the first actor to win two leading acting categories in the same year for his roles in Apple TV’s comedy-horror Widow’s Bay and the limited series The Beast in Me. Widow’s Bay would go on to be the big comedy winner of the night, taking home six Emmys including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Stephen Root), and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Kate O’Flynn). In total, the Apple TV show won a record 14 Emmys, making it the most winning comedy series ever in a single year.
Over on the drama side, The Pitt, which came into the night with a leading 25 Emmy nominations, took home the top trophy, Outstanding Drama Series, and its star Noah Wyle won Outstanding Lead Actor for a second year in a row. In other acting drama categories, Rhea Seehorn won her first Emmy, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, for her role in Pluribus, and Allison Janney won her eighth Emmy for her role as Vice President Grace Penn in The Diplomat, tying the all-time record for most acting Emmys alongside Jean Smart (who closed out Hacks’ final season with a historic fifth win in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category), Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Cloris Leachman.
Awards aside, while we know the point of the night is to honor the best in television and marvel at the glittery red carpet looks, it was often the times in between the acceptance speeches that resonated the most. Some of our favorite moments?
- As the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years, Mariska Hargitay presided over the festivities — a role that is never easy — mostly with success, from performing the obligatory song-and-dance opening sequence to igniting a feud with Nicole Kidman on who has the rights to the infamous AMC ad, and starring in a pre-taped Law and Order: SVU skit that featured a surprise cameo from IRL friend Taylor Swift (and her cat, who’s aptly named Olivia Benson).
- In his first appearance at the Emmys in 13 years, Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his contributions to Parkinson’s disease research. The actor, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over three decades ago, thanked the audience for their support: “I haven’t lost what I do. They couldn’t take it away from me because you stood up for me.” Past recipients of the award, which is only given when a candidate meets a standard, have been George Clooney, Sean Penn, and Oprah Winfrey.
- Just a few weeks after the death of Dolly Parton, the Television Academy produced a touching tribute to the singer-actor-icon with an introduction from Emmy winner Sally Field and to the voice of Reba McEntire. It was a sweet reminder of Parton’s impact on the world that goes beyond music.
But of course, if we’re talking about the 78th annual Emmy Awards, the folks who took home Emmys deserve their time in the spotlight. See all the 2026 Emmy winners by category below.
*WINNER*
Where to watch:HBO Max
*WINNER*
Where to watch: Apple TV
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
*WINNER* Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
Chase Infiniti, The Testaments
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
*WINNER* Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
*WINNER* Shailene Woodley, Paradise
Brittany Allen, The Pitt
Tal Anderson, The Pitt
Tina Ivlev, The Pitt
Miriam Shor, Pluribus
Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series
*WINNER* Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt
Colman Domingo, Euphoria
Jeff Hiller, Pluribus
Jeff Kober, The Pitt
Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses
Bradley Whitford, The Diplomat
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
*WINNER* Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay
Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Wonder Man
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
*WINNER*Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
*WINNER* Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons
Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
*WINNER* Betty Gilpin, Widow’s Bay
Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear
Cherry Jones, Hacks
Laurie Metcalf, Hacks
Kaitlin Olson, Hacks
Lauren Weedman, Hacks
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
*WINNER* Michael J. Fox, Shrinking
Hamish Linklater, Widow’s Bay
Rob Reiner, The Bear
Connor Storrie, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
DTF St. Louis: Season 1
89%73%
*WINNER*
Where to watch: HBO Max
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series
*WINNER* Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series
*WINNER* Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series
*WINNER* Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault
Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis
Youn Yuh-jung, Beef
Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series
*WINNER* David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
Jason Bateman, DTF St. Louis
Richard Gadd, Half Man
Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis
Charles Melton, Beef
Nick Offerman, Death By Lightning
*WINNER*
Where to watch: Paramount+
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
*WINNER*
Where to watch:Peacock
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality Competition Program
*WINNER* Alan Cumming, The Traitors
RuPaul Charles, RuPaul’s Drag Race
Outstanding Scripted Variety Series
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert: Season 11
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