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The 2026 Emmy Awards crowned new favorites and celebrated television veterans Monday night in Los Angeles. “Widow’s Bay” dominated the ceremony, while “The Pitt” retained television’s top drama prize.
The 78th Emmy Awards aired live from the Peacock Theater on NBC and Peacock. Mariska Hargitay hosted the ceremony, becoming the first woman to lead the Emmys in 15 years.
‘Widow’s Bay’ Dominates the 2026 Emmy Awards
Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” won six awards during the televised ceremony. Its victories included outstanding comedy series, directing and writing.
Combined with eight Creative Arts Emmys, the show collected 14 awards. That total set a new single-season record for a comedy series, according to the Television Academy.
Created by Katie Dippold, the series follows a New England island community confronting a centuries-old curse. The horror-comedy earned acting awards for Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root.
Dippold won for comedy writing, while Hiro Murai received the directing award. O’Flynn and Root were among several first-time Emmy winners.
Matthew Rhys and Jean Smart Make History
Rhys became the first performer to win two lead acting Emmys in one year. He won lead actor in a comedy for “Widow’s Bay” and lead actor in a limited series for “The Beast in Me.”
The Welsh actor also received a trophy as an executive producer of “Widow’s Bay.” He previously won a drama acting Emmy for “The Americans” in 2018.
Jean Smart earned her fifth consecutive lead comedy actress award for the final season of “Hacks.” She won the honor for every season of the acclaimed HBO Max comedy.
The victory gave Smart eight acting Emmys. She tied the performer record held by Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Allison Janney also reached eight acting wins Monday. She received the supporting drama actress award for playing a fictional president in Netflix’s “The Diplomat.”
‘The Pitt’ Repeats as Best Drama
“The Pitt” won outstanding drama series for the second consecutive year. The HBO Max medical drama became the first program since “Mad Men” to win for each of its first two seasons.
Noah Wyle repeated as lead actor in a drama for his performance in the series. Meanwhile, Rhea Seehorn earned her first acting Emmy for Apple TV’s “Pluribus.”
Seehorn won lead actress in a drama. “Pluribus” creator Vince Gilligan also received his first individual writing Emmy after earlier wins as a “Breaking Bad” producer.
“DTF St. Louis” captured outstanding limited or anthology series. Sally Field won lead actress in that category for “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” becoming the category’s oldest winner at age 79.
Tributes and Memorable Moments
Hargitay opened the ceremony with a musical segment celebrating television. Taylor Swift also appeared in a prerecorded “Law & Order: SVU” sketch.
Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. The honor recognized his entertainment career and advocacy through the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
The ceremony also remembered major television figures who died during the past year. Sally Field honored Dolly Parton before Reba McEntire performed “Appalachian Memories.”
“The Traitors” won outstanding reality competition series for a third consecutive year. “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” repeated as outstanding variety series.
The complete winners list reflects a television season shaped by bold new series and enduring performers. Viewers can find the winning programs across Apple TV, HBO Max, Netflix, Peacock and other platforms.