Everything that happened at the 2026 Emmys

The Emmys “red” carpet is underway as television’s biggest stars descend on the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live.

Instead of the usual vibrant red, this year’s carpet is peacock blue in honor of the 100th anniversary of NBC, which is broadcasting the ceremony. Network stalwart Mariska Hargitay, who’s starred in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” for 27 seasons, will host the show.

Although she lost the Emmy, Zendaya continued her red carpet winning streak with another head-turning look. The nominee elevated the naked dress with a custom Prada number dripping with crystals. Selena Gomez also shimmered on the carpet in a gold Louis Vuitton gown.

While Gomez channeled a gold statue, “Hacks” star Megan Stalter — known for her elaborate red carpet stunts — transformed into a literal Emmy statue, complete with body paint.

Awards

2026 Emmy Awards: The complete list of winners

Here is a list of winners for the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards, which recognize achievement in the television industry.

Sept. 14, 2026

Amid the sea of silver and gold, others stood out in baby blues and pinks that complemented the new carpet. “The Pitt” stars Katherine LaNasa and Supriya Ganesh, Sarah Pidgeon, Emilia Clarke, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Abby Elliott and Sara Foster were among the stars in pale colors.

Here are the best looks from the 2026 Emmys, updating live:

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards saw a number of firsts: A first-time host, a first-time Emmy winner and the first to win two lead acting Emmys in a night. These notable achievements were coupled with moments of remembrance for legendary actors and creators, like Dolly Parton, Rob Reiner and Catherine O’Hara, among many others.

With Mariska Hargitay at the helm, the show ran at a quick pace without feeling rushed, giving room to winners to say their thanks in acceptance speeches while still having moments of fun in between. Here, our writers discuss some of the best moments of the ceremony.

As the fall equinox approached from a week away, the Primetime Emmy Awards made its 78th visit, leaving trophies in some hands, the honor of just being nominated for others and bupkes for the rest of the thousands who make what we call television. Once again I have been called to witness (from afar) and report, so let’s get down to it.

It was the turn of NBC (and Peacock) in the round robin of major networks who broadcast the show, and to keep things literally in-house it was hosted by Mariska Hargitay, “America’s sweetheart sex cop Olivia Benson” from the network’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and broadcast from the Peacock Theater, formerly the Microsoft Theater, formerly the Nokia in #DTLA, formerly downtown Los Angeles.

The 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards culminated with Apple TV+’s freshman horror hybrid “Widow’s Bay” capping off its dominant night by winning for comedy series. The show also won for lead actor Matthew Rhys (adding to an earlier win for lead actor in a limited series for Netflix’s “The Beast in Me,” making him the first actor to win two lead Emmys in the same season), supporting actress in a comedy, Kate O’Flynn and supporting actor in a comedy, Stephen Root. Jean Smart of Hacks won her fifth straight lead actor in comedy Emmy for “Hacks.”

HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt” collected the top prize for the second straight year with lead actor Noah Wyle also repeating. Rhea Seehorn of “Pluribus” won for lead actress in a drama. “The Diplomat’s” Allison Janney won for supporting actress in a drama and Tom Pelphrey of “Task” won for supporting actor in a drama.

HBO’s “DTF St, Louis” won for limited series. Sally Field took home the Emmy for lead actress in a limited series or movie for Netflix’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures.”

Drama series

“The Diplomat”

“The Gilded Age”

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”

“Paradise”

“The Pitt” | WINNER

The In Memoriam segment at the 78th Emmy Awards opened with a tribute to Catherine O’Hara from her movie and TV kids — Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy.

“There are all kinds of words I could use to describe Catherine,” Culkin said as he took the stage with the “Schitt’s Creek” stars. “She was encouraging, she was warm, she was funny, but the word that I think of is ‘mama.’”

Sally Field will celebrate her 80th birthday in November, just months after winning an Emmy for lead actress in a limited series or movie. The honor makes her the oldest person to take that category.

What’s left for her to do?

“I can’t answer that question,” she said backstage in the trophy room. “What’s around the corner. It’s very hard to find projects for old women.”

“I’m not young in any way, shape or form, so it’s about finding the next thing,” she added.

She won Monday for her role in Netflix’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” adapted from the book about an aquarium cleaner who befriends an octopus. Field said she agreed to the project after reading just three chapters.

“I didn’t know [the role of Tova Sullivan] would come my way early on,” she said. “...That’s what this magical thing is, in this acting world. You wait months and years and sometimes you have to fight and claw your way to the next thing and then something comes to your door.”

Dolly Parton — the “queen of country,” benevolent ruler of Dollywood and America’s true sweetheart — died at age 80 last month. But she lives on forever at home in our living rooms, in the warm echo of a Tennessee twang from the speaker and, perhaps surprisingly (although that shouldn’t be so), in the flickering glow of our television screens.

Parton got her start on the small screen, appearing on the “Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour” when she was 10. Eleven years later, she had a down-home breakthrough on the widely syndicated “Porter Wagoner Show.” There were multiple interviews with Barbara Walters, “Tonight Show” appearances with Johnny Carson, two successive variety shows and many a guest spot, including on “Hannah Montana,” “Designing Women” and “Reba.”

A trio of beloved “Angels” descended upon the 2026 Emmys. The ceremony featured a 50th anniversary reunion of the stars of “Charlie’s Angels,” the groundbreaking series about three female detectives working for a boss they never saw. Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd received a thunderous ovation as they came out on stage at the Peacock Theater to present the award for outstanding drama series to “The Pitt.”

The Emmy moment was the latest of several appearances the actors have made to celebrate the golden anniversary, including a sold-out salute in April at the Dolby Theatre. They spoke fondly of Farrah Fawcett, who departed the series after the first season and was replaced by Ladd. Fawcett died of cancer in 2009.

“Farrah was the shiniest angel of all, and she was loved by millions of people all over the world, and she still is today,” said Jackson.

Although critics were not kind to “Charlie’s Angels” after its September 1976 premiere on ABC, the show was a hit with viewers and quickly became a pop culture phenomenon with its depiction of strong and intelligent women battling the bad guys.

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was also saluted for its 30th anniversary earlier in the show.

Forget about its comparison to Martha’s Vineyard. “Widow’s Bay” can now call itself the next Emmy-winning comedy series.

At Monday’s Emmys ceremony, the first-year series beat out former winners “The Bear” and “Hacks”; returning nominees “Abbott Elementary,” “Nobody Wants This,” “Only Murders in the Building” and “Shrinking”; and fellow newcomer “Margo’s Got Money Troubles.”

With a record-setting freshman outing for Apple TV horror comedy “Widow’s Bay,” the 2026 Emmys offered little in the way of major upsets (congrats, Allison Janney!) but still had plenty of other material for viewers to sink their teeth into. From host Mariska Hargitay, who charmed with try-hard enthusiasm, to Michael J. Fox, who inspired in his speech accepting the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, Times columnists Mary McNamara and Glenn Whipp broke it all down as it happened. Read on for their recap of television’s biggest night.

Awards

2026 Emmy Awards: The complete list of winners

Here is a list of winners for the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards, which recognize achievement in the television industry.

Sept. 14, 2026

7:59 p.m. So the show ran ... short? I wonder if Rhea Seehorn was watching that Woody/McConaughey ramble, thinking, “They played me off so they could do ... this?” — G.W.

And as l love “Widow’s Bay” more than I like “The Studio” (we can argue about that if/when the two are Emmy competitors), I leave satisfied. Hargitay was a fine host and brought a very different, if occasionally “what the heck” energy to the show. And if none of the wins were surprising, well, how could they be with such crack prognosticators like yourself, Glenn! — M.M.

“The Pitt” maintained its steady pulse at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night, taking home the prize for drama series for the second consecutive year.

HBO Max’s hour-by-hour look at a Pittsburgh emergency room‘s day shift entered the night as the favorite to win the category, competing against “The Diplomat” (Netflix), “The Gilded Age” (HBO), “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” (HBO), “Paradise” (Hulu), “Pluribus” (Apple TV), “Slow Horses” (Apple TV) and “Your Friends & Neighbors” (Apple TV).

Don’t expect Stephen Colbert to host any public access talk shows any time soon. His main focus is co-writing a new “Lord of the Rings” movie.

After taking home the Emmy for variety series, he will go back to the hobbits.

“It takes a lot of time. I’ve never written a ‘Lord of the Rings’ book,” he said backstage at the trophy room. “I just woke up in New Zealand yesterday. I flew here for the Emmys, and yesterday New Zealand was tomorrow here.”

For those folks hoping to see him back on YouTube or anywhere else, they can see him tomorrow on Jimmy Kimmel. Unless ...

“Wait, do you know somebody [that’s hiring] because we’re all looking for work,” he said, referring to the group of writers standing behind him.

A tearful Jamie Lee Curtis appeared at the end of the Emmys In Memoriam segment to honor “our beloved Meathead,” Rob Reiner, whose death alongside his wife, Michele, shocked the world in December.

Sadness washed over the crowd as the segment, which opened with a tender tribute to Catherine O’Hara, came to a close.

“DTF St. Louis,” HBO’s miniseries about a hookup app at the core of a lurid murder mystery, won the Emmy for limited series.

The seven-episode drama was considered a front-runner in the category, earning 13 nominations as well as critical acclaim and impressive ratings. Its momentum escalated after David Harbour and Linda Cardellini won supporting acting trophies, and creator Steven Conrad scored writing and directing honors at an Emmys ceremony earlier this month.

At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Michael J. Fox was honored with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his contributions to Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy.

He was introduced by his former co-star on the legal drama “The Good Wife,” Julianna Margulies. “You’re such a great acting partner, and I had a great time on that show,” Fox said as he spoke from stage in a wheelchair, adding he was happy to no longer speak in legalese.

Backstage, Matthew Rhys quipped it was going to be a rough week for partner Keri Russell at home after he won two Emmys on the same night and she had no wins.

“I put a lot of money on myself,” Rhys said. “The kids run a book, I was the overall favorite … I am sorry, I don’t know if I am, to be perfectly honest.”

The playful banter was followed by predicting Russell will take home an Emmy next year.

“She’s always really the winner, if I’m perfectly honest.”

There isn’t a dry eye in the house as Michael J. Fox appears onstage in a wheelchair to accept the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award after a pretaped tribute that showed the many phases of Fox’s long and celebrated career, including his star-making turn as Alex P. Keaton on “Family Ties,” his role as Marty McFly in the “Back to the Future” series, as well as his recent appearances on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Shrinking.”

The award was given in recognition of the work Fox has done for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease as he has selflessly dedicated himself to one day finding a cure.

At the tender age of 74, “Widow’s Bay” standout Stephen Root has become the oldest actor to win the prize for supporting actor in a comedy series. Henry Winkler was 72 when he won in 2018 for “Barry.”

“I’m telling you right now, Henry’s gonna call up and come give me a big teary hug because he’s the sweetest man in the world,” Root said backstage at the Emmys. “I’m happy to break his record. He’ll be happy to relinquish it, I’m sure.”

Root said he’s excited to show his wife, the “better actor” in the family, Romy Rosemont, his new trophy.

“She’s made me a better person, better listener and she’s made me a better actor.”

Shortly after Matthew Rhys had the audience on its feet, the crowd jumped to its feet again, this time in even bigger numbers, to celebrate Stephen Colbert when his now canceled late-night show on CBS won for variety series.

Colbert has become a hero to many who see him as a free speech champion in the face of the Trump administration’s efforts to punish comedians, news shows and networks that say and air things that the president dislikes.

At the time of the show’s cancellation, CBS said the decision was purely financial, but it came after Colbert criticized parent company Paramount for a legal settlement with the administration.

CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” which ended its 11-year run in May, has won the Emmy in the newly merged variety series category.

Colbert and his colleagues received a rousing reception from the audience as they gathered on stage to accept the award. The series scored five Emmys for directing, writing, lighting, editing and technical direction at a ceremony earlier this month.

There’s something in the fog — it’s Emmys history for Matthew Rhys.

The “Widow’s Bay” star won the award for lead actor in a comedy series at the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday. This follows Rhys’ win earlier in the evening for lead actor in a limited or anthology series for his work in “The Beast in Me.”

What could be more powerful than one Targaryen queen? Two Targaryen queens, of course.

“House of the Dragon” star Emma D’Arcy and “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke took the stage at the 78th Emmy Awards together Monday to present the award for lead actress in a limited series or television movie.

“In the ‘Game of Thrones’ universe, Emilia is my great-great-great-great-really-great granddaughter,” D’Arcy said. “And in honor of our shared Targaryen lineage, Emilia is going to address you in High Valyrian — our mother tongue — and I will translate.”

Clarke, then, showed that her High Valyrian was far from rusty as she introduced the nominees.

In “House of the Dragon,” D’Arcy portrays Rhaenyra Targaryen, whose claim to the Iron Throne was usurped by her younger brother and led to a bloody (and fiery) civil war. Clarke starred in “Game of Thrones” as Daenerys Targaryen, who raised an army to (briefly) reclaim the Iron Throne for her family after her father was overthrown before the events of the show.

Sally Field has won the Emmy for lead actress in a limited series or movie for Netflix’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” the latest addition to her gallery of awards spanning her multi-decade career.

With her win, the 79-year-old actor becomes the oldest to win in the category, a record previously held by Jessica Tandy.

The night’s biggest applause arrived as Matthew Rhys won lead actor in a comedy, making Emmy history for winning that category as well as lead actor in a limited series earlier during the show. His limited series win was for his performance in “The Beast in Me” and the second for his work as a desperate small town mayor in Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay.”

The stars in front stood for Rhys as did many in the far reaches of the theater.

Taylor Swift elicited big laughs and cheers when she appeared in a pretaped segment with host Mariska Hargitay. The sketch featured Hargitay as her “Law & Order: SVU” character, Capt. Olivia Benson, trying to solve the mystery of whether Swift would be at this year’s Emmys. Goofy, insider jokes abounded about various nominees and shows, including Hannah Einbinder and “Slow Horses,” before Swift herself made an appearance in a beige suit with a white cat.

“Oh, you know what? Maybe she’s gonna do one of those cool, uh, pretaped sketch things to support the host,” Swift said after it was decided that she’d be at a Monday night football game watching her husband Travis Kelce “at work.”

The cameras show you one thing, but like with the apocalypse hit “Paradise,” what you see at home does not reflect the reality inside Peacock Theater.

It looks intimate thanks to the low-lit tables where the stars sit in front of the stage, but the theater is huge, dark and cavernous. The floor is concrete and the maroon seats are not all that comfortable.

There are multiple concession stands that charge for libations (unlike the posh Academy Awards, where all the drinks are gratis), and the lines are long and disorderly. Generic popcorn and movie theater-style snacks are plenty. A 24-ounce can of Modelo is $21.99.

Between segments, guests holding their dresses and skirts above their heels rush to the restrooms to wait in long lines for utilitarian bathrooms — and if you don’t make it back in time, you have to wait with a crushing crowd to reenter the telecast.

During the third commercial break, Keri Russell embraced Matthew Rhys as he made his way to his seat after winning for lead actor in a limited series for “The Beast in Me.”

The couple, who met on “The Americans,” were both nominated for lead roles at the 78th Emmy Awards. Russell was nominated for lead actress in a drama series for “The Diplomat.” Rhea Seehorn won that award for her role in “Pluribus.”

Host Mariska Hargitay also stopped by “The Diplomat” table to fist bump and chat with Russell and Rhys.

Rhys was nominated for his performances in both “The Beast in Me” and “Widow’s Bay.”

Kate O’Flynn was gobsmacked and left without words after winning supporting actress in a comedy series at the Emmys for “Widow’s Bay.”

She attributes her character’s bravery and humor as the reasons why Patricia resonated with so many people who are cosplaying as her.

“The costume designer sent me a picture of all the Patricias at DragonCon and it was just insane,” she said backstage at the Emmys trophy room. “It was an army, I’m excited to see Halloween. All the antlers come out and take over the world.”

To help kick off the 78th Emmy Awards Monday, Mariska Hargitay tapped a friend who knows something about assists: New York Knicks point guard Jalen Bruson.

“It’s just a lot of pressure. Have you ever felt like you have millions of eyes on you, and it all comes down to one night?” the first-time host asked the NBA champion while steaming her dress. Of course, the clock ran out on their conversation pretty quickly and it was go time for the “Law & Order: SVU” star’s opening number, “I Love TV Screens,” to the tune of “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll.”

For the second year in a row, Noah Wyle is riding off into the sunset with an Emmy for lead actor in a drama series for HBO Max’s “The Pitt.”

The actor, who plays chief attending physician Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch in the medical drama, won the award at Monday’s Primetime Emmy Awards, a repeat effort after the medical drama’s standout freshman season. Season 2 of the show, which premiered in January, takes place on the Fourth of July as the staff of the Pitt prepares for Dr. Robby to leave on a three-month sabbatical, which involves a road trip on his motorcycle, but his impending departure is met with concern over his mental well-being.

Encouraging short acceptance speeches has become a comedic bit during many of Hollywood’s televised awards ceremonies. Last year’s attempt by Nate Bargatze to ensure winners kept their speeches under the 45-second limit drew mixed reactions — he threatened to deduct $1,000 from a planned $100,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of America for every second a winner went over the allotted time. (As a consolation, if the speech giver finished before their time was up, $1,000 would be added to every second saved.)

As emcee of this year’s ceremony, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay had hoped to take the creative approach to a deadlier level. When I spoke with her in the lead-up to Monday’s event, she shared with me the idea she pitched to incentivize winners to keep things short and sweet:

“I don’t know if I should be telling you this, but one of my ideas was, I was going to let whoever does the shortest speech become a dead body on the show [‘Law & Order: SVU’], since that’s the No. 1 thing that I am asked anytime by movie stars, by people — everyone wants to be a dead body on the show.”

Spoiler alert: They didn’t. But let’s keep tabs to see who could have scored the bucket list cameo.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz reunited onstage to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and to present the award for lead actor in a limited series.

“The show that taught us that high school really is a portal to hell,” said host Mariska Hargitay when she introduced them.

The stars of the ’90s and early aughts supernatural teen drama engaged in a bit of dry banter that ended in a joke about the recent disappointment the franchise experienced when Hulu ordered, and then dropped, a revival and sequel starring Gellar — much to the star’s disappointment.

“I always thought that Buffy and Angel would end up together,” Boreanaz said.

“I guess we’ll never know,” Gellar said grimly.

The series created by Joss Whedon ran on the WB from 1997 to 2001, and then on UPN from 2001 to 2003. Although it was a hit — and a cult sensation — it never nabbed any major Emmy wins.

The hive mind has even more to be happy about: Rhea Seehorn has secured her first Emmy for her turn as a pessimistic romantasy author who finds herself as one of the last people with free will in “Pluribus.”

Seehorn won lead actress in a drama series for her portrayal of the lonesome Carol Sturka in Apple TV’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama from Vince Gilligan. As she clutched her award on stage, she congratulated and thanked her fellow nominees, including Keri Russell, who she said sent her card with a quote from Gloria Steinem.

What’s more iconic than selling out Madison Square Garden? Winning an Emmy for every season of a show.

Jean Smart won the Emmy for lead actress in a comedy on Monday for the fifth and final season of “Hacks.” She has won the award for every season of the show, living up to the legendary status of her character. She now has eight Emmys overall, tying Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the most acting Emmys (Louis-Dreyfus won lead actress for six of the seven seasons of “Veep”).

Television Academy chair Cris Abrego greeted guests minutes before showtime and asked everyone to take their seats. The set of this year’s show has a grand and glossy aesthetic that favors a sense of intimacy, with nominees and some guests seated at small, restaurant-style round tables, each with a table lamp, at the foot of the stage, rather than the usual auditorium seating of years past. The party-like atmosphere is bolstered by glowing jewel tones and a 21-foot-tall Emmy statue serving as a focal point on the left side of the stage.

Meg Stalter is known for her wild red carpet outfits, whether its a take on a Kylie Jenner look or wearing Diet Coke packaging — she can do no wrong.

This year at the Emmy Awards was no different for the actor. She came dressed in the most meta way possible, by dressing up as a golden Emmys statue. The statue depicts a winged holding an atom, a reference to the full name of organization that hosts the awards, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

What will she do with the wings and atom when she takes her seat? Judging by the video The Times’ Yvonne Villarreal shot of her running into the theater, she has already put them aside.

See more photos of the fashion of the Emmys.

Stars like Hannah Einbinder of “Hacks,” Peter Krause, who will debut a new family drama-thriller on NBC called “Line of Fire,” and LL Cool J were immediately bombarded with requests for selfies upon entering the Peacock Theater.

Meanwhile, representatives for “The Pitt,” including show creator R. Scott Gemmill and star Isa Briones (Dr. Santos), congregated to the right of the lobby as star Noah Wyle was ushered into the auditorium. When I asked Gemmill, dressed in a white tuxedo jacket and black dress pants, if the nominee nerves had subsided since winning the top prize for drama last year, he smiled and shook his head.

“I would have a lot more fun if I knew someone else had to speak if we did win again,” he said.

How much they’ll have to celebrate is to be seen. Regardless, the series enters the night on a high — it’s the most-nominated of the evening. That doesn’t block the Monday scaries, though. The show is filming its third season, and Gemmill said the call time for tomorrow’s day of shooting was moved to 11 a.m. to allow for some extra shut-eye. The cast and crew will need it.

“We’ve got an intense day of shooting,” he said, hesitant to spoil too much.

Elsewhere, Cynthia Nixon took a brief moment to rest against a pillar before she and “And Just Like That…” creator Michael Patrick King, who shares a writing nomination with Lisa Kudrow for the final season of “The Comeback,” made their way to their seats, while Harry Hamlin trailed behind wife and reality star Lisa Rinna.

Mariska Hargitay walks the red carpet during the 78th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

We don’t know whether Mariska Hargitay was able to do the run she planned before hosting duties, but we do know that she is thrilled to be walking the Emmys blue carpet in a red gown.

See more photos of red carpet fashion.

The producers behind the Emmys are hoping the three-hour-long ceremony doesn’t drag and, more importantly, still feels fun for viewers watching at home.

Instead of televising all 25 main categories, producers moved six categories to a pair of ceremonies held earlier this month, including writing for a variety series, supporting actor and actress in a limited series or movie, directing for a limited series or movie and writing for a limited series or movie.

The changes were made to give host Mariska Hargitay more room to host the show, executive producer Jesse Collins said. “We also had to move [chair of the Television Academy] Cris Abrego’s speech out, and no one is complaining,” joshed Collins.

Ever wonder what goes on inside the theater while you’re watching the red carpet? It looks a lot like the last-minute prep you do before a guest arrives, just with more help.

As stars began making their way down the blue carpet and other attendees crowded around Emmy statues to pose for selfies the hours before showtime, inside the Peacock Theater, staff were getting things in place inside the main lobby. Some shuttled carts stacked with boxes of sparkling wine and trays of food to their destinations, while others made sure the black carpet was free of any trace of debris with quick sweeps of the floor.

The concession stand inside the Peacock Theater.

(Yvonne Villarreal / Los Angeles Times)

At the concession stand, where nominees will mingle alongside ticketed guests during breaks, the roster of specialty cocktails include “And the winner is ...” — a vodka-based drink — and “Primetime Margarita.” To the left was a cashless beverage and snack station where guests have access to beers and canned cocktails, as well as candy, chips and prepackaged eats. But it’ll cost them! The price for a bottled Dunkin’ Donut drink or Smartwater will set you back $12.99, while a 24 ounce can of Modelo is $21.99.

If you thought Capt. Olivia Benson would bring law and order to the length of acceptance speeches at the Emmys, guess again.

As a previous winner, host Mariska Hargitay understands the importance of the moment and the privilege of giving an acceptance speech.

After joking at a press preview last week that she’d play the role of speech police and arrest anyone who goes overtime, Hargitay revealed that she has no plan to manage the clock. She recounted her 2006 lead actress in a drama Emmy win, after which she ran to the hospital and handed the trophy to her dad, champion bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay. Her father died months later.

“It was the greatest to give [him] that gift and to have him be proud of me because he really was my North Star and mentor,” she said with tears in her eyes.

It’s hard to believe that some of television’s finest actors — industry veterans known for iconic shows and critically acclaimed performances — have yet to receive the industry’s highest honor.

Rhea Seehorn must have won an Emmy for AMC’s “Better Call Saul.”

The Emmys’ writing and directing categories sometimes offer a window into the eventual winners, as when “The Studio” swept through the ceremony last year. Other times, voters decide to go their own way. “Slow Horses” has never won the drama series Emmy, but it has won awards for writing and directing the past two years. Noodles for everyone!

The episode submissions this year are a little baffling, often not reflecting the series’ best work. But what do I know? Maybe those “Pitt” submissions primed the waterworks. Perhaps it’s politics.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

There’s much preparation on the carpet before the stars arrive, including a final sweep with the vacuum.

But you might notice something unusual about this year’s red carpet — it’s blue.

More specifically, it’s peacock blue in honor of the 100th anniversary of NBC, the network broadcasting the Emmys ceremony.

Rob Reiner has won a posthumous Emmy for his appearance in Season 4 of “The Bear.”

On Sunday, the Television Academy hosted the second night of Emmy ceremonies, where guest actor awards were among those announced. Reiner, who died in December, won for guest actor in a comedy series for his appearance as Albert Schnurr, a consultant who mentored line cook Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson), on the FX show’s fourth season. It was his third Emmy Award, having previously won twice for supporting actor in a comedy for “All in the Family.”

As the scorching heat of the summer reaches its peak and the calendar brings hope of cooler temperatures, it’s time to fluff the pillows and settle in to enjoy the comfort of the new television season.

But before we turn the page, the Emmy Awards will honor the shows of the past year that had audiences crying, laughing and glued to their screens — some returning this fall, while others bid adieu last year.

The Emmy Awards have become a streamlined affair in recent years, as voters, sifting through a fragmented TV landscape, inevitably land on a small set of favorite programs.

Last year, it was “The Studio,” “The Pitt,” “Severance” and “Adolescence.” The year before that, “Hacks,” “The Bear,” “Shōgun” and “Baby Reindeer” dominated. The year before that, it was “Beef,” “The Bear” and “Succession.”

Heading into the 78th Emmy Awards, “Widow’s Bay” seems anything but cursed.

Whether or not human sacrifice was involved, Katie Dippold’s Apple TV horror-comedy emerged from last weekend’s Emmy ceremonies (formerly called the Creative Arts Emmys) with eight awards — guest actress (Betty Gilpin), casting, cinematography, music composition, music supervision, production design, sound editing and sound mixing — and a definitive statuary lead. (“The Pitt” and “Pluribus” each got four.)

Who wants to be the person to rebuff a request from Capt. Olivia Benson?

This isn’t even an interrogation but her maker, Mariska Hargitay, realizes she has said too much. In a moment of enthusiasm, the actor reveals an idea she pitched to minimize long-winded winner speeches during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, where she’ll make her debut as host. But it’s too soon to tell if the bit will make it into the ceremony. And she quickly learns spoilers apply to awards shows too.

It’s the weekend before the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, which means it’s the perfect time to catch up on the series you either didn’t get to start or finish, so you can begin making your predictions.

This year’s top nominees include “The Pitt,” “Hacks,” “Widow’s Bay,” “Pluribus” and “Beef,” and according to The Times’ awards columnist Glenn Whipp, the winners are relatively easy to predict. He leans toward Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” winning comedy series, though HBO Max’s “Hacks,” which had a strong fifth and final season, could also have a shot. On the drama side, Season 2 of “The Pitt” on HBO Max is the top contender. For limited series, he’s going with HBO’s “DTF St. Louis,” which has already garnered acting wins for David Harbour and Linda Cardellini, but Season 2 of Netflix’s “Beef” could also sneak in a win.

“Hacks” just set an Emmy Awards record that would impress Deborah Vance herself.

The acclaimed HBO Max series received 24 Emmy nominations for its fifth and final season (25, if you count its nom for short form nonfiction or reality series), breaking the record for most noms by a comedy series in a single year, which was previously established by “The Bear” in 2024 with 23 nominations and tied by “The Studio” last year.

The 2026 Emmy nominations have been revealed.

HBO’s emergency medical drama “The Pitt” was the top nominee, with a total of 25. The premium cable network’s intergenerational comedy comeback story “Hacks,” meanwhile, earned 24 nominations. Other top nominees include Apple TV’s freshman offerings “Widow’s Bay” and “Pluribus,” which nabbed 19 and 18 nods a piece, respectively.