From tight races to broken records, here's what you need to know about Emmys 2026

We might be getting just the first whiffs of the 2027 Oscars race but US TV's biggest night of the year, the Emmys, is almost here!

The 78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with winners chosen by 26,000 performers, directors, producers and other members of the Television Academy.

Here's when they're on, how to watch, and what to look out for on Tuesday.

Who are the 2026 Primetime Emmy nominees?

High-pressure medical drama The Pitt has come out swinging for the second year, sweeping up a massive 25 nominations including nods for Outstanding Drama Series, and rare duel spots for protagonist Noah Wyle in both lead actor and directing categories.

Hacks is flying high off its swan-song season, with the Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart comedy just behind The Pitt with 24 nominations.

Apple TV's Widow's Bay is the undeniable underdog but could be real competition for Hacks. The hybrid workplace comedy/island horror only just squeaked into the eligibility window but has emerged with a whopping 19 nominations, including a Best Comedy nod.

It's not the only bite Apple is trying to take out of the Emmys, hive-mind drama Pluribus managed to scoop 18 nominations. Protagonist Rhea Seehorn is already the favourite to take home Leading Actress — Drama and considering creator Vince Gilligan's legacy (16 Emmys for Breaking Bad alone), it might not be the only statue they score on Tuesday.

See the full list of 2026 nominees here.

Which races should I keep an eye on?

Many fans will be lasered in on Hacks. This is the last time it will have a shot at the Emmys as the beloved comedy delivered its tear-inducing fifth and final season this year.

Jean Smart is all but locked in for her fifth Hacks-related Emmy for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy, which would make her the only woman to win the category for every season of a multi-season show. Julia Louis-Dreyfus came very close with her six consecutive wins for Veep but was pipped at the post in 2019, when Phoebe Waller-Bridge won for season two of Fleabag.

Smart's name might already be carved on a trophy but the prospects of Hacks taking out Best Comedy is more shaky. 

Generally, final seasons trigger the nostalgia button for Emmy voters but they also historically love a buzzy new show (just look at The Studio's sweep last year). Just days ago Hacks was the Gold Derby frontrunner for Best Comedy but after a strong showing at the Creative Arts Emmys Widow's Bay is now out in front.

Wait, what are the Creative Arts Emmys?

The non-broadcast Creative Arts Emmys acknowledge a lot of technical awards, like cinematography, writing, costuming, hair-styling and make-up.

In more recent years, they have also contained some awards which would usually be in the main ceremony, including limited series acting awards and guest actor awards.

The 2026 Creative Arts Emmys took place on September 5 and 6 in Los Angeles.

In what could be predictive of the Primetime awards, Widow's Bay walked away the big winner.  
The comedy horror won eight awards, including the Best Guest Actress Comedy category in which Hacks held five out of the seven nominees.

In what was a very tough category, late actor and director Rob Reiner won a posthumous Emmy for his guest acting work in The Bear. The win saw Reiner break a record for longest time between acting Emmys; the last time Reiner won an acting Emmy was 48 years ago in 1978.

The previous record was 37 years between acting wins and was held by his own father, Carl Reiner.

Primetime Emmys host Mariska Hargitay took home two Creative Arts Emmys, both for documentary My Mom Jayne which saw Hargitay remember her mother, actor Jayne Mansfield.

See the full lists of creative arts Emmy winners here.

When are the 2026 Primetime Emmys?

The Primetime Emmys will take place on the evening of September 14 in LA, which is 10am AEST on September 15 in Australia.

Where can I watch the 2026 Primetime Emmys?

If you have Foxtel, you can watch it on the Showcase channel.

You can also stream it on Binge.

There will also be a live blog of the ceremony on the ABC News website.

Who will host the 2026 Primetime Emmys?

Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay will be hosting this year's awards, making her the first woman since Jane Lynch in 2011 to do so.

Hargitay is a 10 time Primetime Emmy nominee herself, taking home her first statue in 2006 for SVU episode 911.