Emmy Awards 2026: What time is it and who's most likely to win?

One of television’s biggest nights of the year is upon us, with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars competing for the ceremony’s top acting prizes.

This year’s Emmy Awards have some exciting changes, from a new network hosting the celebrations to one of television’s most beloved actors hosting for the first time.

From The Pitt to Hacks to all the stars in between, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Emmys.

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards is being held on Monday night

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When will the Emmy Awards be held?

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, September 14, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, with winners chosen by 26,000 performers, directors, producers and other members of the Television Academy.

How can I watch the awards show?

In the US, the ceremony will be broadcast on NBC, or on streaming service Peacock.

For viewers in the UK, the show will begin at 1am on Tuesday, though no British broadcaster is scheduled to show it live.

However, you can get your red carpet fix with Live from E!: Countdown to the Emmys, which will show stars arriving from 5pm (10pm BST), on YouTube and Peacock. The Associated Press will also have a delayed feed of celebrity arrivals on YouTube.

Who is hosting?

Mariska Hargitay, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning star of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, will host this year’s ceremony.

Mariska Hargitay attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards Press Preview in Los Angeles

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The hugely successful crime series, known as SVU, has been running since 1999, and has continued to find success amongst younger viewers who have discovered the show via social media.

Hargitay, who plays protagonist Olivia Benson, is a 10 time Primetime Emmy nominee herself, taking home her first trophy in 2006.

It marks the first time a woman has hosted the awards show since Jane Lynch in 2011.

Who is nominated?

HBO’s The Pitt is leading the pack with a whopping 25 dominations, including nods for Outstanding Drama Series, which is generally considered the ceremony’s most prestigious prize.

The cast of The Pitt, which stormed last year’s awards

HBO Max

The medical drama stormed last year’s awards, coming away with three major wins, including best drama.

Its protagonist Noah Wyle has also received nominations in both lead actor and directing categories.

Hot on its heels is Hacks, with the Hollywood satire’s swan song season gaining an impressive 24 nominations.

Its two lead actors, Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart, are up for top acting prizes. Smart has never lost for her performances in the show, winning an Emmy award per season.

Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, Kaitlin Olson and Robby Hoffman attend the "Hacks" Season 5 FYC Event

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Apple TV's Widow's Bay has racked up an impressive 19 nominations, including a Best Comedy nod.

If the comedy-horror sweeps the ceremony tonight, it will break the record of 13 Emmys for a comedy season, set last year by The Studio.

Welsh actor Matthew Rhys is a favourite to win best actor in a comedy, whilst the show's breakout British star Kate O'Flynn is highly tipped for best supporting actress.

Apple TV has another hit under its belt with hive-mind drama Pluribus, which has managed to scoop 18 nominations, with protagonist Rhea Seehorn as a favourite for best actress.

Welsh actor Matthew Rhys attends the Television Academy's Inaugural Televerse Festival at JW Marriott LA Live in Los Angeles

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British nominees include Carey Mulligan for Beef, Riz Ahmed for Bait, Rufus Sewell for The Diplomat and Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden, both for Slow Horses.

Who has been snubbed?

Viral sensation Heated Rivalry has not received any nominations due to its ineligibility. The ice hockey romance drama is a fully financed Canadian production, with no US involvement required to be recognised at the Emmys.

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams attend the premiere of Heated Rivalry at TIFF Lightbox

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It will instead be eligible to compete for the next International Emmys, which take place in New York in November.

The crave series starring Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams is the most glaring omission on the 2026 nominations list, though Storrie did at least score an Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series nod for his stint on Saturday Night Live.

Elsewhere, previous winners Stranger Things and Euphoria failed to scoop any major nominations, bar Zendeya for best actress, though this is the show’s only nomination.

Who has already won?

Last weekend saw the Creative Arts Emmys take place, which acknowledge mainly technical aspects of the television industry, including cinematography, writing, costuming, hair-styling and make-up.

Linda Cardellini and David Harbour with their awards

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Widow’s Bay walked away as the big winner, with the spooky Apple TV series winning eight awards, while DTF St Louis stars Linda Cardellini and David Harbour both won best supporting actress and actor in a limited series.

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

Late actor and director Rob Reiner was also awarded a posthumous Emmy for his guest acting work in The Bear. His win broke a record for longest time between acting Emmy, with his last win coming in 1978.

Director Rob Reiner was also awarded a posthumous Emmy for his guest acting work in The Bear.

PA Wire

Full list of nominations

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder Man - Steve Carell, Rooster - Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay - Jason Segel, Shrinking - Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K Brown, Paradise - Gary Oldman, Slow Horses - Mark Ruffalo, Task - Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat - Noah Wyle, The Pitt

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Riz Ahmed, Bait - Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit - Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story - Oscar Isaac, Beef - Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary - Ayo Edebiri, The Bear - Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles - Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback - Jean Smart, Hacks

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age - Chase Infiniti, The Testaments - Keri Russell, The Diplomat - Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus - Zendaya, Euphoria

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Claire Danes, The Beast in Me - Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures - Carey Mulligan, Beef - Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story - Sarah Snook, All Her Fault

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons - Paul W Downs, Hacks - Harrison Ford, Shrinking - Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles - Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay - Michael Urie, Shrinking - Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Patrick Ball, The Pitt - Billy Crudup, The Morning Show - Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt - Gerran Howell, The Pitt - Tom Pelphrey, Task - Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Pluribus

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jason Bateman, DTF St Louis - Richard Gadd, Half Man - David Harbour, DTF St Louis - Richard Jenkins, DTF St Louis - Charles Melton, Beef - Nick Offerman, Death by Lightning

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Dale Dickey, Widow’s Bay - Hannah Einbinder, Hacks - Janelle James, Abbott Elementary - Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay - Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles - Megan Stalter, Hacks - Jessica Williams, Shrinking

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Taylor Dearden, The Pitt - Fiona Dourif, The Pitt - Allison Janney, The Diplomat - Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt - Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt - Julianne Nicholson, Paradise - Karolina Wydra, Pluribus

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Linda Cardellini, DTF St Louis - Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault - Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein Story - Joy Sunday, DTF St Louis - Yuh-Jung Youn, Beef - Constance Zimmer, Love Story

Outstanding Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary - The Bear - Hacks - Margo’s Got Money Troubles - Nobody Wants This - Only Murders in the Building - Shrinking - Widow’s Bay

Outstanding Drama Series

The Diplomat - The Gilded Age - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - Paradise - The Pitt - Pluribus - Slow Horses - Your Friends & Neighbors

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

All Her Fault - The Beast in Me - Beef - DTF St Louis - Love Story

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary - The Bear - The Chair - Company - Hacks - The Ms Pat Show - Widow’s Bay

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

The Gilded Age - Paradise -The Pitt - Pluribus - Slow Horses - Task

Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Beef- Black Rabbit - DTF St Louis

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary - The Chair Company - The Comeback - Hacks -Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat -Widow’s Bay

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

The Diplomat - The Pitt - Pluribus - Slow Horses - Task

Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

All Her Fault - The Beast in Me - Beef - Death By Lightning - DTF St Louis