The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards wrapped up Monday night, September 14, 2026, and it turned out to be one of the most historic ceremonies in recent memory. Apple TV's freshman comedy "Widow's Bay" set a single-year record for a comedy series with 14 total wins, while HBO Max's medical drama "The Pitt" repeated as Outstanding Drama Series for the second year running. Add in a genuinely unprecedented double win for actor Matthew Rhys and a record-tying night for Jean Smart, and this year's Emmys will be talked about for a while. Here's the full breakdown.
The direct answer: who won big at the 2026 Emmys?
"Widow's Bay" won Outstanding Comedy Series and led the night with 14 total awards, a record for a comedy series in a single year. "The Pitt" won Outstanding Drama Series for the second consecutive year, with star Noah Wyle repeating as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama. Matthew Rhys made history by winning Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (for "Widow's Bay") and Lead Actor in a Limited Series (for "The Beast in Me") in the same year — the first actor ever to win across two lead-performance categories in one ceremony. Jean Smart won her eighth career Emmy for "Hacks," tying Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman for the most Emmys ever won by a performer.
When were the 2026 Emmys and where can you watch them?
The 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards aired live on Monday, September 14, starting at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, broadcast on NBC and streamed live on Peacock. Mariska Hargitay, best known for "Law & Order: SVU," hosted the ceremony this year, drawing praise for her comedic timing and willingness to lean into self-deprecating jokes about how long her own show has been on air. If you missed the live broadcast, a replay is typically made available on Peacock shortly after the ceremony airs, alongside highlight clips from NBC's official channels.
Complete list of major category winners
Outstanding Drama Series: The Pitt
Outstanding Comedy Series: Widow's Bay
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: DTF St. Louis
Lead Actor, Drama Series: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Lead Actress, Drama Series: (among nominees: Kathy Bates, Britt Lower, Bella Ramsey — full result confirmed on official Emmys channels)
Lead Actor, Comedy Series: Matthew Rhys, Widow's Bay
Lead Actress, Comedy Series: Jean Smart, Hacks
Lead Actor, Limited Series or Movie: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Tom Pelphrey, Task
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
Supporting Actress, Limited Series or Movie: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
Outstanding Reality Competition Program: The Traitors
Outstanding Animated Program: South Park
Outstanding Variety Special (Live): The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded): The Muppet Show
The records that made this a historic night
1. Matthew Rhys's unprecedented double win Rhys took home Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for "Widow's Bay" and Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Netflix's "The Beast in Me" — making him the first actor in Emmy history to win two lead-acting categories in the same year. Combined with his earlier Lead Actor in a Drama win for "The Americans" back in 2018, Rhys has now won across all three lead-performance categories over his career.
2. Jean Smart ties the all-time record Smart won her fifth Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award for playing Deborah Vance on "Hacks" — meaning she's now won the category for every single season the show aired, something not even six-time "Veep" winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus achieved. The win was also Smart's eighth Emmy overall, tying her with Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman for the most Emmys ever won by a performer.
3. 'Widow's Bay' sets a comedy record "Widow's Bay," created by Katie Dippold, arrived with 19 nominations and left with 14 total wins across the main ceremony and the earlier Creative Arts Emmys — a single-year record for a comedy series.
4. 'The Pitt' repeats at the top HBO Max's "The Pitt" led all programs with 25 nominations this year and successfully defended its Outstanding Drama Series title from last year, while Noah Wyle also repeated as Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Where to watch the winning shows
- Widow's Bay — streaming on Apple TV
- The Pitt — streaming on HBO Max
- DTF St. Louis — streaming on HBO Max
- Hacks — streaming on HBO Max
- The Beast in Me — streaming on Netflix
- South Park — streaming on Comedy Central and Paramount+
- The Traitors — streaming on Peacock
Frequently Asked Questions
When were the Emmys in 2026? The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards aired live on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Who won Outstanding Drama Series at the 2026 Emmys? HBO Max's "The Pitt" won, repeating as champion for the second consecutive year.
Who won Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2026 Emmys? Apple TV's "Widow's Bay" won, finishing the night with a record 14 total wins for a comedy series in a single year.
Did anyone make Emmy history in 2026? Yes. Matthew Rhys became the first actor ever to win two lead-acting Emmys in the same year (Comedy for "Widow's Bay" and Limited Series for "The Beast in Me"), and Jean Smart tied the all-time record for most Emmys won by a performer with eight career wins.
Who hosted the 2026 Emmys? Mariska Hargitay, known for "Law & Order: SVU," hosted the ceremony.
Where can I watch the Emmys 2026 if I missed it live? A replay is available on Peacock, with highlight clips also shared across NBC's official platforms.
