The 2026 Emmy Awards kicked off with a full slate of winners across comedy, drama, and limited series, and the first night brought surprises and confirmations alike. Mariska Hargitay, who hosted the ceremony, took home two statuettes for her work on My Mom Jayne. Shows like Widow’s Bay, The Pitt, and DTF St. Louis earned early victories, while The Bear picked up a posthumous win for Rob Reiner.
The winners were announced over two nights of broadcasts. The first round of reveals came on September 6, with the remaining categories unfolding on Monday, September 14. The official 2026 Emmys aired on NBC and Peacock.
Comedy Wins
In the comedy categories, Abbott Elementary was among the nominated titles. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Wonder Man, while Quinta Brunson took Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary.
Matthew Rhys won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay, and Martin Short won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Only Murders in the Building. Elle Fanning won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and Lisa Kudrow won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for The Comeback.
Supporting actors saw Harrison Ford win for Shrinking, while Michael Urie won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Shrinking and Tyler James Williams won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary. Jessica Williams won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Shrinking.
Guest actors saw Rob Reiner win Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for The Bear, while Brett Goldstein won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Shrinking. Betty Gilpin won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay.
Drama Wins
In drama, Paradise was among the nominated titles. Sterling K. Brown won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Paradise, and Zendaya won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Euphoria.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series went to David Harbour for DTF St. Louis, while Allison Janney won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The Diplomat. Shailene Woodley won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Paradise.
Limited Series Wins
In limited series, Beef was among the nominated titles. Oscar Isaac won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Beef, while Sally Field won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie went to David Harbour for DTF St. Louis. Charles Melto appeared in the category list.
Key Facts Box
- Date: September 6 and September 14
- Network: NBC and Peacock
- Host: Mariska Hargitay
- Winners: Rob Reiner (posthumous), Shailene Woodley, Sally Field, David Harbour, Mariska Hargitay (two wins)
Comparison Table
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Wonder Man) |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Sterling K. Brown (Paradise) |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Zendaya (Euphoria) |
| Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Rob Reiner (The Bear) |
| Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Shailene Woodley (Paradise) |
The early winners set the tone for the rest of the broadcast. Hacks and Shrinking were among the nominated titles still waiting on their final announcements. The full list of winners will be confirmed when the official 2026 Emmys air.
The results show a field where established stars like Sally Field and Zendaya shared space with newcomers.
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