Emmys 2026: The Pitt and Hacks Lead Nominations as Rhea Seehorn, Jean Smart and Matthew Rhys Take Early Wins

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are being held Monday night, September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Mariska Hargitay, the longtime "Law & Order: SVU" star, is hosting for the first time.

HBO's medical drama "The Pitt" leads all nominees this year with 25 nominations for its second season, the most of any drama. The final season of HBO's "Hacks" earned 24 nominations, breaking the comedy series nomination record of 23 set last year by "The Bear" and "The Studio." Apple TV's freshman drama "Widow's Bay" rounds out the top three with 19 nominations.

Organizers cut several major categories from the live NBC telecast this year, moving them to the earlier Creative Arts Emmys ceremony instead. Most of the acting, directing and top series awards were still handled live Monday night, but the shift means a chunk of this year's trophies were already handed out before the main event even started.

The winners so far

Rhea Seehorn won lead actress in a drama series for her role in "Pluribus," beating Carrie Coon ("The Gilded Age"), Chase Infiniti ("The Testaments"), Keri Russell ("The Diplomat") and Zendaya ("Euphoria"). In her acceptance speech, Seehorn said Russell had sent her a card quoting women's-rights icon Gloria Steinem, who died earlier this month at age 92: "We are linked, not ranked." Seehorn told the room she felt that way about all the nominated women.

Allison Janney won supporting actress in a drama series for "The Diplomat," topping a field stacked with four different "The Pitt" castmates, Julianne Nicholson ("Paradise") and Karolina Wydra ("Pluribus"). "I'm very surprised and very, very grateful to be here," Janney said.

Matthew Rhys won lead actor in a limited or anthology series for "The Beast in Me," beating Riz Ahmed ("Bait"), Jason Bateman ("Black Rabbit"), Charlie Hunnam ("Monster: The Ed Gein Story") and Oscar Isaac ("Beef").

Jean Smart won lead actress in a comedy series for "Hacks," her show's final season, over Quinta Brunson ("Abbott Elementary"), Ayo Edebiri ("The Bear"), Elle Fanning ("Margo's Got Money Troubles") and Lisa Kudrow ("The Comeback").

Stephen Root took supporting actor in a comedy series for "Widow's Bay," beating out Colman Domingo ("The Four Seasons"), Paul W. Downs ("Hacks"), Harrison Ford ("Shrinking"), Nick Offerman ("Margo's Got Money Troubles"), Michael Urie ("Shrinking") and Tyler James Williams ("Abbott Elementary"). Kate O'Flynn won supporting actress in a comedy series for the same show, edging co-star Dale Dickey along with Hannah Einbinder and Megan Stalter of "Hacks," Janelle James ("Abbott Elementary"), Michelle Pfeiffer ("Margo's Got Money Troubles") and Jessica Williams ("Shrinking").

What's still on the board

As of these results, the night's biggest prizes had not yet been announced: outstanding drama series, comedy series, limited or anthology series, lead actor in a drama, lead actor in a comedy, and lead actress in a limited series. Nominees in the drama series race include "The Diplomat," "The Gilded Age," "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," "Paradise," "The Pitt," "Pluribus," "Slow Horses" and "Your Friends & Neighbors." The comedy series field pits "Abbott Elementary," "The Bear," "Hacks," "Margo's Got Money Troubles," "Nobody Wants This," "Only Murders in the Building," "Shrinking" and "Widow's Bay" against each other. In limited series, "All Her Fault," "The Beast in Me," "Beef," "DTF St. Louis" and "Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette" remain in contention.

All four outlets tracking the ceremony in real time, CBS News, ABC News, the Guardian and the New York Post, published consistent nominee and winner lists as categories were announced. The BBC's list matched the others but had not yet logged results beyond the comedy supporting actress category at the time of its last update, leaving the night's marquee series and lead-actor awards as the remaining unknowns heading into the ceremony's final stretch.