The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are underway, with Mariska Hargitay hosting the ceremony as television’s biggest stars gather for the 2026 Emmys.
The ceremony is scheduled to air live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock following the red carpet. The Pitt enters the night as the leading nominee with 25 nominations, while Hacks leads comedy contenders with 24 nominations for its final season.
KEY POINT
- The Pitt leads all programs with 25 Emmy nominations.
- Hacks received 24 nominations, setting a record for a comedy series.
- Michael J. Fox is set to receive the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
The evening combines competitive awards with several planned appearances and anniversary celebrations. Michael J. Fox, a five-time Emmy winner, is returning to the ceremony to accept the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
The ceremony will also feature reunions connected to two major television franchises. Charlie’s Angels is being celebrated for its 50th anniversary, while Buffy the Vampire Slayer marks 30 years.
Host Mariska Hargitay told PEOPLE that she worked with staff from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert while developing her performance for the ceremony. New York Knicks player Jalen Brunson is also scheduled to appear.
The In Memoriam segment will feature Noah Kahan performing “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Kahan told E! News that he considers the song one of the greatest ever recorded and sees its themes of hope and love as fitting for the segment.
Kahan specifically referenced Dolly Parton and Catherine O’Hara among those remembered during the tribute. O’Hara’s Schitt’s Creek co-stars Annie Murphy and Dan Levy, along with Home Alone actor Macaulay Culkin, are also expected to attend.
On the red carpet, Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph expressed confidence in her show’s chances in the comedy category. Ralph, who won the supporting actress Emmy in 2022, also offered a pointed assessment of the competition.
The comedy lineup includes The Bear, Hacks, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, Shrinking and Widow’s Bay.
The Pitt cast members Shabana Azeez and Supriya Ganesh also appeared on the red carpet, trading their medical scrubs for formal gowns ahead of the ceremony.
