Television's Biggest Night: Everything to Know Before the 2026 Emmys

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards take place on Monday 14 September 2026 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Mariska Hargitay and broadcast live on NBC at 8pm ET. The Pitt leads with 25 nominations and Hacks set a comedy record with 24.

The Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, host venue for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. Photo: Haruhi8, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

By the UISC BD Editorial Desk · United Information Service Center · Published 13 September 2026 · 4-minute read

When and Where

Date: Monday 14 September 2026.
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, live coast to coast.
Venue: Peacock Theater, downtown Los Angeles.
Broadcaster: NBC.
Host: Mariska Hargitay, who begins her 28th season on Law & Order: SVU this autumn.

The Nomination Leaders

The Pitt — 25 nominations, the most of any programme, including outstanding drama series and lead actor in a drama for Noah Wyle.
Hacks — 24 nominations for its final season, a record for a comedy in a single season.
Widow's Bay (Apple TV) — 19.
Pluribus (Apple TV) — 18.
Beef (Netflix) — 16.

Storylines to Watch

A farewell for Hacks. A record-setting final season gives the comedy a strong chance to end its run with major wins.

Apple's first-year shows. Two debut series in the top four nominees signal how competitive streaming drama has become.

A strong start already for Widow's Bay. It led last week's Creative Arts Emmys with eight wins — see the full Creative Arts highlights.

A busy few weeks for the host. Hargitay won two Creative Arts Emmys for her documentary My Mom Jayne before taking the main stage.

Primetime vs Creative Arts: What Is the Difference?

The Television Academy spreads its awards across more than one ceremony. The Creative Arts Emmys, held the week before, honour craft and technical work, guest performances, documentaries and reality programming. The Primetime ceremony on Monday focuses on the headline awards most viewers follow — the top drama, comedy and limited series prizes and the lead and supporting acting categories.

Races to Watch

Outstanding Drama Series, where nomination leader The Pitt is in contention.
Outstanding Comedy Series, with Hacks bidding to end its run on a high.
Lead Actor in a Drama Series, including Noah Wyle for The Pitt.
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, another closely watched category.

How to Follow Along

Watch live on NBC in the United States; check local broadcasters and streaming partners elsewhere.
Follow official Television Academy channels for winners as they are announced.

Awards season is in full swing — see the Venice Film Festival winners and the highlights of this year's Toronto International Film Festival.

Sources

"78th Primetime Emmy Awards," Wikipedia — en.wikipedia.org
"2026 Emmys: when is the ceremony, how to watch, what to know about nominees," ABC News — abcnews.com
"2026 Emmy nominations full list," Deadline — deadline.com
"2026 Emmy nominations: complete list of nominees," Rotten Tomatoes — rottentomatoes.com

emmys 2026 (1)

Emmys 2026: Date, Host, How to Watch and the Nomination Leaders