The 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, held over two nights at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, celebrated remarkable acting performances across various TV series. Shailene Woodley won the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Annie Clay in Hulu's "Paradise," marking her first Emmy win after a previous nomination in 2017. Other notable first-time winners included Ernest Harden Jr. for HBO Max’s "The Pitt," Betty Gilpin for Apple TV’s "Widow’s Bay," as well as David Harbour and Linda Cardellini from HBO Max’s dark comedy "DTF St. Louis."

One of the most poignant moments came with the posthumous Emmy awarded to Rob Reiner for Guest Actor in a Comedy for his performance as Albert Schnurr in Hulu’s "The Bear." Reiner, who died tragically in December 2025, had a celebrated Emmy history, including wins in the 1970s for “All in the Family.” His award was met with a standing ovation, honoring his iconic contributions to television and film. Betty Gilpin’s win for “Widow’s Bay” and the recognitions for “The Pitt” and “DTF St. Louis” highlighted the rich talent showcased during the event.

Mariska Hargitay was a standout on the first night of the Creative Arts ceremony, winning two Emmys for her HBO Max documentary "My Mom Jayne," which explores the life and death of her mother, Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay also has the honor of hosting the main 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, scheduled for September 14th at the same venue. The Creative Arts ceremonies mainly recognize guest acting roles and technical achievements, with this year’s highlights airing on FXX on September 12th and streaming on Hulu the following day.

The Creative Arts Emmys function as a precursor to the main Primetime Emmy Awards, spotlighting significant achievements in supporting and guest categories, as well as craft and documentary work. This year’s ceremony emphasized a broad spectrum of storytelling excellence, from dramatic survival tales and dark comedy joints to deeply personal documentaries. The full list of winners can be viewed on the Television Academy’s official website for those interested in all the detailed results from these prestigious awards.