At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards held on September 14, 2026, in Los Angeles, Apple TV’s comedy series "Widow’s Bay" and HBO Max’s drama "The Pitt" dominated the ceremony. "Widow’s Bay" secured six wins in comedy categories, including Outstanding Series and acting honors for Matthew Rhys and Kate O’Flynn, totaling 14 Emmys after its Creative Arts wins. Meanwhile, "The Pitt" won Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Actor for Noah Wyle, accumulating six awards overall.

Matthew Rhys made Emmy history by winning awards across all three major acting categories, adding Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series for "The Beast in Me" to his previous drama series win for "The Americans" in 2018. Jean Smart continued her Emmy streak with a fifth consecutive win for "Hacks," while Allison Janney earned her eighth Emmy, this time for "The Diplomat." Rhea Seehorn also picked up an Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role in "Pluribus."

The event was hosted by Mariska Hargitay, marking the first female host in 15 years for the ceremony, held at the Peacock Theater. Besides the main awards, notable tributes were given to late TV legends like Catherine O’Hara and Dolly Parton, with performances and stories shared by celebrities including Reba McEntire and Jamie Lee Curtis. The show also featured anniversaries for TV classics like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and “Charlie’s Angels.”

In addition to the drama and comedy winners, "DTF St. Louis" took the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series Emmy, while "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" won for Outstanding Variety Series. "The Traitors" on Peacock was awarded Outstanding Reality Competition Program. The event highlighted both streaming platforms and network television, reflecting shifting entertainment dynamics in the industry.