2026 Primetime Emmy Winners

The 78^th annual Emmy saga finally ended with a live awards ceremony on September 14, 2026. However, the more interesting 2026 Primetime Emmy winners were announced weeks ago.

You should still keep reading to learn who the winners were.

Television Academy Released the 2026 Primetime Emmy Winners Live

They took their sweet time, but the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences finally announced its 2026 Primetime Emmy winners. And unlike their earlier ceremonies, they let the TV-viewing public watch the event live. They even called it “TV’s biggest night”, while Mariska Hargitay hosted the event that NBC televised on September 14, 2026.

However, many of the categories presented were repeats from the Creative Arts Awards, which the Academy handed out last week. So, those watching were already spoiled when Shailene Woodley, David Harbour, Linda Cardellini, Betty Gilpin, the late Rob Reiner, and others received their awards on stage.

The 2026 Primetime Emmy Winners Spanned the Following 19 Categories

As for the new categories, actors Jean Smart, Allison Janney, and Matthew Rhys won big last night. However, Rhys only won twice, while Janney and Smart tied a few records. Then, Hargitay joined the winner’s party with two Emmys herself. Meanwhile, the other winning actors included Kate O’Flynn, Rhea Seehorn, Noah Wyle, Stephen Root, Tom Pelphrey, and Sally Field.

Meanwhile, The Pitt, Hacks, Widow’s Bay, Pluribus, and Beef dominated the night as the most nominated shows this year. And that’s because they received about 25 nominations each. Despite this, the big winners were The Pitt, DTF St. Louis, and Widow’s Bay.

Overall, the 78^th Emmy Awards Ceremony handed out 19 awards Monday night. The categories mostly focused on drama and comedy. But the night also included awards for documentaries, variety shows, anthologies, and limited series.

Widow’s Bay shattered records to dominate the comedy categories, while The Pitt took most of the drama ones. Meanwhile, DTF St. Louis was named the best limited or anthology series. Then, there were the variety and reality categories, which went to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Traitors, respectively.

The Complete 2026 Primetime Emmy Winners List

Here’s the complete list of 2026 Primetime Emmy winners and nominees, but in no particular order.

2026 Primetime Emmy Winner for Especially Outstanding Drama

In the first place, we start with the race for Best TV Drama.

• The Diplomat
• The Gilded Age
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
• Paradise
• The Pitt (WINNER)
• Pluribus
• Slow Horses
• Your Friends & Neighbors

Lead Actress in a Drama

Secondly, these ladies were vying for Best Actress this year.

• Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age
• Chase Infiniti- The Testaments
• Keri Russell- The Diplomat:
• Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (WINNER)
• Zendaya –Euphoria

Supporting Actress in a Drama

Then, these were the nominations for Best Supporting Actress.

• Taylor Dearden – The Pitt
• Fiona Dourif – The Pitt  
• Allison Janney – The Diplomat (WINNER)
• Katherine LaNasa –The Pitt
• Sepideh Moafi – The Pitt
• Julianne Nicholson – Paradise
• Karolina Wydra – Pluribus

2026 Primetime Emmy Winner for Leading Actor in a Drama

Lead Actor is next, of course.

• Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
• Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
• Mark Ruffalo – Task
• Rufus Sewell – The Diplomat
• Noah Wyle – The Pitt (WINNER)

Supporting Actor in a Drama

Then, we have the supports.

• Patrick Ball – The Pitt
• Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
• Shawn Hatosy – The Pitt
• Gerran Howell – The Pitt
• Jack Lowden – Slow Horses
• Tom Pelphrey – Task (WINNER)
• Carlos-Manuel Vesga- Pluribus

The Overall Best Writing for a Drama Series

The TV Academy basically said these were the best screenplays on TV.

• The Diplomat, Episode “Amagansett“ – Peter Akerman and Debora Cahn
• The Pitt, Episode: “1:00 PM” – Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman and R. Scott Gemmill
• The Pitt, Episode: “12:00 PM” – Valerie Chu
• Industry, Episode: “Dear Henry” – Mickey Down and Konrad Kay
• Pluribus, Episode: “We Is Us” – Vince Gilligan (WINNER)
• Slow Horses, Episode: “Scars” – Will Smith
• Task, Episode: “A Still Small Voice” – Brad Ingelsby

Overall Best Directing for a Drama Series

But these people were the best directors.

• The Gilded Age, Episode: “My Mind Is Made Up” – Salli Richardson-Whitfield
• Paradise, Episode: “Exodus” – Hanelle M. Culpepper
• The Pitt, Episode: “12:00 PM” – Noah Wyle
• Pluribus, Episode: “We Is Us” – Vince Gilligan
• Slow Horses, Episode: “Scars” – Saul Metzstein (WINNER)/
• Task, Episode: “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a river” – Salli Richardson-Whitfield

2026 Primetime Emmy Winner for Particularly Outstanding Comedy

Afterwards, we move on to the comedies.

• Abbott Elementary
• The Bear
• Hacks
• Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Nobody Wants This
• Only Murders in the Building
• Shrinking
• Widow’s Bay (WINNER)

Leading Actor in a Comedy

Widow’s Bay basically swept the Comedy categories, including Rhys as Best Actor.

• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Wonder Man
• Steve Carell – Rooster
• Matthew Rhys – Widow’s Bay (WINNER)
• Jason Segel –Shrinking
• Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building

2026 Primetime Emmy Winner for Supporting Actor in a Comedy

The dominance then continued with the supports.

• Colman Domingo – The Four Seasons
• Paul W. Downs – Hacks
• Harrison Ford – Shrinking
• Nick Offerman – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Stephen Root – Widow’s Bay (WINNER)
• Michael Urie– Shrinking
• Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary

Supporting Actress in a Comedy

And I mean both supporting categories.

• Dale Dickey – Widow’s Bay
• Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
• Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
• Kate O’Flynn – Widow’s Bay (WINNR)
• Michelle Pfeiffer- Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Megan Stalter – Hacks
• Jessica Williams – Shrinking

2026 Primetime Emmy Winner for Comedy Series Writing

Widow’s Bay also claimed Best Comedic Screenplay.

• Abbott Elementary, Episode: “Team Building” – Quinta Brunson
• The Chair Company, Episode: “Life goes by too f**king fast, it really does” – Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin
• The Comeback, Episode: “Valerie Does It All” – Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow
• Hacks, Episode: “Hacks” – Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky
• Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, Episode: “Mergers and Acquisitions” – Anthony King
• Widow’s Bay, Episode: “Welcome to Widow’s Bay!” – Katie Dippold (WINNER)

The Overall Best Directing for a Comedy Series

Then, there’s the Best Director Category for Murai.

• Abbott Elementary, Episode: “Ballgame” – Randall Einhorn
• The Bear, Episode: “Bears” – Christopher Storer
• The Chair Company, Episode: “Life goes by too f**king fast, it really does” – Andrew DeYoung
• Hacks, Episode: “Hacks” – Lucia Aniello
• The Ms. Pat Show, Episode: “Give It Arrest” – Mary Lou Belli
• Widow’s Bay, Episode: “Welcome to Widow’s Bay!” –Hiro Murai (WINNER)

Lead Actress in a Comedy

However, Hacks stole the Best Actress spot for Smart.

• Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
• Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
• Elle Fanning – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback
• Jean Smart – Hacks (WINNR)

The Overall Reality TV 2026 Primetime Emmy Winner

The Traitors got crowned Best Reality TV, but that doesn’t say much.

• Dancing With the Stars
• RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Survivor
• Top Chef
• The Traitors (WINNER)

Significantly Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

Then, DTF St. Louis grabbed Best TV Movie.

• All Her Fault
• The Beast in Me
• Beef
• DTF St. Louis (WINNER)
• Love Story

2026 Primetime Emmy Winner for Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Then, Field got Best TV Movie Actress.

• Claire Danes – The Beast in Me
• Sally Field – Remarkably Bright Creatures (WINNER)
• Carey Mulligan – Beef
• Sarah Pidgeon – Love Story
• Sarah Snook – All Her Fault

Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Rhys then became The Beast in Me to grab Best TV Movie Actor.

• Riz Ahmed – Bait
• Jason Bateman – Black Rabbit
• Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
• Oscar Isaac – Beef
• Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me (WINNER)

The Overall Best Scripted Variety Series 2026 Primetime Emmy Winner

Finally, Colbert was crowned Best Talk Show Host.

• The Daily Show
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (WINNER)
• Saturday Night Live

Final Thoughts on the 2026 Primetime Emmy Winners

Congratulations to all the 2026 Primetime Emmy winners, but I prefer the Creative Arts categories. The Primetime event is still interesting for what it tells us about Hollywood, though. After all, these winners are what the TV industry sees as the best among them.

 However, that’s just my take. But what’s yours?

Post your thoughts in the forums or in the comments below.