78th Emmy Awards

Emmy Awards Statues Given to Winners                                                                                  Hollywood Reporter                                                                                                                               

78th Emmy Awards

BY JIYA DOSS

OCTOBER 28, 2026

The 78th Emmy Awards brought together some of television’s biggest stars to celebrate a year of memorable performances. Held on September 14th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the ceremony was hosted by Mariska Hargitay and aired live on both NBC and Peacock. The event celebrated the actors, writers, directors, and shows that shaped the past year of television.

This year’s ceremony featured major wins for Widow’s Bay and The Pitt. Widow’s Bay earned six awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, while The Pitt took home Outstanding Drama Series. However, not everyone agreed with the Academy's choices. Senior Sofia Marulanda said, “some shows were undeserving of their awards,” a sentiment shared by many students in East Brunswick High School.

Individual performances also played a major role in the ceremony. Matthew Rhys won acting awards for both Widow’s Bay and The Beast in Me, earning recognition for his work in two different categories. Other winners included Jean Smart for Hacks, Noah Wyle for The Pitt, and Rhea Seehorn for Pluribus. Their victories demonstrate the range of performances recognized throughout the evening.

Beyond the awards for actors, the writing and directing that brought the shows to life were recognized. Widow’s Bay won both comedy writing and directing awards, Pluribus earned the drama writing award, and Slow Horses received the drama directing honor. These categories made the creative work done behind the camera known to audiences, alongside the performances seen on screen.

In all, the 78th Emmy Awards celebrated achievements across comedy, drama, limited series, and more. With winners ranging from Widow’s Bay to The Traitors, the ceremony reflected on the variety seen in television this year. As Senior Lyric D said, “all contributors to film deserve a night to be recognized.”