LOS ANGELES – Television’s biggest night has arrived as the 78th Emmy Awards take over the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Monday. HBO Max’s acclaimed hospital drama “The Pitt” is aiming to further cement its legacy, while Apple TV’s buzzy horror comedy “Widow’s Bay” enters the Emmy race with major momentum.
Mariska Hargitay, the “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” mainstay and three-time Emmy recipient, will lead the NBC broadcast as host. The network has swapped the traditional red carpet for a peacock blue arrival carpet, a fitting tribute to NBC’s 100th anniversary.
The 2026 Emmy Awards will also make room for television nostalgia, honoring the 30th anniversary of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the 50th anniversary of “Charlie’s Angels.” Cast members from both landmark series are set to appear as presenters.
How to watch the Emmy Awards
The Emmys rotate annually among the major broadcast networks, with NBC carrying this year’s ceremony live. Viewers can tune in on NBC or stream on Peacock beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific.
Red-carpet coverage begins earlier in the day with “Live from E!: Countdown to the Emmys,” airing from 5 p.m. Eastern, 2 p.m. Pacific on Peacock and YouTube. The Associated Press will also post a delayed celebrity-arrivals feed on YouTube.
‘The Pitt,’ ‘Widow’s Bay’ and ‘Hacks’ are among the leading contenders
A year ago, HBO Max’s real-time emergency room series “The Pitt” emerged as a breakout newcomer, collecting awards for best drama, best actor for Noah Wyle and best supporting actress for Katherine LaNasa. Now firmly established as an Emmy powerhouse, the series is favored to repeat in each of those races. Wyle could personally leave with three trophies, while the show’s deep bench earned four supporting actress nominations and three supporting actor nods.
On the comedy side, HBO Max’s “Hacks” led all series in its genre in nominations for its fifth and final season. Jean Smart, who has won best comedy actress for every season of the show so far, is widely expected to extend that streak to five.
Still, “Hacks” could face a formidable challenger in Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay.” The horror comedy arrives at the main Emmy ceremony after picking up eight awards at earlier events, where the majority of the more than 100 Emmy categories are presented.
The show can add up to six more Monday. If it does, it will break the record of 13 Emmys for a comedy in a season set last year by “The Studio.”
“Widow’s Bay” star Matthew Rhys is a favorite to win best actor in a comedy, and the show’s breakout star Kate O’Flynn is a strong candidate for best supporting actress.
Rhea Seehorn, Harrison Ford and Zendaya are also in the mix
Rhea Seehorn plays the lone central character on Apple TV’s “Pluribus,” and she could ride the role to her first Emmy for best actress in a drama.
Seehorn’s competition includes Zendaya, who won for the first two seasons of “Euphoria” in 2020 and 2022, and is nominated for its third and final season.
The night could also bring the first Emmy — and first major competitive Hollywood award of any kind — to 84-year-old Harrison Ford, who is among the favorites for best supporting actor in a comedy for playing a therapist coping with Parkinson’s disease on “Shrinking.”
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