The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards delivered a landmark night for television on September 14, 2026, with Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay emerging as the biggest winner. The comedy won in its categories and ended the season by earning a record 14 Emmy wins, including at the Creative Arts ceremonies.
The Outstanding Drama Series and the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series award went to the Pitt; DTF St. Louis took wins in both categories. Matthew Rhys also won lead actor Emmys in both comedy and limited series, for a rare night of acting awards.
Widow’s Bay Dominates the Comedy Categories
Widow’s Bay took his Outstanding Comedy Series, marking it as the breakout comedy of the 2025-26 TV season. This is due to his success in both acting and directing, as well as writing.
Matthew Rhys picked up the best acting in a comedy series award and Stephen Root and Kate O’Flynn shared the best supporting acting awards. Betty Gilpin took home the cast as the Guest Actress, Hiro Murai did for directing and creator Katie Dippold did for comedy writing.
Jean Smart took home Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Hacks” for her fifth consecutive Emmy in the category.
Pitt Repeats as Best Drama
Pitt was the Outstanding Drama Series for a second-year in a row on HBO. Also the follow-up of Noah Wyle was on top with winning Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
The game’s Lead Actress in a Drama Series went to actress Rhea Seehorn for Pluribus and for Task, it was Tom Pelphrey, whereas Allison Janney won for The Diplomat. Slow Horses won the directing award and Vince Gill the writing award for Pluribus.
DTF St. Louis Leads the Limited Series Field
In the category of the awards, but in the category of the Limited series or Anthology series, DTF St. Louis won the award for being Outstanding unlimited/anthology series, and won several acting prizes. Some of its winners were David Harbour and Linda Cardellini.
Remarkably Bright Creatures took home the award for Outstanding Television Movie, which went to Sally Field in a Limited Series or Movie as Lead Actress. Matthew Rhys was also nominated for and won the acting award for Lead Actor in The Beast in Me.
Matthew Rhys Makes Emmy History
Rhys won his lead acting Emmys two years in a row, for Widow’s Bay, and The Beast in Me; he was the first male actor to do so in the same show on the same night. This success is yet another sign of his Emmy journey.
The actor is also a drama Emmy Award nominee from 2018 for The Americans, and achieved a double win in 2026.
Reality and Variety Winners
The debut episode of The Traitors received an Outstanding Reality Competition Program award and host Alan Cumming received the award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program.
Another big TV award came on the night with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert earning an Outstanding Variety Series honor.
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Full 2026 Emmy Winners
Check the table tabulated below for the full list of 2026 Emmy Winners.
| Category | Winner | Show |
| Outstanding Comedy Series | Widow’s Bay | Widow’s Bay |
| Lead Actor, Comedy | Matthew Rhys | Widow’s Bay |
| Lead Actress, Comedy | Jean Smart | Hacks |
| Supporting Actor, Comedy | Stephen Root | Widow’s Bay |
| Supporting Actress, Comedy | Kate O’Flynn | Widow’s Bay |
| Guest Actress, Comedy | Betty Gilpin | Widow’s Bay |
| Directing, Comedy | Hiro Murai | Widow’s Bay |
| Writing, Comedy | Katie Dippold | Widow’s Bay |
| Outstanding Drama Series | The Pitt | The Pitt |
| Lead Actor, Drama | Noah Wyle | The Pitt |
| Lead Actress, Drama | Rhea Seehorn | Pluribus |
| Supporting Actor, Drama | Tom Pelphrey | Task |
| Supporting Actress, Drama | Allison Janney | The Diplomat |
| Directing, Drama | Saul Metzstein | Slow Horses |
| Writing, Drama | Vince Gilligan | Pluribus |
| Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series | DTF St. Louis | DTF St. Louis |
| Outstanding Television Movie | Remarkably Bright Creatures | Remarkably Bright Creatures |
| Lead Actor, Limited Series/Movie | Matthew Rhys | The Beast in Me |
| Lead Actress, Limited Series/Movie | Sally Field | Remarkably Bright Creatures |
| Reality Competition Program | The Traitors | The Traitors |
| Reality/Competition Host | Alan Cumming | The Traitors |
FAQs
In 2026 which show received the greatest number of Emmys?
In2026, Widow’s Bay won 14 Emmys (more than any other comedy).
Which drama series was the best?
Pitt took out the award for Outstanding Drama Series again for the second consecutive year.
Who was named best comedy series?
Widow’s Bay tied with Great Big Bokito for the Outstanding Comedy Series award.
