Summary

  • Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay is set to host TV's biggest night, the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards

  • Stars will soon begin arriving to walk the red carpet at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles - the awards show kicks off at 17:00 local time (20:00 EDT/01:00 BST)

  • Leading the pack in nominations this year is the medical drama The Pitt, which is up for 25 awards - read more about the show here

  • Following close behind is the comedy series Hacks, while newcomer Widow's Bay has clocked 19 nods - check out the other Emmy nominees here

  • Some of the British stars in the running tonight include Matthew Rhys (nominated twice), Riz Ahmed, Carey Mulligan, Gary Oldman and Rufus Sewell

Live Reporting

Edited by Oliver O'Connell with Nardine Saad, Regan Morris and David Willis reporting from Los Angeles

  1. Brits see fewer nods at a post-Adolescence Emmys

    Steven McIntosh
    Entertainment reporter

    Oscar Isaac wears a red suit and poses next to Carey Mulligan who smiles in a gold dress.Getty Images

    British actress Carey Mulligan and her American co-star, Oscar Isaac, are both nominated for their performances in Beef

    There’s a respectable showing for the Brits this year, but the UK isn’t leading the way in the same way it has at some recent Emmy ceremonies.

    Baby Reindeer and Adolescence dominated the limited series categories (and news headlines) for the last two years, but this year there is no equivalent show expected to bring a load of trophies back across the Atlantic.

    Having said that, there are plenty of individual acting nominations for Brits from a variety of other shows, including:

    • Carey Mulligan (Beef)
    • Riz Ahmed (Bait)
    • Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat)
    • Jack Lowden (Slow Horses)
    • Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)

    Many are keeping a particularly close eye on Welsh star Matthew Rhys, who is nominated in two different lead actor categories - for comedy Widow’s Bay and limited series The Beast in Me.

  2. Fewer trophies and collapsed categories: How this year's show has changed

    Two categories have been merged this year - best talk series and best scripted variety series are now combined in a single category: outstanding variety series.

    That means chat show hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel will compete against topical variety shows such as Saturday Night Live and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.

    Some other categories were also moved out of the telecast this year and have already been handed out, in an effort to revitalise the ceremony and leave more time for entertainment.

    For example, best supporting actor and actress in a limited series, usually awarded during the main ceremony, were moved to the earlier Creative Arts Emmys ceremonies this year.

    The total number of trophies awarded on the big night has been reduced from 26 to 19, a move the Academy said was intended to leave room for more musical performances, comedic sketches and unexpected acceptance speeches.

    Jason BatemanGetty Images

    Jason Bateman, pictured at the Creative Arts Emmys earlier this month, was nominated for his role in DTF St Louis

  3. Mariska Hargitay: The first woman in 15 years to host the Emmys

    Actor Mariska Hargitay reclines on a white chaise in a shimmering gown and heels while holding an Emmy AwardNBC via Getty Images

    Mariska Hargitay, star of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, is this year's Primetime Emmys Awards host.

    Hargitay has become synonymous with her small-screen alter ego, Captain Olivia Benson, a New York police detective who has entered the American television annals as the longest-running female character in a primetime live-action series.

    The actress, producer and director also earned an Emmy Award for the role back in 2006.

    Actor Mariska Hargitay smiles while holding an Emmy AwardGetty Images

    Hargitay winning an Emmy for Law & Order: SVU back in 2006

    NBC, which is televising the awards show in the US, selected its drama star to emcee the ceremony as part of the network's centennial.

    "Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career," Hargitay said in July, adding that it is her "great honour" to lead the festivities and "celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers".

    Her selection marks a departure from the ceremony's recent slate of comics to front the gig and is the first time in 15 years a woman has hosted the show. Glee alum Jane Lynch was the last woman to host back in 2011.

    The ceremony went without a host in 2019 after the Oscars famously went host-less earlier that year.

  4. The Pitt and Hacks lead the night for nominations

    Noah Wiley, left, and Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart, right, pose with their Emmy awards from last yearGetty Images

    The Pitt star Noah Wiley is up for lead actor in a drama series, while Hacks stars Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart are nominated for their roles in a comedy series

    Leading the pack at this year's Emmys is the hit drama series The Pitt, which has earned 25 nominations and will also be defending its title as best drama for the second year in a row.

    Not far behind is Hacks, with its fifth and final season receiving 24 nominations, which is the most ever for a comedy series in a single year.

    Here's a look at the other shows with the most nominations:

    • Widow's Bay - 19
    • Pluribus - 18
    • Beef - 16
    • DTF St Louis - 13

    Doctors and others in the medical profession say, for them, The Pitt is the most realistic medical drama yet, which may have helped boost its popularity.

  5. Emmy Awards 2026: Rewarding the TV that made you laugh, or cry, the hardest

    Nardine Saad
    at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards

    A large replica of an Emmys Awards statue outside the Peacock Center in Los AngelesGetty Images

    The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, the biggest night in the television industry, is set to get under way in downtown Los Angeles in just a few hours.

    Stars from this year's most popular programmes - including The Pitt, Hacks, Slow Horses, Widow's Bay and more - will soon be pulling up to the red carpet outside the Peacock Center, starting at around 15:00 local time (18:00 ET, 23:00 BST).

    Our reporters, similarly poised to strike a selfie or two, will also be bringing you live coverage from outside the show, as well as backstage.

    We'll be catching up with the winners and bringing you fresh analysis on the biggest surprises and upsets of the night when things get going at 20:00 EDT (01:00 BST). For now, we'll take you through everything from how to watch, whose been nominated - and who hasn't.