Emmys 2026 Are Here

Emmys 2026 Are Here: Creative Arts Wins Light Up Los Angeles as Primetime Night Approaches

Television’s biggest awards season is in full swing. The 78th Emmy Awards kicked off this weekend at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE, and the early results already delivered surprises, emotional moments, and record-breaking hauls.

Night One Delivers Big Wins for Bad Bunny, The Traitors, and Mariska Hargitay

On Saturday, September 5, the first night of what the Television Academy now calls the 78th Emmy Awards (formerly the Creative Arts Emmys) honored variety, reality, nonfiction, and technical categories. The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny led the way with seven wins, including Outstanding Variety Special (Live), Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special, Outstanding Music Direction, Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming, Outstanding Sound Mixing, Outstanding Lighting Design, and Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork.

source: Getty Images / Kevin C. Cox

The Traitors collected six awards, highlighted by Alan Cumming’s third consecutive win for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert earned five trophies in its final season, while The Muppet Show took four, including Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded).

Mariska Hargitay, who hosts the main Primetime telecast on September 14, walked away with two Emmys of her own for My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay. She won Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program. Octavia Spencer claimed Outstanding Narrator for Lost Women of Alaska, and Jimmy Kimmel won Outstanding Host for a Game Show for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Jeopardy! took Outstanding Game Show.

source: Getty Images / Amy Sussman

These results come from the Television Academy’s official announcements and independent tabulation by Ernst & Young LLP.

When and Where to Watch the Rest of the Emmys

Night Two continued on Sunday, September 6, covering additional craft categories, guest acting, and more. Highlights from both nights will air as a combined Creative Arts broadcast on FXX on Saturday, September 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, then stream on Hulu.

The main event, the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, takes place Monday, September 14 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Hosted by Mariska Hargitay, it airs live on NBC and streams on Peacock from the Peacock Theater. Red carpet coverage begins earlier on E! and other outlets.

Nominations, revealed July 8, were led by The Pitt with 25 nods and Hacks with a comedy-series record of 24.

Why This Year Feels Different

The Academy shifted several categories, including some writing, directing, and supporting limited-series awards, to the weekend ceremonies. The change sparked discussion among guilds, yet the weekend still celebrated the craftspeople who keep television sharp. Bad Bunny’s halftime show becoming the most-awarded Super Bowl performance in Emmy history underscored the growing global reach of the awards.

What stood out most for you from Night One? Did any win surprise you, or are you already predicting the big categories for September 14? Drop your thoughts below, hit like if you’re counting down to the telecast, and subscribe for more live updates as Night Two results finalize and the Primetime show approaches.

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#Emmys2026 #PrimetimeEmmys #CreativeArtsEmmys #EmmyAwards #MariskaHargitay

Sources
Television Academy official announcements and press releases (televisionacademy.com)
Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and USA Today reporting on September 5–6, 2026 winners
NBC/Peacock schedule confirmations