Emmys 2026: How to Watch & Everything to Know About TV’s Biggest Night

The 2026 Primetime Emmys are here! The awards will ring in NBC‘s 100th anniversary, with the show airing tonight, Monday, September 14.

The Emmys celebrate the best in television arts and sciences. The awards are divided into several different categories, including Primetime, Creative Arts, Daytime, Sports, and News & Documentary Emmy Awards, which honor creative and technical elements. The most popular are the Primetime Emmys.

This year, Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay is bringing a little law and order to the Emmys, as the longtime Olivia Benson actress is set to take the stage during television’s biggest night. Watch the promo below.

Here is everything we know about the 2026 Emmys so far, including hosts, nominees, when and how to watch, and more.

When are the 2026 Emmy Awards?

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. They will air live coast-to-coast on NBC and be streamed live on Peacock at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. 

Who is the 2026 Emmys host?

Mariska Hargitay, who stars as Captain Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, will host the 2026 show. In the promo, the voiceover states that “After 28 years in the criminal justice system, she’s seen it all. Now, she faces her toughest challenge yet: Hosting the Emmys.”

She’s ready to do the night justice.

The 78th #Emmys air LIVE Monday September 14 on NBC and Peacock. pic.twitter.com/bB0osRJnyu

— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) August 31, 2026

“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career. It’s my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards — in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC — and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers,” she said in a press release. “Whether it’s an actor or a director, a costumer or a sound designer, we are all so privileged to take part in creating television that unites us. Regardless of how, where, or when we watch, we are together in our laughter, our tears, our love of stories — and our delighted anticipation to see what happens next.”

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Who is presenting at the 2026 Emmys?

Odessa A’zion, David Boreanaz, Linda Cardellini, Macaulay Culkin, Alan Cumming, Sally Field, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jon Hamm, David Harbour, Marcello Hernández, Kate Jackson, Peter Krause, Cheryl Ladd, Dan Levy, Julianna Margulies, Annie Murphy, Niecy Nash-Betts, Keke Palmer, Amanda Peet, Amy Poehler, Florence Pugh, Rachel Sennott, Jaclyn Smith, and Zendaya were part of the first group of presenters announced.

Then, on September 13, Stephen Amell, Awkwafina, Noah Beck, Jessica Belkin, Scott Caan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Emma D’Arcy, Julia Garner, LL COOL J, Woody Harrelson, Hassie Harrison, Paul Anthony Kelly, Thaddeus LaGrone, Matthew McConaughey, John Mulaney, Brooks Nader, Emmy Rossum, Sofía Vergara and Shailene Woodley were added to the lineup.

Who are the 2026 Emmy nominees?

The nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards were announced by the Television Academy on Wednesday, July 8, in a live stream at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT on Emmys.com.

See the full list here.

Why are the Emmys on a Monday night?

Since the award show airs on NBC/Peacock, it airs on Monday in order to avoid broadcasting at the same time as Sunday Night Football, according to Variety. This has happened in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

However, according to the outlet, the network’s “wheel deal” is set to expire, so it might not air on NBC after this. CBS sometimes takes the reins when NBC doesn’t host, so the Emmys might shift permanently to CBS if NBC doesn’t renew its deal.

2026 Primetime Emmys, Monday, September 14, 8/7c, NBC and streaming live on Peacock