The 2026 Emmy Awards delivered a night of record-breaking wins, emotional farewells and major milestones, with Apple TV's horror comedy ‘Widow's Bay’ emerging as the biggest winner. 

The first-season series, created by Katie Dippold, collected 14 awards, setting a new record for the most Emmys won by a comedy series in a single year. Its haul included the coveted best comedy series prize, alongside acting honours for Matthew Rhys, Stephen Root and Kate O'Flynn.

Meanwhile, ‘The Pitt’ retained its crown as television's best drama, while ‘Hacks’ star Jean Smart made Emmy history with her fifth consecutive win in the lead actress in a comedy category.

Here is the full list of major winners from the 2026 Emmy Awards.

‘Widow's Bay’ makes Emmy history

‘Widow's Bay’ dominated the comedy categories after arriving at the ceremony with eight awards already secured at an earlier event. The series added six more on Monday, taking its total to 14 and surpassing the previous comedy record of 13 set by ‘The Studio’ in 2025.

The supernatural comedy follows an island community in New England as its residents confront the consequences of an ancient curse.

Matthew Rhys won lead actor in a comedy series, while Stephen Root and Kate O'Flynn picked up supporting acting awards. Hiro Murai won for comedy directing and Dippold took home the writing award for the series.

O'Flynn, who plays Patricia Moyer, a socially isolated city employee caught up in the supernatural events, received her first Emmy.

Root also collected his first Emmy after defeating a field that included Harrison Ford for ‘Shrinking’. At 74, Root became the oldest winner of the supporting actor award in the category.

Rhys had an especially memorable evening. In addition to his comedy acting win for ‘Widow's Bay’, he was named lead actor in a limited or anthology series for ‘The Beast in Me’. That made him the first man to win the two leading acting categories in the same year.

Dippold's victory was also a personal milestone. The creator, previously known for a viral post featuring herself dressed as ‘The Babadook’, won her first Emmy for writing.

‘The Pitt’ wins best drama again

HBO Max's ‘The Pitt’ once again claimed the top drama prize, becoming best drama series for a second consecutive year.

Created by R Scott Gemmill, the real-time medical drama centres on the intense workings of an emergency room over a 24-hour period. Its second consecutive victory strengthens the show's position as one of television's most acclaimed current dramas.

Noah Wyle also won lead actor in a drama for his performance as Dr Michael “Robby” Robinavitch. The role has marked a major return to prominence for Wyle, who rose to fame through the 1990s medical drama ‘ER’.

Despite leading the overall nominations, ‘The Pitt’ did not dominate the supporting acting categories. Its multiple nominees were beaten by Allison Janney and Tom Pelphrey, who won supporting actress and supporting actor in a drama respectively.

Jean Smart makes Emmy history

Jean Smart capped ‘Hacks' fifth and final season with another historic victory.

Smart won lead actress in a comedy series for the fifth consecutive season, an unprecedented run for an actor on a series that lasted beyond three seasons. Her portrayal of veteran comedian Deborah Vance has now earned her eight Emmys across her career.

The win gave ‘Hacks’ a memorable ending despite losing the best comedy series prize to ‘Widow's Bay’. The fifth season had entered the ceremony with the highest number of comedy nominations.

Rhea Seehorn finally gets her Emmy

Rhea Seehorn won her first Emmy for lead actress in a drama series for Apple's ‘Pluribus’.

The 54-year-old actor had previously received two nominations for her acclaimed performance in ‘Better Call Saul’ without winning. In ‘Pluribus’, she takes centre stage as the show's central character, with the series created by Vince Gilligan.

Gilligan also won his fifth career Emmy for writing ‘Pluribus’.

Sally Field sets another record

Sally Field became the oldest woman to win lead actress in a limited or anthology series or television movie.

The 79-year-old actor won for ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’, which also took the television movie award.

Field's win came during a ceremony that also saw her honour her former ‘Steel Magnolias’ co-star Dolly Parton in a televised tribute featuring Reba McEntire.

DTF St Louis leads limited-series categories

‘DTF St Louis’ won best limited or anthology series, adding to a strong night for the production.

David Harbour won supporting actor, while Linda Cardellini took supporting actress. The series also won directing and writing honours in the limited or anthology category.

Matthew Rhys, however, took the lead actor prize for ‘The Beast in Me’, while Sally Field won the corresponding actress award.

Drama acting winners

The drama categories produced a mix of returning favourites and first-time winners.

Noah Wyle won lead actor for ‘The Pitt’, while Rhea Seehorn claimed lead actress for ‘Pluribus’.

Tom Pelphrey won supporting actor for ‘Task’. Allison Janney took supporting actress for ‘The Diplomat’, beating a crowded ‘The Pitt’ field that included reigning winner Katherine LaNasa and three of her castmates.

In the guest categories, Shailene Woodley won guest actress for ‘Paradise’, while Ernest Harden Jr won guest actor for ‘The Pitt’.

Saul Metzstein received the directing award for ‘Slow Horses’, while Vince Gilligan won writing for ‘Pluribus’.

Comedy acting winners

Matthew Rhys led the comedy acting winners with his ‘Widow's Bay’ victory.

Jean Smart took the lead actress prize for ‘Hacks’, while Stephen Root and Kate O'Flynn won the supporting categories for ‘Widow's Bay’.

Betty Gilpin won guest actress for ‘Widow's Bay’, while Rob Reiner was named guest actor for ‘The Bear’.

Hiro Murai won comedy directing for ‘Widow's Bay’, with Katie Dippold winning comedy writing for the same series.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert takes variety prize

Despite CBS cancelling ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, the programme won the Emmy for best variety series.

It was one of six Emmys the programme collected this year. CBS had said the cancellation was prompted by economic considerations, although the decision also sparked debate over Colbert's political criticism of the Trump administration.

“If you like the comedy tonight, my old writers wrote it,” Colbert said.

The writing award for a variety series also went to ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’.

‘The Traitors’ wins reality competition award

‘The Traitors’ won the Emmy for reality competition series, beating ‘Dancing with the Stars’, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’, ‘Survivor’ and ‘Top Chef’.

The award adds another major television honour to the reality series' growing profile.

Other major winners

The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny won the Emmy for live variety special.

‘The Muppet Show’ won the award for pre-recorded variety special, while ‘South Park’ was named outstanding animated programme.

‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ won television movie, while ‘DTF St Louis’ claimed both directing and writing awards in the limited or anthology category.

Full major Emmy winners 2026

  • Best drama series: The Pitt
  • Best comedy series: Widow's Bay
  • Best limited or anthology series: DTF St Louis
  • Lead actor in a drama series: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
  • Lead actress in a drama series: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
  • Supporting actor in a drama series: Tom Pelphrey, Task
  • Supporting actress in a drama series: Allison Janney, The Diplomat
  • Lead actor in a comedy series: Matthew Rhys, Widow's Bay
  • Lead actress in a comedy series: Jean Smart, Hacks
  • Supporting actor in a comedy series: Stephen Root, Widow's Bay
  • Supporting actress in a comedy series: Kate O'Flynn, Widow's Bay
  • Lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
  • Lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
  • Supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie: David Harbour, DTF St Louis
  • Supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie: Linda Cardellini, DTF St Louis
  • Directing for a drama series: Saul Metzstein, Slow Horses
  • Directing for a comedy series: Hiro Murai, Widow's Bay
  • Writing for a drama series: Vince Gilligan, Pluribus
  • Writing for a comedy series: Katie Dippold, Widow's Bay
  • Reality competition series: The Traitors
  • Variety series: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
  • Guest actress in a drama series: Shailene Woodley, Paradise
  • Guest actor in a drama series: Ernest Harden Jr, The Pitt
  • Guest actress in a comedy series: Betty Gilpin, Widow's Bay
  • Guest actor in a comedy series: Rob Reiner, The Bear
  • Directing for a limited or anthology series or movie: DTF St Louis
  • Writing for a limited or anthology series or movie: DTF St Louis
  • Television movie: Remarkably Bright Creatures
  • Variety special (live): The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny
  • Variety special (pre-recorded): The Muppet Show
  • Writing for a variety series: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
  • Outstanding animated programme: South Park