Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay led all programs with 14 victories, while The Pitt earned Outstanding Drama Series and Noah Wyle took home Lead Actor.
The 78th Emmy Awards celebrated the biggest shows and performances from the 2025-2026 television season. Widow’s Bay, The Pitt, Pluribus, and DTF St. Louis emerged as some of the night’s biggest winners.
Mariska Hargitay hosted the ceremony live from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE. The event completed three nights of Emmy celebrations and featured 19 awards during the televised ceremony.
Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay dominated the overall competition with a record-breaking 14 awards, surpassing the 13-win comedy record set by The Studio. It finished well ahead of DTF St. Louis, The Traitors and the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny, which each collected seven.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, The Pitt and Pluribus followed with six awards apiece. Spider-Noir also had a strong showing with five wins.
‘Widow’s Bay’ Wins Outstanding Comedy Series
Widow’s Bay finished its record-setting Emmy run by winning Outstanding Comedy Series. The Apple TV production also earned several major acting and creative awards during the telecast.
Matthew Rhys won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as Mayor Tom Loftis. Kate O’Flynn earned Supporting Actress for playing Patricia, while Stephen Root won Supporting Actor for his role as Wyck.
Katie Dippold received the comedy writing award for the episode “Welcome to Widow’s Bay!” Hiro Murai also won Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the same episode.
Rhys was one of the ceremony’s most successful performers. He also won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for playing Nile Jarvis in Netflix’s The Beast in Me. Across his work as an actor and executive producer, Rhys earned three Emmys.
Jean Smart prevented Widow’s Bay from sweeping the leading comedy categories. She won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for returning as Deborah Vance in HBO Max’s Hacks.
‘The Pitt’ Claims Outstanding Drama Series
HBO Max’s The Pitt won Outstanding Drama Series after collecting six awards across the three Emmy ceremonies.
Noah Wyle earned Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for playing Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch. Wyle received two Emmys overall through his work as the show’s star and executive producer.
Apple TV’s Pluribus also scored a pair of major drama victories. Rhea Seehorn won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Carol Sturka. Series creator Vince Gilligan received Outstanding Writing for the episode “We Is Us.”
Saul Metzstein earned Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the Slow Horses episode “Scars.”
Allison Janney won Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for playing President Grace Penn in Netflix’s The Diplomat. Tom Pelphrey received Supporting Actor for his performance as Robbie Prendergrast in HBO Max’s Task.
‘DTF St. Louis’ Leads the Limited Series Field
DTF St. Louis took home Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. The HBO Max production earned seven awards across the complete Emmy celebration.
The series was one of several projects that helped David Harbour finish the year with two Emmys as an actor and executive producer.
Matthew Rhys won the limited series lead actor category for The Beast in Me. Sally Field earned Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for playing Tova Sullivan in Netflix’s Remarkably Bright Creatures.
‘The Traitors’ and Stephen Colbert Earn Victories
Peacock’s The Traitors won Outstanding Reality Competition Program. Host and executive producer Alan Cumming earned two Emmys during the three-night event.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert won Outstanding Variety Series. The program finished the complete awards cycle with six victories. Stephen Colbert earned three Emmys through his work as the show’s host, writer and executive producer.
Michael J. Fox Receives Humanitarian Honor
Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his work supporting Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy.
Fox’s former The Good Wife co-star Julianna Margulies presented the honor. The award recognized his continued humanitarian work beyond his celebrated acting career.
The ceremony also included an “In Memoriam” performance from Noah Kahan, who performed “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Reba McEntire performed “Appalachian Memories” during a tribute to Dolly Parton.
‘Buffy’ and ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Stars Reunite
The Emmys celebrated the 30th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer by reuniting Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz.
Gellar played Buffy Summers throughout the influential supernatural series. Boreanaz starred as Angel before leading his own spin-off series.
The ceremony also marked the 50th anniversary of Charlie’s Angels. Kate Jackson, Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith reunited for the special television tribute.
Major Emmy Winners
- Outstanding Comedy Series: Widow’s Bay
- Outstanding Drama Series: The Pitt
- Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: DTF St. Louis
- Outstanding Reality Competition Program: The Traitors
- Outstanding Variety Series: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
- Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay
- Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart, Hacks
- Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
- Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
- Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
- Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
- Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
- Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tom Pelphrey, Task
- Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Allison Janney, The Diplomat
The 78th Emmy Awards are available to stream on demand through Peacock.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
