Emmy Awards 2026 Winners: Matthew Rhys Scripts History; ‘Widow’s Bay’, ‘The Pitt’ Dominate – Check Full List
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards delivered a historic evening in Los Angeles as television's biggest stars gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements across streaming, cable, and broadcast programming. Matthew Rhys created unprecedented Emmy history by becoming the first performer to win two lead acting trophies in a single night.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards delivered a historic evening in Los Angeles, celebrating television excellence while etching new milestones into the record books. Matthew Rhys secured a groundbreaking double victory in two separate lead acting categories, while Jean Smart extended her unprecedented streak for her acclaimed comedy series Hacks. 78th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations: ‘The Pitt’ Dominates With 25 Nods, Followed by Comedy Series ‘Hacks’ With 24 – See Full List Here.
Meanwhile, medical drama The Pitt and horror-comedy Widow’s Bay swept top honours across key categories. Rhys made Emmy history by becoming the first performer to win two lead acting trophies in a single ceremony. He captured Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Apple TV's Widow's Bay and won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Netflix's psychological thriller The Beast in Me.
Smart also reached a career milestone, earning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for portraying stand-up comedian Deborah Vance in Hacks. The win marked her fifth Emmy for the role, making her the first performer in television history to win the lead comedy actress award for every single season of a series' run.
Emmy Awards 2026 Full Winners List
Program Categories
Outstanding Drama Series: The Pitt
Outstanding Comedy Series: Widow's Bay
‘Widow’s Bay’ Wins Best Comedy Series
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Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: DTF St Louis
Outstanding Television Movie: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Outstanding Variety Talk Series: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Outstanding Reality Competition Program: The Traitors
Performance Categories (Drama)
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
Performance Categories (Comedy)
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
Performance Categories (Limited/Anthology Series or Movie)
Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
Matthew Rhys' Acceptance Speech After Winning His Second Lead Actor Win at Emmys 2026
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Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
Supporting Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
Directing and Writing Categories
Directing for a Drama Series: Saul Metzstein, Slow Horses ("Scars")
Writing for a Drama Series: Vince Gilligan, Pluribus ("We Is Us")
Directing for a Comedy Series: Katie Dippold, Widow's Bay ("Welcome to Widow's Bay!")
Emmy Awards 2026 Highlights
The 2026 ceremony highlighted shifting dynamics across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. HBO Max's The Pitt anchored the drama slate, securing wins for both Outstanding Drama Series and Lead Actor for Noah Wyle. On the comedy side, Widow's Bay established a strong footprint in its debut run, collecting multiple acting and directing awards alongside the top comedy prize. Emmy Awards 2026: Who Are the Most Awarded Actors in Television?.
The ceremony offered a high-profile moment of recognition for veteran performers and emerging series alike. First-time winners, including Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus), shared the stage with seasoned Emmy favourites, capping off a competitive television season marked by strong critical reception across diverse genres.
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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2026 11:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
