NBC announced Tuesday that Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay will host the 78th Emmy Awards, airing live Monday, September 14, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live on NBC and Peacock.
The announcement makes Hargitay the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years, since Jane Lynch fronted the ceremony for Fox in 2011. It also comes one day before nominations are revealed on Wednesday, July 8, where Hargitay herself is in contention for her documentary My Mom Jayne.
Why Mariska Hargitay Hosting the 2026 Emmys Is Historic
Beyond breaking the 15-year gap for female hosts, Hargitay’s selection marks a break from tradition in another way: she is the first host not primarily known for comedy since 2008, when the five reality-host nominees shared emcee duties.
The choice is also symbolic for NBC. The network is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, and executives framed Hargitay, the face of its longest-running drama, as the natural figure to anchor the milestone broadcast.
What Hargitay and NBC Said
In a statement, Hargitay said that bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of her career, calling it a great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards during the 100th birthday year of NBC and to celebrate the community of storytellers, from actors and directors to costumers and sound designers.
NBC’s Jen Neal, executive VP of live events and specials, said Hargitay has earned her place among television’s icons, noting that for 27 seasons she has brought strength, compassion and humanity to one of TV’s most beloved characters. Television Academy chair Cris Abrego called her an enduring force in the industry whose authenticity and connection with audiences make her the right choice for an unforgettable evening.
When and Where to Watch the 78th Emmy Awards
The ceremony airs live coast-to-coast on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC, with streaming on Peacock, from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
Nominations will be announced Wednesday, July 8, at 11:30 a.m. ET by Jeff Hiller and Liza Colón-Zayas, streaming on Emmys.com and the Television Academy’s YouTube channel. The Creative Arts Emmys follow on September 5–6.
Hargitay’s Big Year: Broadway, Documentary, and SVU Milestone
The hosting gig caps an extraordinary 12 months. Hargitay recently wrapped her Broadway debut in the interactive solo play Every Brilliant Thing at the Hudson Theatre, live-stage experience widely seen as ideal preparation for hosting duties.
Her directorial debut, the HBO documentary My Mom Jayne, explores the life and legacy of her mother, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield, and has been submitted for Emmy consideration in the documentary special category. In the film, Hargitay also revealed that entertainer Nelson Sardelli is her biological father, a secret she kept for decades out of loyalty to Mickey Hargitay, the former Mr. Universe who raised her.
Meanwhile, Law & Order: SVU, the longest-running primetime live-action drama in U.S. television history, returns for its 28th season on October 8 and will surpass 600 episodes.
Hargitay’s Emmy History
Hargitay is no stranger to the Emmy stage. She won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama in 2006 for playing Captain Olivia Benson and has been nominated eight additional times, including consecutively from 2004 to 2011.
As a producer, she won a News and Documentary Emmy for I Am Evidence, the acclaimed film on America’s backlog of untested rape kits, advocacy rooted in her work with the Joyful Heart Foundation, which she founded in 2004 to support survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
What This Means for the Emmys Telecast
NBC and the Television Academy reportedly considered talent both inside and outside NBCUniversal before landing on an in-house icon. The pick signals a ceremony built on warmth and prestige rather than a comedian’s monologue, a formula the Emmys last tried with Angela Lansbury in 1993.
With NBC’s centennial as the backdrop and Hargitay potentially collecting a nomination of her own on Wednesday, the September broadcast is shaping up as one of the most closely watched Emmy nights in years.
FAQ
Who is hosting the 2026 Emmy Awards?
Mariska Hargitay, star and executive producer of Law & Order: SVU, will host the 78th Emmy Awards on NBC and Peacock.
When are the 2026 Emmys?
Monday, September 14, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, live from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
Why is Hargitay’s hosting historic?
She is the first woman to host the Emmys since Jane Lynch in 2011 and the first host not primarily known for comedy since 2008.
When are the 2026 Emmy nominations announced?
Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. ET, streamed on Emmys.com and the Television Academy’s YouTube page.
Has Mariska Hargitay won an Emmy before?
Yes. She won Lead Actress in a Drama in 2006 for SVU, earned eight other acting nominations, and won a News and Documentary Emmy as a producer of I Am Evidence.
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