HBO Max’s ‘The Pitt’ and Apple TV+’s ‘Widow’s Bay’ emerged as the biggest winners at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, with ‘The Pitt’ taking Outstanding Drama Series for the second consecutive year and ‘Widow’s Bay’ claiming Outstanding Comedy Series.
The ceremony, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and hosted by Mariska Hargitay, also saw Matthew Rhys make Emmy history by winning two lead acting awards in a single night. He won Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay and Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Netflix’s The Beast in Me.
Rhys became the first actor to win across all three lead categories: Comedy, Drama and Limited Series/Movie, and the first man to win two lead acting awards in the same year. The honours were the second and third Emmys of his career.
The Pitt, which entered the ceremony with a leading 25 nominations, secured Outstanding Drama Series alongside Noah Wyle’s Lead Actor win.
Wyle repeated his victory in the category, earning his third career Emmy after previously winning as a producer on the HBO Max medical drama.
Widow’s Bay, which had 19 nominations, capped its dominant run with its sixth win of the night. The series had already collected eight wins at the previous weekend’s two Creative Arts ceremonies, taking its total to 14 this year.
Jean Smart also made history, winning her eighth career Emmy for Hacks. Her fifth consecutive Lead Actress in a Comedy Series victory tied her with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman for the most Emmys ever won by a performer.
Smart ended her acceptance speech by saying, “What a ride this has been,” as per Deadline.
Rhea Seehorn won Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Apple TV+’s freshman series Pluribus, marking her first Emmy win after two nominations for Better Call Saul.HBO Max’s DTF St. Louis won Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series after previously collecting six awards at the Creative Arts Emmys. David Harbour and Linda Cardellini also won for the series, which additionally took directing and writing honours.
The Outstanding Drama Series supporting acting awards went to Tom Pelphrey for Task and Allison Janney for The Diplomat.
Ernest Harden Jr. won Guest Actor for The Pitt, while Shailene Woodley won Guest Actress for Paradise. Saul Metzstein won directing for Slow Horses, while Vince Gilligan won writing for Pluribus for “We Is Us”.
In comedy, Widow’s Bay also produced wins for Stephen Root, Kate O’Flynn, Rob Reiner, Betty Gilpin, Hiro Murai and Katie Dippold in supporting acting, guest acting, directing and writing categories.
The Traitors won Outstanding Reality Competition Programme, while The Late Show with Stephen Colbert took Outstanding Variety Scripted Series. Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
Full Major Winners List
Drama Series
Outstanding Drama Series: The Pitt- HBO Max
Lead Actor: Noah Wyle- The Pitt
Lead Actress: Rhea Seehorn- Pluribus
Supporting Actor: Tom Pelphrey- Task
Supporting Actress: Allison Janney- The Diplomat
Guest Actor: Ernest Harden Jr.- The Pitt
Guest Actress: Shailene Woodley- Paradise
Directing: Saul Metzstein- Slow Horses
Writing: Vince Gilligan- Pluribus, “We Is Us”
Comedy Series
Outstanding Comedy Series: Widow’s Bay- Apple TV+
Lead Actor: Matthew Rhys- Widow’s Bay
Lead Actress: Jean Smart-Hacks
Supporting Actor: Stephen Root- Widow’s Bay
Supporting Actress: Kate O’Flynn- Widow’s Bay
Guest Actor: Rob Reiner- Widow’s Bay
Guest Actress: Betty Gilpin- Widow’s Bay
Directing: Hiro Murai- Widow’s Bay
Writing: Katie Dippold- Widow’s Bay
Limited Series, Anthology and Movie
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: DTF St. Louis- HBO Max
Lead Actor: Matthew Rhys- The Beast in Me
Lead Actress: Sally Field- Remarkably Bright Creatures
Variety and Reality
Outstanding Reality Competition Programme: The Traitors- Peacock
Outstanding Variety Scripted Series: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Bob Hope Humanitarian Award: Michael J. Fox
The 2026 Emmys were held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. Mariska Hargitay served as the host.
