Peacock Theater, Los Angeles | Jean Smart made Emmy history as Widow’s Bay, The Pitt and Pluribus claimed major awards at the 78th ceremony.
Emmys 2026 Winners: Jean Smart, Noah Wyle Lead the Night
Television’s biggest stars gathered at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, where Jean Smart, Noah Wyle, Rhea Seehorn and Allison Janney were among the night’s prominent acting winners.
Widow’s Bay emerged as the leading programme of the telecast with six wins, while The Pitt and Pluribus secured two awards each. The ceremony featured 19 televised categories after dozens of technical and creative honours were presented during the previous weekend.
Jean Smart continued her remarkable winning streak for her performance as Deborah Vance in Hacks. She claimed the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, earning her fifth consecutive win for the role and eighth acting Emmy overall.
Smart’s latest victory tied the record held by Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the most acting Emmy wins by a performer. Allison Janney also reached eight acting trophies after winning for her supporting performance in The Diplomat.
Jean Smart Makes Emmy History With Hacks
Smart became the first woman to win the lead comedy actress Emmy for every season of a programme’s run. Her consistent success with Hacks has established Deborah Vance as one of the most celebrated comedy performances in modern television.
Janney won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The Diplomat. Her victory placed her alongside Smart, Leachman and Louis-Dreyfus in the elite group of performers with eight acting Emmy Awards.
Kate O’Flynn collected the first award presented during the telecast, winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay. Stephen Root also won for the series in the supporting comedy actor category.
Noah Wyle and Rhea Seehorn Win Drama Honours
Noah Wyle won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch in The Pitt. The medical drama also captured the award for Outstanding Drama Series, strengthening its position as one of the year’s most acclaimed television programmes.
Rhea Seehorn received Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Pluribus. The victory marked a major career moment for the actor, whose earlier performances had earned critical acclaim and multiple nominations.
Tom Pelphrey won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Task, while Matthew Rhys received the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me.
The Traitors won Outstanding Reality Competition Program, adding another major honour to its growing awards record. The Television Academy’s official results list winners across the telecast and Creative Arts categories.
Emmys 2026 Major Winners List
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 or anthology series or movie: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
Supporting actor in a drama series: Tom Pelphrey, Task
Supporting actress in a drama series: Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Supporting actor in a comedy series: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
Supporting actress in a comedy series: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
Reality competition program: The Traitors
The ceremony confirmed Widow’s Bay as the biggest winner of the televised presentation. The Pitt and Pluribus followed with two wins each, while Smart and Janney delivered the night’s most significant record-setting moments.
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