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Hollywood threw quite the party to celebrate the best of TV in the past year.
During the 2026 Emmy Awards on Monday, September 14, Mariska Hargitay took on the brave task of hosting the star-studded awards show live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
“When I was deciding to host the Emmys, I consistently got two pieces of advice. No. 1. ‘Don’t do it.’ And No. 2, ‘Whatever you do, don’t go for sincerity,’” she said during her opening monologue. “I clearly ignored the first, so please join me as I ignore the second.”
Before any trophy was handed out, the Law & Order: SVU actress expressed gratitude for the TV platform and all that it provides for the world.
“I am truly deeply moved and so incredibly grateful to be in a room full of people who have dedicated their lives to telling stories,” Hargitay shared. “Since the beginning of time, humans have all gathered around the light to tell stories. Back then, it was the fire in the cave. And now, it is the screen of your choice. But no matter how we watch, and even though we’re worlds apart, we’re all still holding a bit of that communal light.”
In case you missed the live telecast, keep reading to see the best moments — and some not so great ones — from the 2026 Emmy Awards:
Best TV Sisterhood Moment: Rhea Seehorn’s Acceptance Speech
When Seehorn accepted the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, the Pluribus star gave credit to all of her fellow nominees.
“I also just want to say congratulations and thank you for the performances to my fellow nominees in my category,” she said. “All brilliant, brilliant performances.”
Seehorn later revealed Keri Russell sent every nominee in the category a “lovely gift” and a card with a quote from the late Gloria Steinem that read, “We are linked, not ranked.”
Best Surprise Appearance: Taylor Swift
Joined by her Law & Order: SVU costars, including Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, Kevin Kane and Kelli Giddish, Hargitay got into character as the iconic Olivia Benson in an effort to solve a mystery.
“The mayor’s office is breathing down my neck demanding an answer to the big question: Will Taylor Swift be at the Emmys?” Hargitay said during the skit. “Now, in order to crack a Swiftie case, you’ve got to think like a Swiftie, because the Swifties think that everything is a clue to what she’ll do next.”
Lucky for Swifties, they got the Grammy winner (and her cat) in a creative sketch taped before she attended husband Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs football game on Monday night.
Best Shout-Out to a Supportive Partner: Tom Pelphrey
Pelphrey may deserve a standing ovation for the way he gave thanks to his fiancee, Kaley Cuoco, after winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Task.
“To my favorite actor in this room — my love, my best friend, my partner, the very pregnant Kaley Cuoco — I love you more than anything, and our family is the crown jewel of my life,” Pelphrey said as the actress tried to hold back tears. “Matilda, daddy loves you. Baby girl, daddy loves you. Thank you. God bless.”
Best Tributes: Dolly Parton, Catherine O’Hara and More
After losing so many talented actors in the past year, the 2026 Emmy Awards pulled at viewers’ heartstrings even more when Parton was honored with a performance by Reba McEntire.
“If there are truly angels on Earth, we just lost one,” presenter Sally Field said. “God bless you, Dolly Parton, my friend. I am not the only one on Earth that will love you forever and ever.”
The tears continued when Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy honored the late Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek star O’Hara.
“Like a good mama, she always showed up when I asked her to,” Culkin said. “Because that was Catherine. That’s what she did. She showed up. And this is the best that we can do for her tonight.”
Noah Kahan went on to perform a special song for the In Memoriam segment, which included costume designer Bob Mackie, who died earlier in the day, and Rob Reiner.
Best Celebration: Michael J. Fox
The Back to the Future star was worthy of all the praise when he accepted the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in recognition of his contributions to Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy through his Michael J. Fox Foundation.
“Initially, I kept my Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret. I worried it would affect my work and relationships with audiences,” Fox recalled. “Would they laugh if they knew I was sick? I was stunned by the support from all of you, so uplifted and I hadn’t lost what I do. They couldn’t take it away from me. And it’s because you stood up for me.”
Worst Use of Bleeping: John Mulaney
Of course, there are rules and guidelines of what you can’t say on live TV. But when Mulaney presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, some of Us were bummed to hear part of his joke was bleeped.
“I believe it was DJ Khaled who said, ‘Real men don’t go down on their wives,’” Mulaney quipped at the awards show. “But these nominees know that that is B.S. They know there’s often less pressure on them if they do that first.”
Worst Opening Number: Mariska Hargitay
Don’t get Us wrong. We clapped when Hargitay invited New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson to be part of her pretaped opening number.
The actress also deserved credit for showcasing her singing skills by performing a unique rendition of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” with appearances by Jennifer Coolidge and Jean Smart.
But it’s hard not to remember past awards show hosts, like Nikki Glaser and Ricky Gervais, who aren’t afraid to poke fun at celebrities in the audience — and keep them on their toes.
Worst Acceptance Speech Habit: Pre-Written Messages
During the three-hour telecast, several winners spoke from their hearts — and off the cuff — seconds after receiving their new Emmy trophy. Others, like Vince Gilligan, Widow’s Bay writer Katie Dippold and Pluribus star Seehorn, conveniently had a piece of paper with plenty of people to thank.
While live TV has to be tough, so many of Us enjoy the spontaneous — and unscripted — moments at awards shows.
Worst Bit in Between Awards: Nick Offerman’s 1st Job
During the show, Hargitay had the opportunity to ask some actors and actresses to share their first jobs.
After Colman Domingo shared his start as a McDonald’s worker, Offerman revealed he was an “erotic painter.”
“I would strip down and dump a can of paint over my head and then roll my nude male body around the house’s exterior,” he explained. “Doors and trim were extra. Roofs were not pleasant, but a buck is a buck.”
Maybe it was just Us, but the segment wasn’t a pretty picture.
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