Jean Smart makes Emmy history as first to win every season of a show

2026 Emmy Awards Winners

The 78th Emmy Awards ceremony was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay serving as host, as reported by uk.news.yahoo.com. The night delivered several historic moments, led by Matthew Rhys, who made Emmy history by winning two lead actor awards at the same ceremony.

Matthew Rhys Makes History

Rhys first won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow's Bay, defeating a competitive field that included Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Steve Carell, Jason Segel, and Martin Short, according to vanityfair.com. He later won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me, defeating Riz Ahmed, Jason Bateman, Charlie Hunnam, and Oscar Isaac.

Widow's Bay Dominates the Awards

Widow's Bay was the evening's biggest comedy winner, entering the ceremony with 19 total nominations and ultimately collecting 14 Emmys, as reported by vanityfair.com. The series broke the record for the most awards won by a comedy series in a single year.

Jean Smart Makes History

Jean Smart became the first performer to win for every season of a show, taking home her eighth Emmy for her role in Hacks, as stated by yahoo.com. Smart's win was met with a standing ovation from the audience, and she was visibly emotional as she accepted her award.

Other Notable Winners

Other notable winners included Allison Janney, who tied the all-time record for the most Emmys won by a performer with her eighth win, and Stephen Colbert, who won for his late-night talk show, as reported by bbc.co.uk. The ceremony also featured a tribute to Dolly Parton, with a special performance by Reba McEntire, according to consequence.net.

Category	Winner
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series	Matthew Rhys, Widow's Bay
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Jean Smart, Hacks
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie	Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie	Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures

Red Carpet Fashion

The red carpet was filled with stunning fashion, including a number of bold and eye-catching looks, as reported by uk.news.yahoo.com. Elle Fanning wore a strappy, jade-green Ralph Lauren gown, while Zendaya wore a custom Prada gown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the most awards at the 2026 Emmy Awards?

Widow's Bay won the most awards, collecting 14 Emmys, according to vanityfair.com.

Who made history at the 2026 Emmy Awards?

Matthew Rhys made history by winning two lead actor awards at the same ceremony, and Jean Smart became the first performer to win for every season of a show, as reported by bbc.co.uk and yahoo.com.

Who performed a tribute to Dolly Parton at the 2026 Emmy Awards?

Reba McEntire performed a tribute to Dolly Parton, with a special performance of Appalachian Memories, according to consequence.net.

The 2026 Emmy Awards ceremony will be remembered for its historic moments, stunning fashion, and memorable performances, as reported by multiple sources, including bbc.co.uk, vanityfair.com, and uk.news.yahoo.com. As the television industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see what the future holds for these talented winners and nominees. With the ceremony now behind us, fans are already looking forward to next year's awards, and the opportunity to celebrate another year of outstanding television programming.