If Night 1 of the Emmys was supposed to be a warm-up act, somebody forgot to tell the winners.
Saturday night at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater belonged to reality television, big live events, beloved comedy institutions — and a few people having very big, very emotional nights. The first night of the 78th Emmy Awards (formerly the Creative Arts Emmys) turned into a particularly persuasive argument that reality TV isn’t just filling the entertainment landscape anymore. It is helping shape where the landscape is going.
The Traitors won six Emmys last night. Alan Cumming took home the trophy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program, while the Peacock sensation also won for production design, cinematography, directing, picture editing and costumes. Consider that your official warning to “Stay Faithful” when the new season arrives.
Reality television’s widening influence was impossible to miss. Love on the Spectrum won three times, including casting and unstructured reality programming, while Antiques Roadshow finally turned its 24th nomination into a first Emmy win for Outstanding Structured Reality Program. Cian O’Clery, the creative force behind Love on the Spectrum, put the larger cultural mission beautifully backstage: “If our show has helped people to think more about making shows that have something to say and have some kind of purpose behind them apart from just finding an audience then that’s amazing.” And, he added, “Would love to see more shows out there that celebrate humanity.”
That may be the real story of the night.
Reality TV is evolving from guilty pleasure to cultural storytelling engine — sometimes hilarious, sometimes outrageous, sometimes surprisingly tender, and increasingly ambitious in craft.
Of course, the night had plenty of scripted and variety royalty in the house.
Stephen Colbert’s final season of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert got the Emmy sendoff it deserved, collecting five awards, including directing, writing, lighting, picture editing for a segment, and technical direction and camerawork. Colbert hosted his final episode May 21 after 11 seasons, so there was something deliciously bittersweet about watching the show continue to collect hardware even after its curtain call.
The Muppet Show special won four Emmys, including Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), writing, picture editing and production design. With the original Muppet Show celebrating its 50th anniversary, the timing seemed cosmically perfect.
Then there was Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show, which dominated the live-event categories, taking seven Emmys overall, including choreography, directing, lighting, music direction, live variety special, sound mixing and technical direction.
Mariska Hargitay had perhaps the night’s most personal triumph. She won both Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special for My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay, her deeply personal film about her mother, Jayne Mansfield. It marked her third Emmy win — and capped a remarkable year in which she is also set to become the first woman to host the Primetime Emmys since Jane Lynch in 2011.
Backstage, Hargitay connected the moment to a larger philosophy of saying yes.
“Dreaming is actually part of planning,” she told Award Buzz’s Sari Cohen. “I’m at a place in my life where I just say yes, I said yes to Broadway, and I said yes to hosting the Emmys.” She added, “It’s a year of firsts and a year of saying yes. Not limiting myself or not being governed by fear. What if it all works out?”
That feels like a pretty good Emmy-night motto.
Octavia Spencer also had a first to celebrate, winning Outstanding Narrator for Lost Women of Alaska: The Missing. Spencer, who had three nominations this year, said the true-crime project was the perfect place to turn her long-standing fascination with the genre into something meaningful.
“Before there was an implosion of true-crime networks, there were people like me who [were] interested,” Spencer said backstage. “True-crime, these things actually happen.” She explained that she had been a consumer who watched for entertainment, but always believed there was “something always greater to say” if she ever had a platform. “Lost Women was the perfect vehicle.”
Presenters included Ariana Madix AND Stassi Schroeder, which felt like a Vanderpump Rules missed connection of sorts. The new Hulu series House of Stassi recently featured the Emmy-nominated Love Island host in a special cameo. Lisa Rinna (RHOB, The Traitors), Julianne Hough (DWTS), Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio (The Challenge), and Nyesha Arrington (Next Level Chef) were all there to hand out trophies.
Jimmy Kimmel also had a win for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, while Jeopardy! continued its extraordinary game-show reign with its 46th Emmy.
The Daily Show saw two wins last night. One for Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program for The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers The Pulse: Give The Man A Prize, and Desi Lydic picked up her fourth Emmy for The Daily Show: Desi Lydic Foxsplains. It’s her second win in the category of Outstanding Performer in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. Lydic joked that her father would quit watching Fox News if she won — then observing that she only had “37 million more to go.”
It was a night of endings, firsts, comebacks and reality-TV alliances that would once have seemed impossible.
If Night 1 proved anything, it’s that the future of entertainment is not neatly divided between scripted and unscripted anymore. It’s a much messier — and more interesting — place, where The Traitors, Love on the Spectrum, The Muppet Show, the Super Bowl, Colbert and Mariska Hargitay can all share the same spotlight.
Saturday and Sunday recaps will air on Sat. Sep 12, 8 p.m. on FXX, streamable on Hulu next day.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will broadcast live on NBC and stream on Peacock on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
78th Creative Arts Emmy Awards — Night 1
Complete Nominees & Winners — Saturday, September 5, 2026
OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A GAME SHOW
Ken Jennings, Jeopardy!
Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud
Jimmy Kimmel, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — WINNER
Colin Jost, Pop Culture Jeopardy!
Martin Short, Match Game
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW
Celebrity Family Feud
Jeopardy! — WINNER
The Price Is Right
Wheel of Fortune
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A VARIETY OR REALITY SERIES
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Saturday Night Live
The Traitors — WINNER
Stuart Frossell, Production Designer; Luke Fuller, Georgia Picton, Alex Robertson and Rosie Westwood, Art Directors; Celina Hodge, Set Decorator
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny
68th Annual Grammy Awards
The Muppet Show — WINNER
Denise Pizzini, Production Designer; Chet Maxwell and Robert Aguirre, Art Directors; Bethany Barton, Set Decorator
The Oscars
78th Annual Tony Awards
OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A DOCUMENTARY/NONFICTION OR REALITY PROGRAM (ORIGINAL DRAMATIC SCORE)
High Horse: The Black Cowboy
John Candy: I Like Me — WINNER
Tyler Strickland, Composer
Kingdom
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Ocean With David Attenborough
Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny — WINNER
Miguel Gandelman, Music Director
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
The Oscars
Saturday Night Live
Wicked: One Wonderful Night
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY FOR VARIETY OR REALITY PROGRAMMING
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny — WINNER
Choreographers: Charm La’Donna, Karina Ortiz
2025 MTV Video Music Awards
The Oscars
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Wicked: One Wonderful Night
OUTSTANDING EMERGING MEDIA PROGRAM
Blumhouse Enhanced Cinema
Uncanny Alley: A New Day — WINNER
Ferryman Collective / Virtual Worlds Company
The World of Fallout
OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A REALITY PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
Love on the Spectrum — WINNER
Cian O’Clery, Sean Bowman, Ashley Morgan and Emily Frisbie, Casting
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Survivor
Top Chef
OUTSTANDING INNOVATION IN EMERGING MEDIA PROGRAMMING
Crafting Crimes — JURIED WINNER
TARGO / Meta Quest; Victor Agulhon, Producer; Chloé Rochereuil, Director
OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A NONFICTION PROGRAM
My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay
Ocean With David Attenborough — WINNER
Doug Anderson, Director of Photography; Toby Strong, Cinematography
The Tale of Silyan
Tucci in Italy
The Yogurt Shop Murders
OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A REALITY PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
Love on the Spectrum
Survivor
The Traitors — WINNER
Siggi Rosen-Rawlings and Matt Wright, Directors of Photography, with camera team
Welcome to Wrexham
OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM NONFICTION OR REALITY SERIES
Hacks: Bit by Bit
Inside the Pitt — WINNER
Jeremy Scripter, Jim Weiner, George Carty, Candice Song and Chris Harnick, Executive Producers; Aliya Carter, Line Producer
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette – A Love Untold
Shrinking – In It Together
This Is a Gardening Show
OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM COMEDY, DRAMA OR VARIETY SERIES
Bad Thoughts
Colbert Before Air — WINNER
The Daily Show: Desi Lydic Foxsplains
The Randy Rainbow Show
SubwayTakes With Kareem Rahma
OUTSTANDING COMMERCIAL
Backstory – Levi’s
Backyard Legends – Adidas World Cup
A Critter Carol – Apple
I’m Not Remarkable – Apple — WINNER
Why Do It – Nike
Your Way Out – Coinbase
OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A VARIETY, NONFICTION OR REALITY PROGRAM
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny
Dancing With the Stars
RuPaul’s Drag Race — WINNER
Suzette Boozer, Department Head Hairstylist; Henry Sanchez, Hairstylist
Saturday Night Live
Wicked: One Wonderful Night
OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A VARIETY, NONFICTION OR REALITY PROGRAM
Dancing With the Stars
The Oscars
Saturday Night Live — WINNER
Louie Zakarian, Jason Milani, Amy Tagliamonti, Young Bek, Joanna Pisani, Madison Bermudez and Waltaya Culmer
OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR VARIETY, NONFICTION OR REALITY PROGRAMMING
JURIED AWARD — TWO RECIPIENTS
The Masked Singer — WINNER
Gráinne O’Sullivan, Luke D’Alessandro, Steven Lee, Arleen Flores, Alice Garland and Maro Isakulyan
The Traitors — WINNER
Sam Spector, Rikki Finlay and Catherine Moran
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
Chris Fleming: Live at the Palace — Chris Fleming
The Muppet Show — WINNER — Albertina Rizzo, Gabe Liedman, Nedaa Sweiss, Kelly Younger, Andrew Williams
Nikki Glaser: Good Girl — Nikki Glaser
The Oscars — Amberia Allen, Jose Arroyo, Josh Comers, Dan Cronin, Jessie Gaskell, Skyler Higley, Berkley Johnson, Ian Karmel, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Carol Leifer, Todd Levin, Jon Macks, Conan O’Brien, Matt O’Brien, Agathe Panaretos, Mike Sweeney; special material by Levi MacDougall; In Memoriam segment by Eric Roth
Wanda Sykes: Legacy — Wanda Sykes
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Molly McNearney, Danny Ricker, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway and writing team
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver — Daniel O’Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Seena Vali and writing team
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — WINNER — Ariel Dumas, Jay Katsir and writing team, including Stephen T. Colbert
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A NONFICTION PROGRAM
The American Revolution — Geoffrey C. Ward
The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse – Give the Man a Prize — WINNER — Jennifer Flanz, Ian Berger, Zhubin Parang, Devin Delliquanti, Scott Sherman, Jordan Klepper
The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy — David Reilly, Christine Rose
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A VARIETY SERIES OR SPECIAL
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny — WINNER
Thomas Holmes, Pablo Munguia, Alex Guessard, Dave Natale, Tom Pesa and Christian Schrader
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
The Muppet Show
The Oscars
Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A REALITY PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
Deadliest Catch
RuPaul’s Drag Race
The Voice
Welcome to Wrexham — WINNER
OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A NONFICTION PROGRAM
Billy Joel: And So It Goes — WINNER
Bob Chefalas, Mark Mandler, David Mitlyng, Michael Stewart, Bradshaw Leigh, Brian Ruggles, Jay Vicari
John Candy: I Like Me
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Ocean With David Attenborough
Tucci in Italy
OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A NONFICTION OR REALITY PROGRAM
Billy Joel: And So It Goes
John Candy: I Like Me
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Ocean With David Attenborough — WINNER
World War II With Tom Hanks
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR VARIETY PROGRAMMING
The Muppet Show — WINNER — Kelly Lyon, ACE
Nikki Glaser: Good Girl
Ramy Youssef: In Love
Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show
Wanda Sykes: Legacy
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR VARIETY PROGRAMMING (SEGMENT)
The Daily Show
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — WINNER
Saturday Night Live (“Home Alone”)
Saturday Night Live (“Mahaspital (The New Pitt)”)
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR A NONFICTION PROGRAM
John Candy: I Like Me
Marty, Life Is Short
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Mr. Scorsese
Sean Combs: The Reckoning — WINNER
OUTSTANDING PERFORMER IN A SHORT FORM COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES
Desi Lydic, The Daily Show: Desi Lydic Foxsplains — WINNER
Kim Estes, Big Law
Randy Rainbow, The Randy Rainbow Show
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR AN UNSTRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Deadliest Catch
Love on the Spectrum — WINNER
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked
Welcome to Wrexham
OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR A STRUCTURED REALITY OR COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Survivor
The Traitors — WINNER
The Voice
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY OR NONFICTION SPECIAL
John Candy: I Like Me
Marty, Life Is Short
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay — WINNER
Ocean With David Attenborough
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY OR NONFICTION SERIES
The American Revolution
Mr. Scorsese — WINNER
Rafa
Sean Combs: The Reckoning
The Yogurt Shop Murders
OUTSTANDING HOSTED NONFICTION SERIES OR SPECIAL
The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse – Give the Man a Prize
Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman
The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy
Tucci in Italy — WINNER
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DOCUMENTARY/NONFICTION PROGRAM
Lawrence Kasdan, Marty, Life Is Short
Judd Apatow, Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Rebecca Miller, Mr. Scorsese
Mariska Hargitay, My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay — WINNER
Alexandria Stapleton, Sean Combs: The Reckoning
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A REALITY PROGRAM
Bertram van Munster, The Amazing Race
Cian O’Clery, Love on the Spectrum
Nick Murray, RuPaul’s Drag Race
Anna Moulaison, Top Chef
Ben Archard, The Traitors — WINNER
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT IN DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING
JURIED AWARD
The Librarians — WINNER
The Tale of Silyan
OUTSTANDING NARRATOR
David Attenborough, Ocean With David Attenborough
David Attenborough, A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough
Werner Herzog, Ghost Elephants
Jodie Foster, Breakdown: 1975
Octavia Spencer, Lost Women of Alaska: The Missing — WINNER
OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
Alan Cumming, The Traitors — WINNER
RuPaul Charles, RuPaul’s Drag Race
Ariana Madix, Love Island USA
Kristen Kish, Top Chef
Jeff Probst, Survivor
OUTSTANDING UNSTRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Love on the Spectrum — WINNER
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked
Summer House
Welcome to Wrexham
OUTSTANDING STRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM
Antiques Roadshow — WINNER
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Love Is Blind
Queer Eye
Shark Tank
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN/LIGHTING DIRECTION FOR A SPECIAL
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny — WINNER
68th Annual Grammy Awards
The Oscars
78th Annual Tony Awards
Wicked: One Wonderful Night
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN/LIGHTING DIRECTION FOR A SERIES
Dancing With the Stars
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — WINNER
Saturday Night Live
The Voice
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND CAMERAWORK FOR A SERIES
The Daily Show
Dancing With the Stars
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — WINNER
Saturday Night Live
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND CAMERAWORK FOR A SPECIAL
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny — WINNER
The Oscars
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction 2025
Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show
Wicked: One Wonderful Night
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
Andy Fisher, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Yvonne De Mare, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — WINNER
Liz Patrick, Saturday Night Live
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
Hamish Hamilton, The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny — WINNER
Rikki Hughes, Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable…
Glenn Weiss, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show
Glenn Weiss, 78th Annual Tony Awards
Julie Dash, Wanda Sykes: Legacy
OUTSTANDING VARIETY SPECIAL (PRE-RECORDED)
Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable…
The Muppet Show — WINNER
Nikki Glaser: Good Girl
Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show
Wicked: One Wonderful Night
OUTSTANDING VARIETY SPECIAL (LIVE)
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny — WINNER
83rd Annual Golden Globes
68th Annual Grammy Awards
The Oscars
78th Annual Tony Awards
Night 1 tally:
The Traitors — 6 wins
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — 5 wins
The Muppet Show — 4 wins
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny — 7 wins
Love on the Spectrum — 3 wins
My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay — 2 wins
Ocean With David Attenborough — 2 wins
