Mariska Hargitay confirmed as host of 2026 Emmy Awards on NBC
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Actor Mariska Hargitay, best known as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has been confirmed as host of the 78th Emmy Awards, which will air on NBC on 14 September. The choice is notable because Hargitay will be the first Emmys host in almost two decades who is not primarily known for comedy; the last non-comedian to host was in 2008, when five reality-host nominees shared the role. The announcement ties into NBC's celebration of its 100th anniversary.
Hargitay is entering her 28th season on SVU, the longest-running primetime drama in American television history. She won an Emmy for the role in 2006 and has been nominated eight further times, as well as winning a News and Documentary Emmy in 2019; her 2025 HBO documentary My Mom Jayne is eligible at this year's awards. Nominations are due to be announced imminently, the Creative Arts awards will take place on 5 and 6 September, and Jesse Collins Entertainment is producing the telecast, with executives from NBC and the Television Academy praising Hargitay's stature in the industry.
- Mariska Hargitay will host the 2026 Emmys on 14 September.
- First non-comedy-focused Emmys host in nearly 20 years.
- SVU star has one acting Emmy and eight further nominations.
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Mariska Hargitay is the actor who plays Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role she has held for 28 seasons, making the show the longest-running primetime drama in US television history. She has already won an Emmy for the part and picked up several further nominations, along with a separate award for a news documentary.
The Emmys are the main annual American television awards, and this year's ceremony, the 78th, will be broadcast on NBC on 14 September. Hargitay's appointment as host stands out because, for almost twenty years, the job has gone to comedians or comic performers, whereas she is primarily known for dramatic acting.
The hosting news also coincides with NBC marking its 100th anniversary as a broadcaster. In the run-up to the ceremony, nominations for this year's awards are expected to be announced shortly, with a separate Creative Arts Emmys event held earlier in September for certain categories.
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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “Mariska Hargitay to Host 2026 Emmy Awards”.