Mariska Hargitay brought her whole family along for one of the biggest nights of her career. The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star attended the 2026 Emmys at Los Angeles' Peacock Theater on September 14 alongside her husband, Peter Hermann, and their three kids, August, 18, Amaya, 15, and Andrew, 13.
Hargitay wore a red gown with a feather-embellished hem that cascaded into a train. Her daughter Amaya matched her in the same dress, minus the long train. Hermann and the couple's two sons wore matching classic black tuxedos.
First Woman to Host in 15 Years
While Hargitay is best known for playing Olivia Benson, the captain of Manhattan's Special Victims Unit, she took on a different role at this year's ceremony as host, making her the first woman to emcee the Emmys in 15 years.
Hargitay has been nominated for an Emmy eight times for her lead role on Law & Order: SVU, winning in 2006. She added two more trophies to her collection on September 5, taking home two Creative Arts Emmys for My Mom Jayne, a documentary she directed and produced about her late mother, actress Jayne Mansfield.
Hermann was clearly in her corner for the win. Hargitay posted a photo to Instagram on September 6 showing him flashing two fingers as she held up both trophies, captioning the post, "God I love him."
How Hargitay and Hermann Met
Hermann made his first appearance in Hargitay's world on screen, guest starring as defense attorney Trevor Langan in a 2002 episode of Law & Order: SVU.
Hargitay recalled being instantly smitten when she spoke about their meeting on a 2022 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show. She said that on the first day, she was so nervous, and that he was very handsome and it was distracting.
Hermann invited her to church for their first date. Hargitay said she started crying during the service and that he thought she was moved by the sermon, when really she was crying because she already knew she was going to marry him, that she had found her husband and that she loved him.
Marriage and Three Kids
Hargitay and Hermann married in 2004. They welcomed their eldest son, August, two years later, followed by twins Amaya and Andrew in 2011.
Hargitay reflected on her family life during a 2025 appearance on Call Her Daddy. She said her family was her biggest place of success in life, that it was everything she wanted, and that her husband was everything she wanted, calling him her home, her cheerleader, someone who makes her laugh, can fix anything, and is the best dad.
Winners on the Night
Hargitay's hosting duties came as the Emmys handed out awards across drama, comedy and reality categories. The Pitt took Outstanding Drama Series, while Widow's Bay won Outstanding Comedy Series. DTF St. Louis was named Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, The Traitors won Outstanding Reality Competition Program, and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert took Outstanding Variety Series.
