Mariska Hargitay opened the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, 2026, becoming the show's first female host since Jane Lynch in 2011 with a monologue that poked fun at New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, Law & Order creator Dick Wolf and actress Nicole Kidman.
Hargitay is a three-time Emmy winner best known for playing Det. Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role she has held for 27 seasons and that earned her first Emmy in 2006. She won two more Emmys this year as director-producer of the documentary My Mom Jayne.
Pre-taped sketch with Jalen Brunson
The broadcast opened with a pre-taped sketch featuring Brunson, the reigning NBA champion with the Knicks and, according to the show, a genuine friend and superfan of Hargitay. The pair compared notes on pressure, with Brunson quipping "Seriously?", before Hargitay realized she didn't have time to steam gowns and jerseys with him and instead flew to Los Angeles.
Once there, she marveled at the entertainment available in flight and at her hotel, all set to Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." The rewritten lyrics nodded to Margot's Got Money Troubles, Abbott Elementary, The Pitt, Widow's Bay, Slow Horses and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives before the 62-year-old finally made it to the stage.
Jokes about SVU arrests and Dick Wolf
Once behind the podium, Hargitay leaned into her SVU history. "It is so reassuring to see so many familiar faces out there, and I'm just talking bout how many of you I've arrested on SVU," she said, singling out Martin Short, a lead actor nominee for Only Murders in the Building, over a past guest-star turn on the show. "You guys have done some unspeakable things. I'm talking to you, Martin Short, you should be ashamed of yourself."
She then thanked "the genius behind SVU," Dick Wolf, noting he has created more than 40 shows, 13 of which are currently on the air. Hargitay said jokes about his name were "unfair," claiming Dick Wolf isn't his real name and that he is actually called Richard Penis. She also admitted she didn't know how to pronounce "finale," joking, "I'm sorry, guys, it's just that I never had one."
Nicole Kidman interrupts the monologue
Hargitay then launched into an impression of Kidman's AMC Theatres cinema ad, prompting Kidman to stand up in the audience and object. "No, Mariska, come on, that's mine," Kidman said. "That's my bit, you can't do that." Hargitay shot back, "Zip it, movie lady, it's TV's turn tonight!"
Family on the red carpet
Hargitay attended with her husband, actor Peter Hermann, and their children, sons August and Andrew and daughter Amaya, who wore a matching red beaded dress with a feathery fringe hem alongside her mother.
From Broadway to hosting duties
Hargitay made her Broadway debut earlier this year in Every Brilliant Thing. Ahead of the ceremony, she told The Hollywood Reporter that she built her monologue from "everything that killed in the past 78 years," adding that it had been "focus-grouped, and it works." She said: "Word-for-word, no updates. If it's not broken, don't fix it."
She also said she planned to skip long acceptance speeches by having winners write thank-you notes from their seats instead of speaking on stage. "It's time everyone learned some manners again," she said.
Winners across the night
- Outstanding Drama Series: The Pitt
- Lead Actress, Drama: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
- Lead Actor, Drama: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
- Supporting Actress, Drama: Allison Janney, The Diplomat
- Supporting Actor, Drama: Tom Pelphrey, Task
- Outstanding Comedy Series: Widow's Bay
- Lead Actress, Comedy: Jean Smart, Hacks
- Lead Actor, Comedy: Matthew Rhys, Widow's Bay
- Supporting Actress, Comedy: Kate O'Flynn, Widow's Bay
- Supporting Actor, Comedy: Stephen Root, Widow's Bay
- Guest Actress, Comedy: Betty Gilpin, Widow's Bay
- Guest Actor, Comedy: Rob Reiner, The Bear
- Guest Actress, Drama: Shailene Woodley, Paradise
- Guest Actor, Drama: Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt
- Limited or Anthology Series: DTF St. Louis
- Lead Actress, Limited Series or Movie: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Lead Actor, Limited Series or Movie: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
- Supporting Actress, Limited Series or Movie: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
- Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
- Unstructured Reality Program: Love on the Spectrum
- Structured Reality Program: Antiques Roadshow
- Host, Reality or Reality Competition: Alan Cumming, The Traitors
- Variety Series: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
- Reality Competition Program: The Traitors
- Variety Special (Pre-Recorded): The Muppet Show
- Host, Game Show: Jimmy Kimmel, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards aired live on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
