The 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards have already delivered some major surprises before television’s biggest night even reaches its main ceremony. The first ceremony on September 5 at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater saw Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show emerge as the night’s biggest winner, while The Traitors, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and The Muppet Show also picked up major trophies.
But Night 1 was about more than a collection of technical and creative awards. Mariska Hargitay secured two Emmys ahead of her turn as host, Octavia Spencer collected her first Emmy, Jimmy Kimmel won again, and several major reality, nonfiction and variety programmes strengthened their positions heading into the September 14 ceremony.
More Celebrity Career Milestones: Awards season isn’t the only place stars are reaching new heights this week. For more, read our story on MrBeast’s message to viral Terraria creator Michaelshowscoolthings and why he’s stepping away from Instagram.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Leads 2026 Emmy Night 1 With Seven Wins
If there was one production that completely owned the opening night, it was the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny.
The production collected seven Emmy Awards, making it the biggest winner of Night 1. Its haul included the prestigious Outstanding Variety Special (Live) award, along with trophies recognising the enormous amount of creative and technical work that went into the performance.
Hamish Hamilton won Outstanding Directing, while Miguel Gandelman received the Emmy for music direction. Choreography honours went to Charm La’Donna and Karina Ortiz for their work on the variety or reality programme.
The show also won in sound mixing, lighting design/lighting direction, technical direction and camerawork.
That means Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl production wasn’t simply recognised for being a major live entertainment event. The Television Academy rewarded it across multiple areas responsible for turning a huge stadium performance into a polished television spectacle.
The seven-award haul officially made the production the top winner of Night 1.
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The Traitors Scores Six Emmys as Peacock Reality Competition Becomes a Major Night 1 Winner
Hot on Bad Bunny’s heels was Peacock’s The Traitors, which collected six Emmy Awards.
Alan Cumming won Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program, adding another Emmy to the show’s growing awards success.
Ben Archard also won Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program for “Let The Cards Fall As They Will.”
The programme’s remaining wins covered several behind-the-scenes categories, including picture editing for a structured reality or competition programme, cinematography for a reality programme, production design for a variety or reality series and costumes for variety, nonfiction or reality programming.
The production-design award specifically recognised “The Black Banquet.” The cinematography award went to Siggi Rosen-Rawlings and Matt Wright, alongside the show’s camera team.
With six trophies, The Traitors became the second-biggest winner of Night 1, underlining just how competitive reality television has become at the Emmys.
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Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Wins Five Emmys During Its Final Season
There was another major storyline hiding in the Night 1 results: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert delivered a significant awards-night farewell.
The CBS late-night programme collected five Emmys during its final season.
The show won Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, with Stephen Colbert among the credited writers. It also picked up awards for picture editing for variety programming, lighting design/lighting direction for a series and technical direction and camerawork for a series.
Yvonne De Mare won Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Series Finale.
The five wins give the programme a substantial Emmy presence as it approaches the end of its run, making the recognition particularly notable given the show’s final-season status.
Show Cancellations Worth Knowing: Ending on a high note isn’t always guaranteed in television. For more, read our story on Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Noir getting canceled after one season despite 11 Emmy nominations.
The Muppet Show Wins Four Emmys on the Original Series’ 50th Anniversary
Disney+’s The Muppet Show also had a seriously memorable evening, collecting four Emmys.
The revival won Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-recorded), writing for a variety special, picture editing for variety programming and production design for a variety special.
Denise Pizzini, Chet Maxwell, Robert Aguirre and Bethany Barton received the production-design Emmy, while Kelly Lyon won for picture editing.
The writing award went to Albertina Rizzo, Gabe Liedman, Nedaa Sweiss, Kelly Younger and Andrew Williams.
There was also a striking bit of timing behind the victory. The ceremony took place on the 50th anniversary of the premiere of the original The Muppet Show.
Executive producer Seth Rogen acknowledged the anniversary while accepting the award, adding an extra layer of significance to the show’s return to the Emmy spotlight.
More Streaming Show Drama: Not every set is running as smoothly as this year’s Emmy winners. For more, check out our story on Debi Mazar’s claim that the Entourage set turned “toxic” after her pregnancy, and Doug Ellin’s response.
Mariska Hargitay Wins Two Emmys Before Hosting the 78th Emmy Awards
Mariska Hargitay had one of Night 1’s most personal victories.
The actress won two Emmys for My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay, the HBO Max documentary about her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield.
Hargitay won Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
The double victory arrives around two decades after her first Emmy, which she won for portraying Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
And there is a very convenient next chapter: Hargitay is scheduled to host the main 78th Emmy Awards ceremony on September 14.
“I can’t believe I get to do all this great stuff,” Hargitay said.
Her two wins therefore arrive just days before she moves from Emmy winner to Emmy host.
More Hulu Hits Worth a Second Look: Personal stories and unexpected inspirations are shaping more than just documentaries this year. For more, read our story on whether Chad Powers was ever real, and the wild Eli Manning disguise that inspired Glen Powell’s Hulu hit.
Octavia Spencer Gets Her First Emmy for Lost Women of Alaska: The Missing
Octavia Spencer also reached a career milestone on Night 1.
She won Outstanding Narrator for Lost Women of Alaska: The Missing, earning her first Emmy win.
The victory came in a category that also had historical significance because Sir David Attenborough was competing for the possibility of becoming the oldest Emmy winner ever.
That milestone did not happen on this occasion, with Spencer ultimately taking the Emmy for her narration of the Investigation Discovery production.
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Jimmy Kimmel Wins Game Show Hosting Emmy as Jeopardy! Takes the Program Award
Jimmy Kimmel added another Emmy to his collection by winning Outstanding Host for a Game Show for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Meanwhile, Jeopardy! won Outstanding Game Show.
The results gave two of television’s most recognisable game-show brands another reason to celebrate, while Kimmel continued his Emmy success in the hosting category.
Unexpected Dream Jobs: Not every headline-grabbing opportunity this week involves a trophy. For more, read our story on Snoop Dogg’s $30,000 international ice cream taster job and what the role actually requires.
Love on the Spectrum Takes Three Emmys as Reality Television Remains Strong
Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum was another multiple-award winner, taking three Emmys.
The programme won Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program, while its fourth episode won Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program.
It also won Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program.
Elsewhere, Antiques Roadshow won Outstanding Structured Reality Program, adding another Emmy to the long-running PBS programme’s history.
Streaming Winners: Multiple platforms are racking up recognition across this year’s Emmy weekend. For more, check out our story on Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Noir being canceled despite its 11 Emmy nominations, and what happened to Prime Video’s Marvel hit.
Apple, Netflix, HBO Max and More Add to the Night 1 Emmy Winners List
The opening ceremony wasn’t dominated by only the headline winners.
Apple won Outstanding Commercial for I’m Not Remarkable, while Colbert Before Air on YouTube won Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series.
HBO Max’s Inside The Pitt won Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series.
Apple TV’s Mr. Scorsese won Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, while Tucci in Italy won Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special, with Stanley Tucci serving as host and executive producer.
National Geographic’s Ocean With David Attenborough collected two awards: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program and Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program.
The sound-editing Emmy went to George Fry, Roy Noy, Jonathon Cawte and Chris Domaille. Doug Anderson and Toby Strong were recognised for cinematography.
Dating News Amid Award Season: Big industry nights often come with their own relationship headlines too. For more, read our story on Phaedra Parks confirming her romance with CT Tamburello ahead of the Emmys.
The Daily Show, Desi Lydic and Other Notable Emmy Night 1 Winners
Desi Lydic won Outstanding Performer in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for The Daily Show: Desi Lydic Foxsplains.
The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers The Pulse: Give The Man A Prize also won Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program, with Jordan Klepper among the credited writers.
Other Night 1 winners included:
| Emmy category | Winner |
| Outstanding Commercial | I’m Not Remarkable — Apple |
| Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series | Colbert Before Air — YouTube |
| Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series | Inside The Pitt — HBO Max |
| Outstanding Game Show | Jeopardy! |
| Outstanding Host for a Game Show | Jimmy Kimmel — Who Wants To Be A Millionaire |
| Outstanding Structured Reality Program | Antiques Roadshow |
| Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program | Love on the Spectrum |
| Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special | Tucci in Italy |
| Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series | Mr. Scorsese |
| Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special | My Mom Jayne: A Film By Mariska Hargitay |
| Outstanding Emerging Media Program | Uncanny Alley: A New Day |
| Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary/Nonfiction or Reality Program | John Candy: I Like Me |
| Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special | The Muppet Show |
| Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series | The Traitors |
| Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program | Saturday Night Live — Host: Bad Bunny |
| Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety Nonfiction or Reality Program | RuPaul’s Drag Race |
| Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program | Love on the Spectrum |
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program | The Traitors |
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program | Ocean With David Attenborough |
| Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming | The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny |
| Outstanding Music Direction | The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny |
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program | Billy Joel: And So It Goes |
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Reality Program | Welcome To Wrexham |
| Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special | The Muppet Show |
More Reality TV Exits: Wins and departures both shape how a reality season is remembered. For more, read our story on Danny Booko and Nia Sanchez’s exit from The Valley after Season 3.
Juried Emmy Awards Add Another Layer to the First Emmy Weekend
Night 1 also included juried Emmy awards, which differ from the standard Emmy process because entries are evaluated by panels of professionals rather than through the usual nominee-and-vote system.
Among the juried winners presented on September 5 were The Masked Singer and The Traitors for Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Programming.
Crafting Crimes also won Outstanding Innovation in Emerging Media Programming.
The Television Academy had separately announced that additional juried animation awards would be presented on September 6. Those included individual achievement awards connected to Eyes of Wakanda, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal, The Mighty Nein and Star Wars: Visions.
No Emmy was awarded for Outstanding Motion Design.
Hulu Hits Worth a Second Look: Not every great TV story starts with an awards nomination. For more, dive into our piece on whether Chad Powers was ever real, and the Eli Manning disguise behind Glen Powell’s Hulu hit.
What Night 1 Means for the Rest of the 2026 Emmy Awards
The first ceremony has already established several major storylines for Emmy weekend.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX production sits at the top with seven trophies. The Traitors follows with six, while The Late Show With Stephen Colbert has five in its final season.
At the same time, The Muppet Show, Jeopardy!, Antiques Roadshow and Saturday Night Live added to their Emmy histories, while Netflix, Peacock, Disney+, Apple TV and HBO Max were strongly represented among the winners.
The Television Academy is presenting the 78th Emmy Awards across three nights: September 5, September 6 and September 14. The first two ceremonies will subsequently be edited together into a single Creative Arts Emmys broadcast.
More Feud Fallout: Big industry weekends tend to surface plenty of personal drama alongside the wins. For more, check out our story on Alix Earle’s Unwell feud with Alex Cooper and the fallout through Netflix’s explosive finale.
2026 Emmy Awards Schedule: When and Where to Watch
The Night 1 and Night 2 ceremonies will be combined into an edited broadcast titled The 78th Emmy Awards (Creative Arts).
| Date | Event | Official details |
| September 12 | Creative Arts Emmys broadcast | FXX, 8 p.m. ET/PT |
| September 13 | Creative Arts streaming | Hulu |
| September 14 | 78th Emmy Awards | Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE |
| September 14 | Main ceremony broadcast | NBC, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT |
| September 14 | Streaming | Peacock |
| September 14 | Host | Mariska Hargitay |
The September 14 ceremony will therefore be the major televised conclusion to an Emmy weekend that has already produced a surprisingly packed opening chapter.
Streaming Set Drama: Behind-the-scenes tension isn’t limited to reality shows this week. For more, read our story on Debi Mazar’s claim that the Entourage set turned “toxic” after her pregnancy.
Final Takeaway: Bad Bunny Has Set the Pace, but Emmy Night Isn’t Over Yet
Night 1 of the 78th Emmy Awards has already made one thing clear: the 2026 race is not short on headline moments.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show delivered seven trophies. The Traitors claimed six. The Late Show With Stephen Colbert earned five during its final season. The Muppet Show celebrated a four-Emmy night on the 50th anniversary of its original premiere.
Meanwhile, Mariska Hargitay secured two awards before preparing to host the main ceremony, and Octavia Spencer celebrated her first Emmy win.
But the biggest Emmy stage is still waiting.
The September 14 ceremony will bring the three-night celebration to its televised conclusion, with Hargitay hosting from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE. Until then, Night 1 has already given audiences plenty to talk about — and plenty of winners to watch as the 78th Emmy Awards continue.
Unexpected Dream Jobs: As award season wraps up its opening chapter, there’s plenty of other buzzworthy news to catch up on. For more, read our story on Snoop Dogg’s $30,000 international ice cream taster job and what it actually requires.
Disclaimer
This article has been written and fact-checked on the basis of the supplied September 5 winners report and official Television Academy information available as of September 7, 2026. The Emmy results, ceremony details and broadcast information are subject to official updates from the Television Academy and the relevant broadcasters.
Sources
- Television Academy — 78th Emmy Awards Night 1 Winners Announced
- Television Academy — Bad Bunny Halftime Show, The Traitors and Late Show With Stephen Colbert Lead Night One
- Television Academy — Where to Watch the Emmy Awards
- Television Academy — Information About the 78th Emmy Ceremonies
- Television Academy — Juried Winners for 78th Emmy Awards
- Deadline — Emmy Awards Night 1: The Full Winners List
Featured Image Credit: Bill Ingalls / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
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