Mariska Hargitay to Host 2026 Emmy Awards

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One of the most recognizable faces in television will serve as host of the 78th Emmy Awards in September.

Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay will host the awards, which are set to air Sept. 14 on NBC. Hargitay is going into her 28th season as the star of SVU, which airs on NBC and is the longest-running primetime drama in American TV history.

She’ll also be the first host who’s not primarily known for their comedic work in almost two decades. The last time the Emmys had a host who wasn’t a comedian or comic actor was in 2008, when the five nominees for best reality host (Tom Bergeron, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Jeff Probst and Ryan Seacrest) shared emcee duties.

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“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career,” Hargitay said in a statement. “It’s my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards — in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC — and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers. Whether it’s an actor or a director, a costumer or a sound designer, we are all so privileged to take part in creating television that unites us. Regardless of how, where or when we watch, we are together in our laughter, our tears, our love of stories — and our delighted anticipation to see what happens next.”

Hargitay won an Emmy for playing Olivia Benson on SVU in 2006 and has been nominated eight other times. She also won a News and Documentary Emmy in 2019 for producing the doc I Am Evidence; her 2025 HBO documentary My Mom Jayne is eligible for this year’s awards.

“Mariska has earned her place among television’s icons,” said Jen Neal, executive vp live events and Specials for NBC and Peacock. “Few performers have left the kind of mark on television that Mariska has. For 27 seasons, she has brought strength, compassion and humanity to one of the most beloved characters on TV. As NBC celebrates 100 years of unforgettable storytelling, we can’t think of anyone more fitting to help celebrate the incredible legacy of television.”

Added Television Academy chair Cris Abrego, “Mariska is one of television’s most beloved stars, whose talent, authenticity and extraordinary connection with audiences have made her an enduring force in our industry and in culture. We’re so delighted to have her join us as the host of this year’s Emmys telecast and know that she will create an unforgettable evening honoring the very best of television.”

Nominations for the Emmys will be announced Wednesday (see final predictions from THR’s Scott Feinberg). The Creative Arts awards will take place Sept. 5 and 6. Jesse Collins Entertainment is producing the Emmy telecast; Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay executive produce.