Actress Mariska Hargitay to host Emmy Awards 2026
Washington DC, July 7
The Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay will host the 78th Emmy Awards, which will air on September 14, reported The Hollywood Reporter.
The actress will 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.
"Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career," Hargitay said in a statement.
"It's my great honour 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," added Hargitay, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
According to the outlet, 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.
Nominations for the Emmys will be announced on July 8.
— ANI
Reader Comments
First time I've heard of her hosting. I'm a big fan of her work on SVU, but the Emmys usually need a comedian to keep the audience laughing. I'm a bit skeptical but willing to give her a chance. September is far away!
Bold move by the Emmys. Mariska is known more for drama than comedy, but she's a respected star. It might be a welcome change. But honestly, I was hoping for someone like Hasan Minhaj or a desi comedian to host someday. Still, all the best to her. 👏
Interesting choice. I think the Emmys need a host who can handle the gravitas of the event, not just crack jokes. Mariska's statement about "stories that unite us" really resonated with me. Looking forward to it.
Is this a publicity stunt? The Emmys going with a dramatic actress after so long. I hope she doesn't fumble. India has many great actors too who could host big events. Anyway, let's see how it goes. 🤔
Good for her! She's earned it. But I'm a bit disappointed they didn't choose a comedian host—the Emmys can get too serious. Still, Mariska is a legend. I bet she'll bring a touch of class.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.