Mariska Hargitay to host Emmys as first woman emcee in 15 years
Mariska Hargitay will host the Emmys on Monday, Sept. 14, live on NBC and Peacock. The Law & Order: SVU star is the first woman to emcee the show in 15 years since Jane Lynch hosted for Fox in 2011.
The announcement lands during a milestone year for NBC, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026. Hargitay also enters her 28th season on SVU this fall as the show approaches its 600th episode, giving the network a familiar face to anchor one of television's biggest nights.
Key Takeaways
- Mariska Hargitay will host the 78th Emmy Awards on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live.
- She is the first woman to emcee the Emmys since Jane Lynch in 2011 and only the fourth female host this century.
- The ceremony airs live on NBC and streams on Peacock during NBC's 100th anniversary year.
- Hargitay breaks a recent trend of comedian and late-night hosts leading the telecast.
- Emmy nominations will be revealed July 8, with Creative Arts ceremonies set for Sept. 5-6.
When and Where Will the 78th Emmy Awards Air?
The 78th Emmy Awards take place Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. NBC will broadcast the show live coast to coast, and Peacock will stream it simultaneously.
Nominations for the 78th Emmys will be announced Wednesday, July 8, streaming live at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT on Emmys.com. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards, produced by Bob Bain Productions, follow on Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6, one week before the primetime telecast.
Why Does Mariska Hargitay Hosting the Emmys Matter?
Hargitay is the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years and just the fourth this century, following Ellen DeGeneres (2001 and 2005), Heidi Klum (who co-hosted in 2008), and Lynch (2011). That gap underscores how rare female emcees remain on awards' biggest stages.
Her booking also marks a departure from recent hosting choices. When NBC last held the Emmys in 2022, Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson hosted; in 2018, Weekend Update anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost shared duties. Last year's CBS telecast was led by standup Nate Bargatze. Hargitay is not primarily known as a comedian, making her a distinctive pick for producers Jesse Collins Entertainment, who return for a fourth consecutive Emmys.
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What Did Mariska Hargitay and NBC Say About the Hosting Gig?
In a statement, Hargitay said bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career and called it my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC. She added that television storytellers are privileged to create work that unites audiences across platforms.
NBC and Peacock executive VP Jen Neal said few performers have left the kind of mark on television that Mariska has, citing her 27 seasons bringing strength, compassion and humanity to Olivia Benson. Television Academy chair Cris Abrego praised her talent, authenticity and extraordinary connection with audiences.
How Is Hargitay Connected to the Emmys Already?
Hargitay is no stranger to Emmy night. She won outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 2006 for SVU and earned eight additional nominations in that category from 2004 through 2011. She also won a News and Documentary Emmy in 2017 as a producer on I Am Evidence.
She appeared on last year's ceremony in a tribute to the Law & Order franchise's 35th anniversary and has presented on the telecast multiple times. Her HBO documentary My Mom Jayne is submitted for Emmy consideration this year, capping a busy stretch that included a Broadway debut in Every Brilliant Thing and, as she joked in Variety's report, a New York Knicks championship win.