Emmys 2026: The Best, Worst, And Weirdest Moments

It’s time to review the best and worst moments from the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards!

TV’s top talent gathered at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Monday to once again hand out Emmy gold. “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay presided over the NBC telecast, which saw “Widow’s Bay,” “The Pitt,” and “DTF St. Louis” win big. (View the complete winners list here.) 

In the list below, we’ve distilled the three-hour ceremony (read Dave Nemetz’s review of the show here) down to the eight best and worst moments, from a beloved “Buffy” reunion and a sparkling Dolly Parton tribute to… whatever that opening song about TV screens was. 

Review the highlights below, then hit the comments to tell us what moments were your favorite!

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” may have been consistently ignored by the Emmys during its seven-season run, but Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz were still front and center during Monday’s telecast, reuniting to celebrate the series’ 30th anniversary. After Boreanaz mentioned that he always thought their characters, Buffy and Angel, would end up together, Gellar quipped, “Guess we won’t find out!” (Yep, we’re not over Hulu pulling the plug on the reboot either!) And even though it was nice to hear Gellar acknowledge the “tough two years for our beloved cast and crew” (R.I.P., Michelle Trachtenberg, Nicholas Brendon, and Anthony Head), it would’ve been nice if there was time to mention their late co-stars by name. Still, we’re here for the shade, Buff’. — Nick Caruso 

No shade to host Mariska Hargitay’s opening monologue, but that intro parody of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll left a lot to be desired. (Weird Al Yankovic, the “SVU” star is not.) Sure, the pre-recorded “I Love TV Screens” clip was an easy way to cram the ceremony’s first moments with loads of famous faces, but the cheesy song and forced puns were more cringe than camp. (We also could’ve done without that bare foot on the airplane. Gross!) It didn’t get any better once a bunch of TV-headed dancers joined Hargitay on stage. And how dare the Emmys compare the iconic Jennifer Coolidge to the “Widow’s Bay” sea hag — as if! — N.C.

At first, the pre-taped “SVU” bit spoofing Swifties’ trademark ultra-sleuthing — finding connections between random things that somehow reveal something major about Taylor Swift’s master plans — seemed to miss the mark. Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson told her team how “Abbott Elementary,” Matthew Rhys, and an empanada could all be clues to help solve their latest mystery: Would Taylor Swift be attending the Emmys? It all felt a little self-indulgent, since we know Hargitay is famously friends with Swift, until the unthinkable occurred: The pop icon herself appeared — along with her cat named after Harigtay’s iconic character — playing the latest rookie among the “SVU” squad! (And a side note to all the Swifties: What does this actually all mean for Swift’s next album? Were any real clues dropped?!) — Claire Franken

After winning the trophy for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Pelphrey’s acceptance speech was filled with gratitude and passion. After thanking HBO execs and his “Task” co-stars, the actor set his sights on his loved ones. “And to my favorite actor in this room, my love, my best friend, my partner, the very pregnant Kaley Cuoco: I love you more than anything, and our family is the crown jewel of my life! Matilda, Daddy loves you! Baby girl in that belly, Daddy loves you!” Seeing Cuoco weep throughout her baby-daddy’s time on stage? The cherry on top of a very sweet Emmys moment. — N.C. 

While we love our “I Love LA” duo Rachel Sennott and Odessa A’zion, these two dropped the ball during their presentation of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Their entire bit revolved around their love of behind-the-scenes drama, but their delivery was completely devoid of the kind of chaotic energy they claimed to thrive on. At one point, the pair pressed foreheads together, closing their eyes and urging one another to lock in. At one point, they acted like they had been outed by a hot mic, though we wished there had been a hot mic because then we could’ve at least heard them better to be in on the joke. Overall, we know these two were spoofing a pair of aloof, cool-girl actors, but they didn’t take it far enough, leaving us awkwardly searching to find the jokes. — C.F.

If the Emmys needs a host for next year’s 79th annual ceremony, boy, do we have a fine suggestion. “Finally, something for the fellas,” Mulaney joked before presenting the award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. “And what a what a crop of prom kings we have. They’re not soft like the dad on ‘Bluey.'” The comedian then cracked a funny about men being underrepresented on TV. “These nominees, they’re not just doctors,” he said. “They can play a cop or an FBI agent or a secret agent, and then that’s it. No other examples!” The jokes were sharp, the energy was high… the comedian was killing. — N.C.

It would’ve been easy for the Emmys to honor Dolly Parton with the late singer’s iconic “I Will Always Love You,” but the ceremony instead enlisted Reba McEntire to sing “Appalachian Memories.” McEntire’s rendition of Parton’s 1983 song, written from her father’s perspective about his longing for home after going to find work, felt intimate and tender — and it humanized Parton by paying homage to her roots. She wasn’t just the larger-than-life cultural icon, she was also a girl from the rural mountains who loved her family. The song choice felt especially meaningful given that Parton often sang her father’s praises, using his own struggle with illiteracy as inspiration to start her Imagination Library. And of course, McEntire was donned in a white gown that glistened, topping off the tribute with a dose of sparkling glamour. — C.F.

Michael J. Fox took the stage to accept the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, receiving a standing ovation from his peers in the crowd and delivering an inspiring speech about his battle with Parkinson’s. The five-time Emmy winner remembered how he initially kept his Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret, before opening up and being “stunned” by the “uplifting” response he got. “Because you stood up for me,” he said to the audience, “I kept doing what love … I didn’t have to surrender to it.” Amid all the Hollywood pomp and circumstance of Emmys night, Fox’s vulnerability and courage felt especially powerful. — C.F.

In yet another lackluster musical number, host Mariska Hargitay was joined by Andrew Rannells to “Say Goodbye” to some of the shows ending in 2026, like “Hacks,” “The Bear,” “Euphoria,” and of course, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” Really, we wanted to say goodbye (and good riddance!) to the lackluster songs in this Emmys broadcast. Rannells did his best to elevate the bit, but… at least the duet was short? — N.C.