How Matthew Rhys, Sally Field & More Made Emmys History

Jean Smart Makes History at Emmys 2026 With Final 'Hacks' WinThe 2026 Emmys was one award show to remember. After all, TV milestones were toppled at the Sept. 14 ceremony. In fact, host Mariska Hargitay ended a 15-year dry spell when she stepped onto the stage at Los Angeles' Peacock Theater as the first woman to emcee the prestigious event since Jane Lynch in 2011. (Click here to see all the celebrities on the red carpet.) And it was certainly a ladies' night at the star-studded affair. Jean Smart made history as the first woman to win an Emmy for every season of a comedy show, bookending her spectacular five-season run on Hacks after it took its final bow in May. "This has been just the ride of a lifetime," she shared on the Emmys Thank You Cam. "It's been incredible. It hasn't been a rollercoaster—it's been up and up and up. Just a thrill." Thanks to her Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series victory, the 74-year-old also tied Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman and Allison Janney—who was awarded her eighth career Emmy at the ceremony—for the record of most Emmys won by a female performer. Meanwhile, Sally Field became the oldest person to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie after nabbing the prize for her performance in Remarkably Bright Creatures. Matthew Rhys also set an Emmys record by becoming the first man to win two lead acting trophies in a single night, taking home the title of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay. With his impressive double victory, Rhys—who previously won Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series in 2018 for his work on The Americans—is now the first performer to have received an Emmy across all three genres.Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesBut record books were already rewritten well before Emmys night. When nominations were announced in July, Hacks shattered a longstanding barrier by raking up 24 nods—the most for a comedy in a single year. Meanwhile, Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning became the first sisters to be nominated in a category, with Margot's Got Money Troubles—on which they serve as executive producers—up for an Outstanding Comedy Series prize. And when the Creative Arts Emmys were held on Sept. 6, Julie Andrews set a new precedent as the oldest actress to win an Emmy, taking home the prize of Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her work as Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton. Who else walked away as an Emmy winner this year? Read on for a complete list.Outstanding Drama SeriesThe Diplomat The Gilded Age A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Paradise WINNER: The Pitt Pluribus Slow Horses Your Friends and NeighborsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesCarrie Coon, The Gilded Age Keri Russell, The Diplomat WINNER: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus Zendaya, Euphoria Chase Infiniti, The TestamentsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesSterling K. Brown, Paradise Gary Oldman, Slow Horses Mark Ruffalo, Task WINNER: Noah Wyle, The Pitt Rufus Sewell, The DiplomatOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesFiona Dourif, The Pitt Taylor Dearden, The Pitt WINNER: Allison Janney, The Diplomat Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt Julianne Nicholson, Paradise Karolina Wydra, PluribusOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesPatrick Ball, The Pitt Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt Jack Lowden, Slow Horses WINNER: Tom Pelphrey, Task Carlos Manuel-Vesga, Pluribus Gerran Howell, The PittOutstanding Comedy SeriesAbbott Elementary The Bear Nobody Wants This Hacks Margo’s Got Money Troubles Only Murders in the Building Shrinking WINNER: Widow’s BayOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesQuinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback WINNER: Jean Smart, HacksOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesSteve Carell, Rooster WINNER: Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay Jason Segel, Shrinking Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder ManOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesDale Dickey, Widow’s Bay Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Janelle James, Abbott Elementary WINNER: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay Megan Stalter, Hacks Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Jessica Williams, ShrinkingOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesColman Domingo, The Four Seasons Paul W. Downs, Hacks Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles WINNER: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay Michael Urie, Shrinking Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Harrison Ford, ShrinkingOutstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesLeslie Bibb, Hacks Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear WINNER: Betty Gilpin, Widow's Bay Cherry Jones, Hacks Laurie Metcalf, Hacks Kaitlin Olson, Hacks Lauren Weedman, HacksOutstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy SeriesChristopher McDonald, Hacks Michael J. Fox, Shrinking Brett Goldstein, Shrinking Hamish Linklater, Widow's Bay WINNER: Rob Reiner, The Bear Connor Storrie, Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesTal Anderson, The Pitt Brittany Allen, The Pitt Tina Ivlev, The Pitt Miriam Shor, Pluribus Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age WINNER: Shailene Woodley, ParadiseOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesColman Domingo, Euphoria WINNER: Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt Jeff Hiller, Pluribus Jeff Kober, The Pitt Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses Bradley Whitford, The DiplomatOutstanding Limited or Anthology SeriesThe Beast in Me Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette WINNER: DTF St. Louis Beef All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieClaire Danes, The Beast in Me Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette WINNER: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures Carey Mulligan, Beef Sarah Snook, All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me Riz Ahmed, Bait Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story Oscar Isaac, BeefOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis Youn Yuh-jung, Beef Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein StoryOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieJason Bateman, DTF St. Louis Richard Gadd, Half Man Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis WINNER: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis Charles Melton, Beef Nick Offerman, Death by LightningOutstanding Unstructured Reality ProgramAmerica's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders WINNER: Love on the Spectrum RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Summer House Welcome to WrexhamOutstanding Structured Reality ProgramWINNER: Antiques Roadshow Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Love is Blind Queer Eye Shark TankOutstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition ProgramRuPaul Charles, RuPaul's Drag Race WINNER: Alan Cumming, The Traitors Kristen Kish, Top Chef Ariana Madix, Love Island USA Jeff Probst, SurvivorOutstanding Variety SeriesThe Daily Show Jimmy Kimmel Live! Last Week Tonight With John Oliver WINNER: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Reality Competition ProgramDancing With the Stars RuPaul’s Drag Race Survivor Top Chef WINNER: The TraitorsOutstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable WINNER: The Muppet Show Nikki Glaser: Good Girl Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour, The Final Show Wicked: One Wonderful NightOutstanding Host for a Game ShowSteve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! Colin Jost, Pop Culture Jeopardy! WINNER: Jimmy Kimmel, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Martin Short, Match Game