Phoenix 24
Television icon becomes first female host in 15 years.
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES — July 2026. Mariska Hargitay will host the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the first woman to lead television’s most prestigious ceremony in 15 years. The event will take place on September 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live across the United States on NBC and streamed through Peacock. It will mark Hargitay’s first time hosting a major awards ceremony.
The last woman to host the Emmys was Jane Lynch in 2011. Hargitay’s selection therefore represents a significant moment for female representation at an event frequently led by male comedians, actors and television presenters. Her appointment also coincides with NBC’s 100th-anniversary celebrations, giving the network one of its most recognizable stars a central role during the ceremony.
Hargitay said it was a great honor to celebrate the people responsible for creating television stories that entertain, challenge and connect audiences. Television Academy leaders described her as an authentic and influential figure whose career reflects the medium’s power to create lasting relationships with viewers. NBC executives also emphasized her ability to combine warmth, intelligence and emotional credibility.
The 62-year-old actress is best known for portraying Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She joined the procedural drama when it premiered in 1999 and has remained its central figure for more than two decades. The series is preparing for its 28th season, while Benson has evolved from detective to captain and become one of the longest-running dramatic characters in American prime-time television.
Hargitay has received eight Emmy nominations for her performance and won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2006. She also received a Golden Globe in 2005 and has expanded her work on SVU by serving as an executive producer and director. Beyond entertainment, she founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, which supports survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.
The actress could also enter the ceremony as a nominee for My Mom Jayne, her documentary about her mother, Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield. The production marked Hargitay’s feature-length directorial debut and explored her family history, childhood loss and complex relationship with Mansfield’s public image. Her earlier documentary project, I Am Evidence, examined untested sexual-assault kits and received an Emmy in the news and documentary categories.
Nominations for the 2026 Emmy Awards will be announced on July 8 by actors Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller. The Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies, recognizing technical achievements and additional television categories, are scheduled for September 5 and 6. The main September broadcast will honor leading dramas, comedies, limited series, performers, directors and writers from the previous television season.
Hargitay’s selection brings together several elements of her professional identity: performer, producer, director, advocate and enduring television figure. After nearly three decades associated with one of NBC’s most successful franchises, she will now address the entire television industry from its most visible stage. Her appointment establishes a new milestone in a career already defined by longevity and cultural impact.
After 15 years, a woman will once again command the Emmy stage.