"The Pitt" won the award for Best Drama Series and "The Secret of Widow's Bay" took the top comedy prize at the 78th Emmy Awards, held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, in a ceremony marked by record-breaking wins, emotional tributes, glamour and tears.
Actor Matthew Rhys won two awards on the night, for his performances in "The Secret of Widow's Bay" and "The Monster in Me," making him the first actor to win two Emmys in the same ceremony. Sally Field, 79, made history as the oldest actress ever to win an Emmy.
Sally Field's record-setting win
Field took to the stage to collect her trophy after becoming the oldest actress to win the award. "The Pitt," a medical drama set in a Pittsburgh hospital emergency room, and "The Secret of Widow's Bay" were named the night's top winners in the drama and comedy categories respectively.
Colbert's farewell and Fox's tribute
The ceremony also marked the farewell of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which won the award for Best Variety Series. In his acceptance speech, Colbert asked for someone to hire the staff of his show, who had worked in the CBS late-night format for 11 years.
The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award was presented to Michael J. Fox. The actor, known for playing Marty McFly in "Back to the Future" and for speaking publicly about living with Parkinson's disease, appeared on stage in a wheelchair. He spoke about the period when he chose to keep his diagnosis secret out of fear it would affect his career.
Tributes to industry figures
The night paid tribute to several entertainment figures who died over the past year, with particular focus on Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Robert Duvall and Catherine O'Hara.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis could not hold back tears as she paid tribute to Rob Reiner, her friend and fellow performer, who died in December 2025 at age 78 along with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in a crime committed by their own son.
First female host in 15 years
The ceremony was hosted for the first time in fifteen years by a woman, Mariska Hargitay, best known for her role in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." She appeared on stage with her 14-year-old daughter, Amaya Josephine, both wearing matching red sequined dresses.
