The 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards began on Saturday, September 5, celebrating the artistic, creative and technical achievements behind some of television’s most notable productions.
The first night of the ceremony was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, where several television programs, performers and creative professionals received Emmy recognition.
One of the biggest winners of the evening was Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay, who took home two awards for her documentary My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay.
Hargitay won both Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program, making her one of the standout figures of the opening night.
Other notable winners included Mr. Scorsese, The Traitors, Tucci in Italy, Love on the Spectrum and Jeopardy!.
Outstanding Game Show
Winner: Jeopardy!
The long-running quiz show took home the award for Outstanding Game Show, defeating Celebrity Family Feud, The Price Is Right, Wheel of Fortune and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Winner: Jimmy Kimmel — Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Jimmy Kimmel won the Outstanding Host for a Game Show award for his work on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
He was nominated alongside Steve Harvey for Celebrity Family Feud, Ken Jennings for Jeopardy!, Colin Jost for Pop Culture Jeopardy! and Martin Short for Match Game.
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
Winner: Mr. Scorsese
Mr. Scorsese won Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
The nominees also included The Yogurt Shop Murders, The American Revolution, Sean Combs: The Reckoning and Rafa.
Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program
Winner: The Traitors
The Traitors earned the Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program.
It competed against The Amazing Race, Love on the Spectrum, Survivor and Welcome to Wrexham.
Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series
Winner: Colbert Before Air
Colbert Before Air was recognized in the Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series category.
Other nominees were Bad Thoughts, The Daily Show: Desi Lydic Foxsplains, The Randy Rainbow Show and SubwayTakes with Kareem Rahma.
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
Winner: My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay’s documentary My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay won Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
The production competed against John Candy: I Like Me, Marty, Life Is Short, Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! and Ocean with David Attenborough.
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Winner: Mariska Hargitay — My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay
Hargitay secured her second award of the night in the directing category.
She was nominated alongside Lawrence Kasdan for Marty, Life Is Short, Michael Bonfiglio for Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, Rebecca Miller for Mr. Scorsese and Alexandria Stapleton for Sean Combs: The Reckoning.
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program
Winner: Alan Cumming — The Traitors
Alan Cumming won the Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program award for The Traitors.
The category also featured RuPaul Charles, Kristen Kish, Ariana Madix and Jeff Probst.
Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
Winner: Tucci in Italy
Tucci in Italy received the Emmy for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special.
Other nominees included The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Give the Man a Prize, Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman and The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy.
Outstanding Narrator
Winner: Octavia Spencer — Lost Women of Alaska
Octavia Spencer won Outstanding Narrator for Lost Women of Alaska.
She competed against David Attenborough, who received two nominations, as well as Jodie Foster and Werner Herzog.
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
Winner: Love on the Spectrum
Love on the Spectrum won Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program.
The other nominees were America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, Summer House and Welcome to Wrexham.
Creative Arts Emmys continue Sunday
The second night of the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards and the Governors Gala are scheduled for Sunday, September 6.
The Creative Arts ceremonies will be followed by the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, which are scheduled for September 14 and will air on NBC and Peacock.
With the first night already producing multiple high-profile winners, attention will now turn to the remaining Creative Arts categories before television’s biggest stars gather for the Primetime Emmy Awards later this month.
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