NBC continues its 100th birthday celebrations this fall with Emmy Award-winning actor, director, producer and television icon Mariska Hargitay hosting the 78th Emmy Awards. The ceremony is set for Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE, airing live coast-to-coast on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career. It’s my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards — in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC — and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers,” said Hargitay. “Whether it’s an actor or a director, a costumer or a sound designer, we are all so privileged to take part in creating television that unites us. Regardless of how, where or when we watch, we are together in our laughter, our tears, our love of stories — and our delighted anticipation to see what happens next.”
“Mariska has earned her place among television’s icons,” said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President, Live Events & Specials, NBC & Peacock. “Few performers have left the kind of mark on television that Mariska has. For 27 seasons, she has brought strength, compassion and humanity to one of the most beloved characters on TV. As NBC celebrates 100 years of unforgettable storytelling, we can’t think of anyone more fitting to help celebrate the incredible legacy of television.”
“Mariska is one of television’s most beloved stars, whose talent, authenticity and extraordinary connection with audiences have made her an enduring force in our industry and in culture,” said Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego. “We’re so delighted to have her join us as the host of this year’s Emmys telecast and know that she will create an unforgettable evening honoring the very best of television.”
Hargitay stars as Capt. Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the longest-running primetime live-action drama in television history. For her role, Hargitay has been recognized with an Emmy Award, with an additional eight nominations, and a Golden Globe. In addition to starring in the series, Hargitay serves as an executive producer and director, championing the groundbreaking franchise as it enters its 28th season this fall on NBC, where it will surpass a historic 600 episodes. In 2019, the Hargitay-produced film “I Am Evidence” went on to win the Emmy for Best Documentary. Most recently, Hargitay directed the powerful and personal My Mom Jayne, a documentary exploring the life and legacy of her mother, Hollywood legend Jayne Mansfield. After an extended run, this past weekend Hargitay concluded her Broadway debut in the interactive solo play “Every Brilliant Thing” at the Hudson Theatre. She shares three children with husband Peter Hermann and is the founder of nonprofit organization Joyful Heart Foundation, inspired by her role on SVU, to support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse on their path to justice and healing.
Nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards will be announced by the Television Academy on Wednesday, July 8, streaming live at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT on Emmys.com.
Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay of Jesse Collins Entertainment will serve as executive producers of the telecast.
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards, with ceremonies produced by Bob Bain Productions in association with the Television Academy, will take place Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6.
ABOUT NBC
NBC won the 2025-26 season in total viewers for the first time since 2002 and also captured the vital 18-49 demo. In 2026 the network will celebrate its historic 100th anniversary with a Dec. 10 live primetime special.
The 2026-27 slate includes four new scripted series – dramas The Rockford Files and Line of Fire as well as comedies Newlyweds and Sunset P.I. Also added to the lineup are hit reality series The Traitors: New Blood and Wordle, a game show version of the New York Times puzzle, hosted by Savannah Guthrie.
Returning is the hugely popular Windy City Wednesday trifecta of Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago P.D.; the Thursday duo of mothership Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU; stellar comedies St. Denis Medical and Happy’s Place; four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition hit The Voice; and perennial #1 most-watched summer series America’s Got Talent. In late night, Saturday Night Live remains one of the highest-rated and most culturally relevant shows on television and the network earns solid viewership with The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers.
On the live events side, in addition to the network’s anniversary special, the 100th edition of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to take place in November 2026. The 50th anniversary of the Macy’s July 4 Fireworks was recently celebrated as part of the nation’s 250th birthday with a beautiful display of light above the New York City skies. In addition, the Emmy Awards will be broadcast Sept. 14 from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.
NBC has won more Emmy Awards than any network in television history.
ABOUT PEACOCK
Peacock is the streaming home of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. Fans can stream thousands of hours of culture-defining entertainment, including current seasons of NBC and Bravo series; exclusive and critically acclaimed Originals; blockbuster and award-winning recent films from Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination, and Focus Features; America’s premier live sports and events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the NFL and NBA; live daily news; and an expansive library of beloved films and TV shows. Built on powerful technology, Peacock is an engaging entertainment destination with interactive, innovative features that bring NBCUniversal’s fan-favorite content to life at home and on the go. Visit PeacockTV.com to learn more.
Contact:
Jim Yeager
breakwhitelight for the Television Academy
jim@breakwhitelight.com
818-264-6812
Download the press release here.
