What time are the 2026 Emmys tonight? When the Emmy Awards start and how to watch live

Comment now

TV’S biggest stars are gearing up to hit the red carpet for the 2026 Emmys, but the ceremony is breaking with tradition this year.

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are being held in Los Angeles tonight, with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay on hosting duties.

The Pitt leads the way with a whopping 25 nominations, while Hacks has made history with 24 — the most ever for a comedy in a single year.

But fans expecting the usual Sunday-night ceremony have had to change their plans, with NBC shifting the Emmys to Monday night as part of its regular broadcast rotation.

When are the Emmys 2026?

The 2026 Emmys take place on Monday, September 14, at the Peacock Theater at LA Live.

The show begins at 8pm ET/5pm PT (1am BST on Tuesday, September 15), with NBC airing it live coast-to-coast.

It follows the first two nights of the awards ceremony, known as the Creative Arts Emmys, which were held on September 5 and 6, when more than 100 awards were handed out.

Mariska Hargitay is taking charge of the main event tonight.

The actress said: “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.

Most read in Entertainment

FOOT IN MOUTH

Kourtney rubs her feet on Travis’ face for raunchy photos on Valentine’s Day

MY OH MY

Myleene Klass ditches bra as she puts on glam display in nude top and mini skirt

double take

80s movie heartthrob and nepo baby unrecognizable in LA – can you guess who?

JEN’S AGONY

I tried to have baby for 20 years says Jennifer Aniston

“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.”

How to watch the Emmys 2026

US viewers can watch the 2026 Emmy Awards live on NBC from 8pm ET/5pm PT on Monday.

The ceremony also streams live on Peacock and will be available to watch on demand afterwards.

Those wanting to catch the stars arriving can tune into E! for Countdown to The Emmys from 5pm ET/2pm PT.

The Creative Arts Emmys were held over two nights on September 5 and 6.

An edited broadcast of both ceremonies aired on FXX on Saturday, September 12, at 8pm ET/2pm PT.

In the UK, the main Emmy Awards ceremony is being shown live on LG 1, which is available via LG Channels.

Brit fans face a much later night, with red carpet coverage beginning at 12am BST on Tuesday, September 15, and the awards following at 1am BST.

LG Channels is a free streaming service built into supported LG smart TVs and does not require a subscription.

Why are the Emmys on a Monday?

The Emmys traditionally take place on a Sunday, but NBC’s NFL commitments have forced a schedule switch.

Sunday Night Football occupied the network’s prime-time slot on September 13, when the Dallas Cowboys faced the New York Giants at 8.20pm ET/5.20pm PT.

The shift stems from the Television Academy’s four-way rotation shared between ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.