‘Law & Order: SVU' star Mariska Hargitay to host 2026 Emmy Awards on NBC
Mariska Hargitay is about to bring law and order to the Emmys.
The longtime star of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” has been named host of the 78th Emmy Awards that will air Sept. 14 on NBC and Peacock as the network continues its 100th anniversary celebration.
“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,” Hargitay said in a statement. “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.”
Hargitay, 62, becomes the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years, following Jane Lynch in 2011.
She stars as Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” which is entering its 28th season to extend its title as the longest-running primetime live-action drama in television history. Hargitay won an Emmy in 2006 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series during a stretch of eight consecutive nominations in the category for her role as Benson.
Hargitay, who also serves as executive producer and director of the series, also produced the film “I Am Evidence” that won a 2019 Emmy for Best Documentary.
“Mariska has earned her place among television’s icons,” Jen Neal, executive vice president of live events and specials at NBC and Peacock said in a statement. “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.”
Nominations will be announced by the Television Academy on Wednesday in a livestream on Emmys.com beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET. The ceremony will be held Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE.
Hargitay continues what has been an eventful stretch for the actor, with “SVU” set to surpass the 600-episode milestone this season. She directed the 2025 HBO documentary “My Mom Jayne” that explored the life of her mother and Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield.
Hargitay was courtside at Madison Square Garden during her beloved New York Knicks’ run to their first NBA championship in 53 years — sitting next to Taylor Swift during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. She even appeared on a float during the team’s championship parade down the Canyon of Heroes in New York City.
Hargitay also recently completed her Broadway debut run in “Every Brilliant Thing.”
She’s now set to take the stage in a new role.
“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,” Cris Abrego, the chair of the Television Academy, said in a statement. “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.”
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