Emmys 2026 Winners: “Widow’s Bay” Captures Record 14 Comedy Awards While “The Pitt” Secures Drama Series Honor

Katie Dippold and Stephen Root win the Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Award for “Widows Bay” and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Award for “Widow’s Bay” at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto Rodriguez/Deadline via Getty Images)

Deadline via Getty Images

On September 14, 2026, the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater recognized outstanding achievement across television. In the comedy category, “Widow’s Bay” set an unprecedented record, collecting 14 total awards—the most ever secured by a comedy series in a single ceremony. The show’s sweep included wins for Outstanding Comedy Series, lead acting honors for Matthew Rhys, supporting awards for Stephen Root and Kate O’Flynn, as well as Outstanding Writing by Katie Dippold and Outstanding Directing by Hiro Murai.

Matthew Rhys captured Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Mayor Tom Loftis in “Widow’s Bay”. He also earned the Outstanding Lead Actor award for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role as Nile Jarvis in “The Beast in Me”, becoming the first performer to win two lead‑acting Emmys in a single year. This achievement, added to his 2018 win for “The Americans”, marks Rhys as the first actor to secure lead‑acting Emmys across drama, comedy, and limited‑series categories.

“Widow’s Bay” continued its dominant performance with Outstanding Supporting Actor honors for Stephen Root and Outstanding Supporting Actress for Kate O’Flynn. Creator Katie Dippold received Outstanding Writing, and director Hiro Murai earned Outstanding Directing, underscoring the series’ comprehensive creative team. The total of 14 wins solidifies the show’s record as the most‑honored comedy series in Emmy history.

Jean Smart broke “Widow’s Bay”’s sweep with a win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Hacks”. Her victory marks the eighth Emmy of her career, tying the all‑time record, and makes her the first performer to earn a comedy lead award for each of the series’ five seasons.

Tom Pelphrey earned Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his compelling portrayal of Robbie Prendergast in HBO’s crime drama “Task”. Meanwhile, Saul Metzstein received the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for his work on the fifth season of “Slow Horses”, which is set to premiere its sixth season shortly.

The dramedy “DTF St. Louis” captured the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series award, while “The Traitors” secured the Outstanding Reality Competition Program honor. Michael J. Fox was presented with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award amid a standing ovation.

Here’s the full list of televised winners:

Drama

• Drama Series — The Pitt
• Lead Actor — Noah Wyle, The Pitt
• Lead Actress — Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
• Supporting Actor — Tom Pelphrey, Task
• Supporting Actress — Allison Janney, The Diplomat
• Writing — Vince Gilligan, Pluribus
• Directing — Saul Metzstein, Slow Horses

Comedy

• Comedy Series — Widow’s Bay
• Lead Actor — Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay
• Lead Actress — Jean Smart, Hacks
• Supporting Actor — Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
• Supporting Actress — Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
• Writing — Katie Dippold, Widow’s Bay
• Directing — Hiro Murai, Widow’s Bay

Limited or Anthology Series

• Limited or Anthology Series — DTF St. Louis
• Lead Actor — Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
• Lead Actress — Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures

Variety and Reality

• Variety Series — The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
• Reality Competition Program — The Traitors

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