The 78th Emmy Awards delivered a mix of comedy, surprise celebrity appearances and nostalgic reunions as host Mariska Hargitay opened the ceremony with a musical performance and a series of unexpected sketches.
Hargitay, best known for playing Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, hosted the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Monday (Sept 14).
She opened the show with a pre-recorded musical number featuring New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Hargitay sang a version of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll”, reworked as “I Love TV Screens”.
The opening sequence also featured Hargitay alongside stars including Jean Smart and Jennifer Coolidge, as she travelled from New York to Los Angeles in a series of comedic scenes.
One of the night’s biggest surprises came when Taylor Swift appeared in a pre-recorded Law & Order: SVU sketch.
Swift played a rookie detective while Hargitay’s Olivia Benson investigated clues surrounding whether the singer would appear at the Emmys. The sketch poked fun at Swift’s reputation for leaving clues for fans and ended with the two characters posing together.
Swift did not attend the ceremony in person. She was instead at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, watching her husband, Travis Kelce, play for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The ceremony also featured a nostalgic reunion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz as the series marked its 30th anniversary.
Jean Smart had another notable moment when she won her fifth consecutive Emmy for Hacks. The victory gave her eight acting Emmys overall, tying the record for the most acting wins in television history.
Sally Field also received one of the evening’s biggest reactions. The 79-year-old actress won her fourth Emmy for her performance in Remarkably Bright Creatures, becoming the oldest winner in her category.
The ceremony also paid tribute to Dolly Parton, who died the previous month. Reba McEntire performed “Appalachian Memories” in Parton’s honour, while Field shared memories of her former Steel Magnolias co-star.
Other memorable moments included Meg Stalter appearing dressed as an Emmy statuette and tributes to several television figures who died during the past year.
The ceremony combined major award wins with celebrity cameos, musical performances and reunions, giving the 2026 Emmys a strong emphasis on both current television hits and familiar faces from television history.
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