LOS ANGELES — Television’s biggest night delivered plenty of star power before the first award was even handed out.
The biggest names from Hollywood descended on the Peacock Theater on Monday, September 14, for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, transforming the Emmys’ blue carpet into a showcase of high fashion, celebrity reunions and some of television’s most recognizable faces.
Among the arrivals were Zendaya, Selena Gomez, Nicole Kidman, Colman Domingo, Noah Wyle, Keri Russell, Jean Smart and Steve Carell, alongside a long list of nominees, presenters and television favorites.
Zendaya, Selena Gomez and Hollywood’s A-list arrive
Zendaya commanded attention in a custom silver Prada gown, while Selena Gomez brought her own glamorous take to the carpet as Only Murders in the Building competed in major categories.
Nicole Kidman, Keri Russell and other leading actresses also turned the carpet into a fashion spectacle, while Colman Domingo demonstrated that men’s formalwear can go well beyond the traditional black tuxedo.
The result was a carpet filled with dramatically different styles, from classic Hollywood glamour to more experimental and contemporary looks.
Mariska Hargitay makes her Emmys hosting debut
The evening’s host, Mariska Hargitay, made a particularly memorable entrance.
The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star wore a striking red sequined gown and was accompanied by her family. Her look also carried a personal connection to her late mother, Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield.
Hargitay’s hosting role was itself notable: she became the first woman to host the Primetime Emmys in 15 years.
The carpet was more than just fashion
While the fashion dominated early coverage, the arrivals also reflected the television industry’s biggest stories of the year.
HBO’s The Pitt entered the ceremony as the leading nominee with 25 nominations, while Hacks received 24 and Apple’s Widow’s Bay collected 19.
The ceremony ultimately delivered major victories for The Pitt and Widow’s Bay, while Jean Smart added another milestone to her extraordinary Emmy career.
Nostalgia takes the carpet, too
The 2026 Emmys also leaned into television history.
The ceremony celebrated the 30th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, bringing Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz together as presenters. Their reunion quickly became one of the evening’s nostalgic highlights.
The Television Academy also marked the 50th anniversary of Charlie’s Angels, adding another dose of nostalgia to an evening otherwise focused on the current television landscape.
Fashion becomes part of the Emmy spectacle
The 2026 carpet demonstrated once again that awards season is as much about fashion as it is about trophies.
Black and ivory looks were prominent, while pastel colors and vivid pinks also appeared across the arrivals. Jewelry provided another major talking point, with stars such as Zendaya, Keri Russell and Grace Gummer showcasing high-profile pieces.
Some celebrities opted for understated elegance, while others deliberately embraced more theatrical looks.
That variety helped make the Emmys carpet a story in its own right.
From the carpet to the winners
Once the ceremony began, the focus shifted from fashion to television’s biggest achievements.
The Pitt won Best Drama Series, while Widow’s Bay emerged as a major comedy winner. Jean Smart claimed another Lead Actress in a Comedy Emmy for Hacks, further cementing her status as one of television’s most decorated performers.
But before the speeches, trophies and emotional tributes took center stage, Hollywood’s television elite had already delivered one of the night’s biggest spectacles.
The 2026 Emmys proved that television’s biggest night isn’t just about who wins — it’s also about who makes the biggest entrance.
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