Mariska Hargitay will host the 2026 Emmys and ends 15 years without female hosts
The protagonist of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will be in charge of hosting the gala scheduled for September 14 on the NBC signal
This important announcement, made during the kick-off lunch of the awards season, was not only well received due to the reputation that precedes the actress, but also because of the milestone it marks in the history of the awards show.
And by being named host of the 78th Emmy Awards, Mariska Hargitay becomes the first woman to host the gala in 15 years, with Jane Lynch being the last to carry out this task in 2011.
"A television legend presents the big night of television. 🏆 The 78th edition of the Emmy Awards will air LIVE on Monday, September 14 on NBC and Peacock," it was confirmed from the television network's official platforms.
Likewise, this is the first time since the 1993 edition, led by Angela Lansbury, that the ceremony does not have a comedian or reality show host leading the event.
The news soon spread through social networks and was well received among the public who appreciate Mariska Hargitay's iconic character, “Olivia Benson.”
“I'm ready, you're going to do amazing,” “Great decision,” “He deserves it,” “The world is healing,” “I'm so happy for you,” “I'll just watch the awards show to see you,” “Obsessed with you, good job,” and “This is amazing! Now let's get him on SNL too, while we're at it!” stand out as responses to the ad.
For her part, the 62-year-old artist said she was excited to be able to lead the ceremony that is responsible for rewarding the best of television: "Bringing stories to the world has been the heartbeat of my career. It is a great honor for me to present the 78th Emmy Awards, in the centennial year of my beloved NBC, and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers," she commented in an interview with Deadline.
In this sense, he highlighted that a well-executed and successful television project is the result of the hard work of hundreds of people behind the scenes who also deserve to be celebrated.
"Whether an actor or a director, a costume designer or a sound designer, we all have the privilege of participating in the creation of television that unites us. No matter how, where or when we watch, we are together in our laughter, our tears, our love of stories and our anticipation of knowing what will happen next," he told the portal.
The 78th edition of the Emmy Awards will take place next Monday, September 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with a live broadcast on NBC, as well as on the HBO Max platform.