Emmy Dubs and Snubs: The Wins, The Misses and The Surprises
The Emmys had many amazing and unforgettable moments, but not everyone went home celebrating.
The 2026 Emmy Awards took place on Sept. 14. These awards brought together television’s biggest stars to celebrate another successful year of memorable performances and shows. Some actors and actresses took home major awards, while others left the ceremony without the recognition many viewers thought they deserved.
Dub: Jean Smart won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award for her hilarious performance in the fifth season of “Hacks.” This award marked her fifth consecutive win for all five seasons of the show, which emphasized her historic sweep. Smart became the first woman to win the category for every season of a show.
Dub: Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in a very emotional moment. Fox battles Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with at age 29. Fox co-founded his nonprofit organization, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, to fund billions of dollars in research to help find a cure. The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award is dedicated to honoring a person in the television industry whose actions and humanitarian work reflect Hope’s devotion to contributing to the greater good and making positive social progress.
Snub: Jeremy Allen White was not nominated in the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category for the first time since the series “The Bear” began. He has previously won the category twice, but was left off the nominee list this year.
Snub: Some fans were left appalled when the final season of “Stranger Things” received no major acting nominations, despite the long history of Emmy wins and nominations for the series.
Snub: In this year's in memoriam, several television figures were left out of the televised tribute. A huge figure that was not included was Robert Redford. Many people were outraged because of his significant contributions as an actor and producer in the television world. The Television Academy responded by saying the broadcast has limited time and that a more extensive tribute is available to access online.
Dub: Matthew Rhys made Emmy history by winning two lead-acting Emmys in the same night. He won one for his performance in “Widow’s Bay” and one for “The Beast in Me.”
Dub: Mariska Hargitay’s performance as host was one to remember. Hargitay brought a comedic, glamorous and enthusiastic style to the ceremony with laughs, musical moments and jokes about herself and her “Law & Order: SVU” show. There was even a cameo from Taylor Swift.
To end, the Emmys are meant to celebrate the best and most memorable moments of television, but every award ceremony comes with arguments over who was recognized and who was overlooked. Regardless of whether viewers agreed with the final results or not, this year’s awards gave television fans plenty to celebrate and plenty to debate.