2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards Night 2: Red Carpet Glamour, Major Winners and the Biggest Television Moments
Betty Gilpin, Linda Cardelini, Colman Domingo, Connor Storrie and Leslie Bibb attend the 78th Emmy Awards. (Image collected)
The 78th Emmy Awards season reached another major milestone on September 6, 2026, as television’s creative and technical achievements took center stage during the second night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles, Night 2 brought together actors, creators, producers, directors, designers and other television professionals for an evening celebrating the people whose work often happens behind or beyond the spotlight.
While the Primetime Emmy Awards traditionally receive the largest amount of public attention, the Creative Arts Emmys provide a much broader look at the television industry. The awards recognize performances, visual effects, costumes, editing, sound, cinematography, casting, animation, production design and numerous other areas that help turn television productions into memorable viewing experiences.
The evening also delivered plenty of celebrity glamour. The red carpet attracted stars from some of the year’s most talked-about television productions, with actors and presenters arriving in an assortment of sophisticated, dramatic and eye-catching looks. Deadline’s extensive photo gallery captured many of those arrivals and offered a visual snapshot of one of television’s biggest award-season weekends. (Deadline)
A Second Night Packed With Television’s Biggest Names
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were held across September 5 and 6, allowing the Television Academy to recognize a wide range of achievements before the main Primetime Emmy ceremony.
Night 2 focused heavily on scripted television, including guest acting, comedy, drama, limited and anthology programming, animation and numerous production categories. The ceremony brought together performers from both established television franchises and newer shows that have quickly become major awards contenders.
Among the presenters were a wide range of familiar television faces, including Betty Gilpin, Noah Wyle, Christopher McDonald, David Alan Grier, Taylor Dearden, Daveed Diggs, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeff Hiller and others. The Television Academy said the presenters represented different genres and generations of television talent. (Television Academy)
That mixture helped give the ceremony an atmosphere that was both celebratory and unusually diverse. Rather than focusing only on the biggest stars, the Creative Arts Emmys gave attention to performers and professionals working across the television landscape.
Red Carpet Becomes a Major Attraction
The red carpet was one of the most visually appealing parts of Night 2.
Celebrities arriving at the Peacock Theater had an opportunity to celebrate their nominations, support colleagues and enjoy the excitement surrounding the Emmy weekend. The event’s fashion coverage featured performers from comedy, drama, reality programming and limited series.
Deadline’s gallery included photographs of stars such as Colman Domingo, Connor Storrie, Linda Cardellini and many other attendees. The images highlighted how the Creative Arts Emmys have developed into a significant celebrity event in their own right. (Deadline)
One of the notable red-carpet conversations involved Connor Storrie, who arrived with a dramatically different hairstyle. The actor appeared with a buzzcut rather than the longer blond hair many viewers associate with him. His appearance quickly attracted attention, particularly because of his growing profile following his role in Heated Rivalry and his Emmy nomination for his appearance on Saturday Night Live. (People.com)
The variety of fashion choices reflected the overall character of the event: elegant but not necessarily predictable. Some guests chose traditional formalwear, while others used the occasion to experiment with silhouettes, textures, hairstyles and accessories.
Linda Cardellini Earns a Long-Awaited Emmy Victory
One of the emotional highlights of the night was Linda Cardellini’s first Emmy victory.
Linda Cardellini won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her performance in HBO’s DTF St. Louis. The victory marked an important moment in a career that has included acclaimed performances in projects such as Mad Men and Dead to Me.
Cardellini had previously received Emmy nominations, making her first win particularly meaningful. Her performance as Carol Love-Smernitch in DTF St. Louis gave her another opportunity to demonstrate a different side of her acting range.
The category included several accomplished performers, including Dakota Fanning, Laurie Metcalf, Joy Sunday, Youn Yuh-jung and Constance Zimmer. Cardellini ultimately emerged victorious from the competitive field. (People.com)
Her win also reinforced one of the Creative Arts Emmys’ most appealing qualities: they can provide career-defining moments for actors who have spent years delivering memorable work without necessarily receiving the industry’s top awards.
David Harbour Also Wins for DTF St. Louis
DTF St. Louis continued its strong night when David Harbour won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
David Harbour took the award for his performance in the HBO production, adding another major acting victory to the series’ growing awards profile. (Deadline)
The category was filled with recognizable names, including Jason Bateman, Richard Gadd, Richard Jenkins, Charles Melton and Nick Offerman.
Harbour’s victory demonstrated the strength of the limited-series category this year, where established performers and emerging talents competed against one another.
Shailene Woodley Scores a Drama Guest Actress Emmy
Another major acting moment came when Shailene Woodley won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Paradise.
Woodley played Annie Clay in the second season of the Hulu drama. Her character’s story provided her with a substantial dramatic opportunity, and voters ultimately rewarded the performance.
She was competing against performers from shows including The Pitt, Pluribus and The Gilded Age. Her victory represented one of the evening’s most notable guest-acting results. (Forbes)
Guest acting categories can be particularly competitive because nominees often have only a limited amount of screen time to make an impression. Woodley’s win showed how a focused performance can stand out even within an ensemble-driven television series.
Rob Reiner Receives a Posthumous Emmy Recognition
The guest comedy actor category produced another significant moment when Rob Reiner won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for The Bear.
Reiner’s nomination had already attracted considerable attention, and his victory added an emotional dimension to the ceremony. He competed against Michael J. Fox, Brett Goldstein, Hamish Linklater, Christopher McDonald and Connor Storrie. (Just Jared)
His recognition illustrated how guest appearances can leave a lasting impression even when an actor is not a regular member of a show’s cast.
Betty Gilpin Wins for Widow’s Bay
Betty Gilpin was another standout winner on Night 2.
She won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay, beating a competitive group that included performers from Hacks and The Bear. (Just Jared)
The victory added to the momentum surrounding Widow’s Bay, one of the notable shows of the 2026 Emmy season.
The Apple TV series had already emerged as one of the year’s major contenders, and its success across several Creative Arts categories demonstrated that its appeal extended beyond a single performance or technical department.
The Pitt Continues Its Awards Momentum
The Pitt was another important presence throughout the evening.
The medical drama received substantial recognition during the 2026 Emmy season, and Night 2 added further attention to the show’s acting and production achievements.
Ernest Harden Jr. won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work on The Pitt. Other nominees in the category included Colman Domingo, Jeff Kober, Jeff Hiller, Bradley Whitford and Jonathan Pryce. (TheWrap)
The result strengthened The Pitt‘s position as one of the year’s major drama contenders.
The show entered the Emmy season with 25 nominations, making it one of the most nominated programs of 2026. (Deadline)
South Park Returns to the Emmy Winners Circle
Animation fans also had reason to celebrate.
South Park won Outstanding Animated Program, marking a particularly notable return to Emmy recognition for the long-running series.
According to TheWrap, the win represented the show’s first victory in the category since 2013. (TheWrap)
The category included other well-known animated productions, including Bob’s Burgers, Rick and Morty, The Simpsons, Smiling Friends, Star Wars: Visions and others. (AOL.com)
The victory demonstrated the continuing strength of traditional television animation even as the industry increasingly embraces streaming platforms and new forms of animated storytelling.
Julie Andrews Adds Another Emmy to Her Legendary Career
One of the most recognizable names associated with Night 2 was Julie Andrews.
Andrews was recognized for her voice performance in Bridgerton, winning in the Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance category.
Her involvement with Bridgerton has allowed her to become an important part of the show’s storytelling despite not appearing physically on screen. Her distinctive voice has been central to the series’ narration, giving her a unique role within the popular Netflix period drama.
The category also included performers associated with King of the Hill, The Simpsons, South Park, The Muppet Show and Invincible. (AOL.com)
For viewers, Andrews’ win was another reminder that voice performances can be just as important to television storytelling as traditional on-camera acting.
The Muppet Show Also Gets Attention
Another beloved television property to receive recognition was The Muppet Show.
The revived series competed in the variety-special categories and also appeared among the nominees for character voice-over performance. The show’s continued ability to attract major entertainment talent demonstrates the enduring popularity of the Muppets.
The 2026 Creative Arts Emmys also recognized Sabrina Carpenter for her work associated with The Muppet Show, adding another contemporary pop-culture connection to the legendary franchise. (Pitchfork)
This combination of classic television characters and modern performers helped make the ceremony especially broad in its appeal.
Bad Bunny Makes Emmy History
One of the biggest entertainment stories surrounding the Creative Arts Emmys came from the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show featuring Bad Bunny.
The production won seven Emmy Awards, making it the most-awarded nominee of the night. It collected honors across categories including variety special, music direction, choreography, sound mixing, lighting design, technical direction and directing. (Pitchfork)
For Bad Bunny, the result was particularly significant because it marked his first Emmy victory.
The success also showed how major live television events have become increasingly sophisticated productions requiring enormous teams of creative and technical specialists.
A Super Bowl halftime performance may last only a relatively short time, but the Creative Arts categories demonstrate how much work is involved in creating a visually spectacular live event.
I Love Lucy Receives the Inaugural Legacy Award
The Television Academy also introduced a special new honor during this year’s ceremony: the Legacy Award.
The inaugural recipient was I Love Lucy, one of the most influential sitcoms in television history.
The Television Academy described the series as having a profound and generational impact on television audiences, culture and the industry. (Television Academy)
The recognition was significant because I Love Lucy remains influential decades after its original broadcast. Its innovations in sitcom production, performance and television storytelling helped establish conventions that continue to shape comedy today.
Giving the first Legacy Award to I Love Lucy therefore served as both a celebration of television history and a reminder of how older programs can continue influencing modern entertainment.
Why the Creative Arts Emmys Matter
The Creative Arts Emmys sometimes receive less mainstream attention than the Primetime Emmy ceremony, but their importance should not be underestimated.
A television show is not created by actors alone. Writers, editors, costume designers, sound professionals, cinematographers, casting directors, animators, visual-effects artists, choreographers, makeup artists, production designers and many other specialists contribute to the final product.
The Creative Arts Emmys provide an opportunity to recognize these contributions.
The 2026 ceremony was particularly representative of the changing television landscape. Traditional broadcast programs competed alongside streaming productions, premium cable shows, limited series, animated programs, documentaries and large-scale live events.
That diversity reflects how audiences now consume television. The boundaries between television, streaming, live entertainment and digital programming continue to become less distinct.
A Red Carpet That Reflected a Changing Television Industry
The celebrity arrivals also offered a snapshot of the industry’s changing culture.
The red carpet included established stars alongside actors from newer productions and performers whose profiles have grown rapidly through streaming television.
The presence of actors such as Colman Domingo, Linda Cardellini, Connor Storrie and others illustrated the broad range of talent now participating in Emmy season.
Fashion was similarly diverse. Some attendees selected traditional Hollywood glamour, while others opted for contemporary styling and more individualized looks.
Because the Creative Arts Emmys recognize so many different areas of television, the red carpet itself feels somewhat different from the highly concentrated celebrity spectacle of the main Primetime ceremony.
It remains glamorous, but it also feels closely connected to the people and productions being celebrated.
Looking Ahead to the Primetime Emmy Awards
With the Creative Arts Emmys now complete, attention turns toward the main 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
The Television Academy confirmed that the first two nights of Creative Arts ceremonies will be edited into a single broadcast scheduled for September 12 on FXX, with streaming availability on Hulu the following day. The main Emmy ceremony is scheduled for September 14 at the Peacock Theater, with Mariska Hargitay serving as host. (Television Academy)
The Creative Arts results may also provide clues about which programs could carry momentum into the main ceremony.
Shows such as The Pitt, Widow’s Bay, DTF St. Louis and Pluribus have all established themselves as significant players during this year’s awards season.
Final Thoughts
The second night of the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards offered far more than a collection of trophies.
It celebrated the enormous number of people who make television possible, from actors and voice performers to editors, designers, directors, sound professionals and technical crews.
The evening also produced memorable individual achievements. Linda Cardellini earned her first Emmy, David Harbour was recognized for DTF St. Louis, Shailene Woodley won for Paradise, Betty Gilpin took home a guest acting award for Widow’s Bay, Rob Reiner was honored for The Bear, and South Park returned to the winners circle.
Meanwhile, Julie Andrews’ victory for Bridgerton, Bad Bunny’s historic haul with the Super Bowl halftime show and the inaugural Legacy Award for I Love Lucy provided some of the ceremony’s most memorable broader television moments.
And, of course, the red carpet supplied its own entertainment, giving fans an opportunity to see their favorite performers dressed for one of the industry’s most important weekends.
Ultimately, Night 2 demonstrated why the Emmys remain one of television’s defining celebrations. Behind every successful series is a huge creative team, and the Creative Arts Emmys give those professionals the recognition they deserve.
As the industry now prepares for the main Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, the results from Creative Arts weekend have already established several winners, surprises and storylines that will shape the conversation surrounding the 78th Emmy Awards.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When were the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards held?
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were presented over two nights, September 5 and September 6, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Television Academy)
2. Who won Best Supporting Actress at the Creative Arts Emmys?
Linda Cardellini won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for DTF St. Louis. (People.com)
3. Did Bad Bunny win an Emmy?
Yes. Bad Bunny won his first Emmy as part of the team behind the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, which won seven awards. (Pitchfork)
4. Which animated show won an Emmy?
South Park won Outstanding Animated Program at Night 2 of the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards. (TheWrap)
5. When will the main 2026 Emmy Awards take place?
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled for September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Mariska Hargitay hosting. (Television Academy)
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