2026 Creative Arts Emmys night one winners revealed

The 2026 Emmy Awards season is officially underway, with the first night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards celebrating some of television’s biggest creative and technical achievements.

The opening ceremony took place on Saturday, September 5, at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The star-studded event brought together actors, directors, hosts and other television professionals, with several major productions and personalities taking home prestigious awards.

Among the evening’s biggest winners was Mariska Hargitay, who enjoyed a particularly memorable night for her documentary My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay. The actress won both Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program.

Hargitay’s double victory made her one of the most prominent winners of the first night. Her documentary, released in 2025, explores the life and legacy of her mother, actress and model Jayne Mansfield.

Several other familiar names also featured prominently during the ceremony. Colin Hanks, director of John Candy: I Like Me, was among the notable figures recognized during the evening, while Dancing With the Stars host Julianne Hough, The Upshaws star Wanda Sykes and Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves were also part of the night’s celebrated television lineup.

The first evening also highlighted popular unscripted and nonfiction productions. The Traitors secured the award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program, while Alan Cumming was honored as Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program for his work on the series.

Meanwhile, Love on the Spectrum won Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program, continuing its strong recognition among television’s unscripted offerings.

In the game show categories, Jeopardy! won Outstanding Game Show, while Jimmy Kimmel took home Outstanding Host for a Game Show for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

The documentary categories also produced several notable winners. Mr. Scorsese was named Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, beating productions including The Yogurt Shop Murders, The American Revolution, Sean Combs: The Reckoning and Rafa.

Colbert Before Air was another winner, taking the prize for Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series.

For hosted nonfiction programming, Tucci in Italy earned the Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special award. Octavia Spencer was recognized in the Outstanding Narrator category for Lost Women of Alaska, defeating nominees including David Attenborough, Jodie Foster and Werner Herzog.

The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will continue with the second night of the ceremony and the Governors Gala on Sunday. The celebrations will then lead into the main 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, scheduled for September 14 at 8 p.m., airing on NBC and Peacock.

Complete night one winners

Outstanding Game Show: Jeopardy!

Outstanding Host for a Game Show: Jimmy Kimmel — Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series: Mr. Scorsese

Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program: The Traitors

Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series: Colbert Before Air

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special: My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay

Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program: Mariska Hargitay — My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program: Alan Cumming — The Traitors

Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special: Tucci in Italy

Outstanding Narrator: Octavia Spencer — Lost Women of Alaska

Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: Love on the Spectrum