Severance won the Emmy for best drama series and The Studio took top honors in comedy as the Television Academy handed out awards across drama, comedy, limited series and variety categories, highlighting the continued strength of prestige streaming television.
The ceremony also sparked controversy: Emmys host Nate Bargatze’s opening monologue was widely criticized on social media and drew negative commentary from some industry figures, with one five-time Emmy winner described as calling the monologue “cringe,” according to reports.
Among acting winners, Noah Wyle won best actor in a drama series for his role in The Pitt, and Britt Lower won best actress in a drama series for Severance. Tramell Tillman was named best supporting actor in a drama series, and Katherine LaNasa took best supporting actress in a drama series. In limited or anthology series categories, Stephen Graham won best actor and Cristin Milioti won best actress, while Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty won supporting actor and supporting actress awards in that field.
The Studio, a surprise frontrunner in nominations, converted several of its nominations into wins. Seth Rogen won best actor in a comedy series for his work on The Studio, Jean Smart won best actress in a comedy series for Hacks, and the show earned awards for writing and directing in comedy. Bryan Cranston and Julianne Nicholson won guest-actor awards in the comedy field.
Other notable winners included Dan Gilroy for best writing for a drama series for Andor, Adam Randall for best directing in a drama series for Slow Horses, and Philip Barantini for best directing in a limited or anthology series for Adolescence. The Traitors won best reality competition program, and Love On The Spectrum won best unstructured reality program.
Several programs accrued large nomination totals this season. The Penguin was the second-most-nominated series with 24 nominations, and The White Lotus received 23 nominations, including multiple placing in supporting and guest acting categories. Kathy Bates, nominated for her lead work in Matlock, was the oldest acting nominee this year at 77.
The ceremony underscored continued industry trends: streaming platforms and prestige cable shows dominated nominations and wins, anthology and limited-format storytelling continued to be rewarded, and established performers and new faces shared the trophy stage. Filmmakers and directors crossing into television also figured in the night’s headlines; Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese received their first acting Emmy nominations for guest roles on The Studio, drawing attention to the way high-profile film talents are moving into scripted television projects.
Reaction to the host’s opening routine became a parallel storyline to awards coverage. Social media users and critics posted negative takes through the broadcast and afterward, and several outlets reported that at least one multiple-time Emmy winner characterized the monologue as embarrassing. The Academy did not immediately respond to requests for comment about audience reaction.
The awards, which covered hundreds of nominees across dozens of categories, reflected a mix of predictable victories and surprise upsets. Several shows and performers who led nomination lists left the ceremony with fewer trophies than expected, while others converted a smaller number of nominations into major wins. The mix of winners highlighted both voter embrace of ambitious serialized storytelling and an appetite for fresh voices and formats.
Winners spanned a wide range of genres and production models, from high-budget streaming dramas to smaller limited series and reality programs. The results will likely influence programming decisions and awards campaigning ahead of next season, as networks and streamers consider which formats and talent to prioritize. The show’s reception, including criticism of the host segment, may prompt producers to reconsider tone and approach for future ceremonies as the Television Academy seeks to balance spectacle with critical and viewer expectations.