The 78th Emmy Awards drew 6.7 million viewers on NBC and Peacock on Monday night in September 2026, dropping from the audience size of the previous year's ceremony. Mariska Hargitay hosted the event.
- 6.7 million total viewers recorded by Nielsen
- 10% to 12% decline from the 77th ceremony on CBS in 2025
- 133 million social media views across Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube
- 90% increase in social media engagement compared to last year
Broadcast Competition and Reach
The television ceremony competed directly against a Monday night NFL game featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos. Despite the lower television ratings, the broadcast expanded its digital reach significantly across major social platforms.
Future Streaming Rights
The Television Academy is in talks with Amazon Prime Video regarding future broadcast rights. This potential deal could end the traditional multi-network rotation among major broadcast networks.
This prospective shift toward a streaming-exclusive home signals a fundamental pivot for the industry, moving away from legacy broadcast partnerships that have historically anchored the event's distribution model.
The negotiations with Amazon Prime Video follow the ceremony's recent multi-platform availability on Peacock alongside its linear NBC broadcast in September 2026.
