Television held its breath, put on its best jewellery, and then handed Matthew Rhys two Emmys in one night — a first in the show’s history, and frankly a lot to carry home in one tote bag. At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, Mariska Hargitay stepped into hosting duties (the first woman to do so since 2011, because apparently that math took fifteen years to fix), Widow’s Bay quietly ran the table with eight wins, and The Pitt proved its Season 1 success wasn’t a fluke, taking Drama Series again and sending Noah Wyle home with Lead Actor. DTF St. Louis cleaned up in limited series, and The Traitors made it three consecutive wins for Reality Competition — at this point Peacock should just carve out permanent shelf space. 

But let’s be honest about why we’re really here: Zendaya showed up. She’s spent this entire year running a masterclass in red carpet dominance — the tennis-core Challengers era, the full sartorial fireworks show of The Odyssey press tour — and the Emmys were never going to be the exception. Reunited with Law Roach, she arrived in a custom Prada gown built on nearly-invisible mesh and finished in crystals from neckline to train, like someone had gift-wrapped a chandelier and asked it to walk. Mikimoto pearls, a Rolex, satin Louboutins, and a pixie cut freshly trimmed to match the dress’s own detailing — even her haircut was on brand this year. Nominated again for Euphoria, Zendaya didn’t need to win a trophy to win the night. 

Colour had opinions of its own on the carpet. Selena Gomez went full metallic in gold, Nicole Kidman kept it crisp in white, and Colman Domingo brought his usual unbothered elegance in Valentino. Lilac had a moment too — Sarah Pidgeon in a bias-cut satin slip dusted with crystals, and presenter Florence Pugh in a cloud of Vivienne Westwood draping, both looking like they’d wandered in from the same fever dream. Elle Fanning went jade in silk Ralph Lauren, The Pitt’s Supriya Ganesh kept things cool in pale blue McQueen, and Shrinking’s Lukita Maxwell matched the venue’s gold trim almost too perfectly in ruffled Louis Vuitton. 

Outstanding Drama Series

WINNER: The Pitt

The Diplomat

The Gilded Age

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

Paradise

Pluribus

Slow Horses

Your Friends & Neighbors

Outstanding Comedy Series

WINNER: Widow’s Bay

Abbott Elementary 

The Bear 

Hacks 

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Nobody Wants This 

Only Murders In The Building 

Shrinking

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

WINNER: Tom Pelphrey, Task

Patrick Ball, The Pitt

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt 

Gerran Howell, The Pitt 

Jack Lowden, Slow Horses

Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Pluribus

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

WINNER: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus

Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age 

Chase Infiniti, The Testaments

Keri Russell, The Diplomat 

Zendaya, Euphoria

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

WINNER: Noah Wyle, The Pitt

Sterling K Brown, Paradise 

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses

Mark Ruffalo, Task

Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

WINNER: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay 

Dale Dickey, Widow’s Bay 

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks 

Janelle James, Abbott Elementary 

Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Megan Stalter, Hacks

Jessica Williams, Shrinking

Lead Actress in a Comedy

WINNER: Jean Smart, Hacks 

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Ayo Edebiri, The Bear 

Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles 

Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

WINNER: Allison Janney, The Diplomat

Taylor Dearden, The Pitt

Fiona Dourif, The Pitt 

Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt

Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt

Julianne Nicholson, Paradise

Karolina Wydra, Pluribus

Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

WINNER: Matthew Rhys, The Beast In Me

Riz Ahmed, Bait

Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit 

Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story 

Oscar Isaac, Beef

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series