Celebrity
‘Law and Order: SVU’ Star Mariska Hargitay Lands Prestigious New TV Gig and Fans Think She’s Perfect
Mariska Hargitay has been chosen to host the 2026 Emmy Awards, becoming the first woman in 15 years to emcee television’s biggest night.
Just days after wrapping up her first stint on Broadway, Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay has embraced a new project. As was the case with doing Every Brilliant Thing on Broadway, the upcoming gig challenges Hargitay to do something that likely feels far outside her comfort zone. She will be hosting the 2026 Emmy Awards.
According to Variety on July 7, Hargitay will lead the 78th Emmy Awards when it takes place on September 14. As the media outlet noted, Hargitay is the first woman in 15 years to land the hosting gig.
NBC, the same network that airs Hargitay’s long-running series, is televising the Emmy Awards this year. The event coincides with the network’s 100th anniversary.
Fans of Hargitay were thrilled to hear the news.
“There’s going to be ALOT of people surprised of her real funny and bubbly personality. Expect tons of ‘OMG I had no idea Olivia Benson was so funny!’ type posts on social media,” one Reddit user suggested.
Another fan on Reddit added, “I could see this going really well, actually. Hargitay did Groundlings back in the day and has been pretty charming in interviews.”
The Groundlings is a sketch comedy and improvisation theater in Los Angeles that was founded in 1979. Other entertainers who spent time early in their careers at The Groundlings include Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, and Phil Hartman.
“From Knicks parade float with the Brunsons to this. She’s having a great year,” one fan pointed out on Reddit.
On Facebook, a fan gushed, “I may actually watch them, just because of this.”
Another added, “Yay!!!! She deserves it all. Such an amazing person!”
The last time a woman hosted the Emmy Awards, Glee alum Jane Lynch did the honors in 2011. In recent years, viewers have seen the event hosted by the likes of Nate Bargatze, Dan and Eugene Levy, Anthony Anderson, and Kenan Thompson.
While Hargitay is best known for her dramatic work as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU, longtime fans say her quick wit and warm personality make her a natural fit to host the epic live event.
