Producers stuffed the first half of the night with awards and attempted to fill the second half with emotional moments, resulting in a strange lopsided effect.

Mariska Hargitay traded Olivia Benson’s blazers for glitter and glamour as host of the Emmys 2026 Monday night, cycling through twelve outfit changes — and nearly as many wigs — from the red carpet through to the final number.

Emmys host Mariska Hargitay and actor Peter Hermann, who wed in 2004, share two sons and a daughter

The “Law & Order: SVU” star channeled Joan Jett to sing a ditty called, “I Love TV Screens.”

With Law & Order SVU star Mariska Hargitay hosting the 2026 Emmys, rumours had been swirling about the possible appearance of Taylor Swift — a famous fan of the show, who even named her cat after Hargitay's character Olivia Benson and included Hargitay in her 2015 "Bad Blood" video.

The actress brought her biggest supporters with her for her hosting gig.

The ‘Law & Order: SVU’ star released a documentary about her late mother in 2025

Four years later, Hargitay told People that she realized Hermann was her husband during said church date. "I just started sobbing. Peter thought I was crying because I was so moved by the service," she said. "No, it was because I was just overwhelmed, realizing he was the one."