The Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026 Night 2 ceremony brought another major group of television winners to the spotlight on Sunday, September 6, in Los Angeles.
Held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE, the second night of the 78th Emmy Awards recognized performers, shows and creative teams across animation, drama, comedy, limited series, movies and several technical categories. The Television Academy confirmed that Night 2 honored outstanding artistic and technical achievements across television.
Among the biggest names to win were Julie Andrews, Shailene Woodley, Ernest Harden Jr., Rob Reiner and Betty Gilpin. Shows including Bridgerton, Paradise, The Pitt, South Park, Widow’s Bay and DTF St. Louis also collected important awards.
Julie Andrews won Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her work as Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton. Shailene Woodley won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Paradise, while South Park took home the award for Outstanding Animated Program.
The second night also produced one of the weekend’s most emotional moments when Rob Reiner received a posthumous Emmy for his role in The Bear.
Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026 Night 2 Winners
The second Creative Arts ceremony covered a wide range of categories. Here are some of the major winners from the night:
- Outstanding Animated Program: South Park
- Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: Julie Andrews, Bridgerton
- Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt
- Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Shailene Woodley, Paradise
- Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Rob Reiner, The Bear
- Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Betty Gilpin, Widow’s Bay
- Outstanding Movie: Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: DTF St. Louis
- Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: DTF St. Louis
- Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series: Widow’s Bay
- Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series: The Pitt
- Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series: Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
- Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming: Palm Royale
These awards are part of the larger Creative Arts Emmy program, which recognizes many of the performers and behind-the-scenes professionals whose work helps bring television shows to life.
Julie Andrews Wins for ‘Bridgerton’
One of the most celebrated wins of Night 2 belonged to Julie Andrews.
The legendary actress won the Emmy for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her role as Lady Whistledown in Netflix’s Bridgerton.
Andrews does not appear on screen as Lady Whistledown. Instead, her distinctive voice has become an important part of the show’s storytelling.
The mysterious narrator introduces episodes, shares gossip about the characters, and helps create the show’s period-drama atmosphere.
The Emmy recognizes how important voice performance can be, even when the actor is not physically visible.
This was also another significant achievement for Andrews, who has continued to work creatively even after stepping away from regular on-screen acting.
According to reports, this is her second consecutive win in the category for the same Bridgerton role.
At 90, Andrews continues to have a strong connection with audiences through voice work, writing, and other creative projects.
Her Bridgerton Emmy is another reminder of the lasting impact she has had on entertainment.
Shailene Woodley Wins for ‘Paradise’
Shailene Woodley was another major acting winner on Night 2.
She won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in Hulu’s Paradise.
Woodley faced competition from several talented performers, including Brittany Allen, Tal Anderson, and Tina Ivlev from The Pitt, Miriam Shor from Pluribus, and Merritt Wever from The Gilded Age.
Her win adds another major television award to her career.
Woodley has worked across film and television for many years, with roles in projects such as The Fault in Our Stars, Big Little Lies and Divergent.
Her recognition for Paradise also shows how guest performances can make a strong impact even within large ensemble dramas.
‘South Park’ Wins Outstanding Animated Program
The Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program went to South Park.
The long-running animated comedy competed against several well-known shows, including Bob’s Burgers, Rick and Morty, The Simpsons, Smiling Friends, and Star Wars: Visions.
Winning this category is significant because animated television has become increasingly competitive.
South Park has remained an important part of television comedy for decades, and the latest Emmy adds another achievement to its long history.
The show’s ability to continue competing against newer animated series also demonstrates its lasting influence on the genre.
‘The Pitt’ Has a Strong Night
HBO‘s medical drama The Pitt also had an important night.
Ernest Harden Jr. won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his performance on the show.
The series also won Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series.
That means The Pitt was recognized not only for individual acting but also for the work involved in assembling its cast.
The drama had already entered the 2026 Emmy season as one of the year’s major contenders.
TVLine reported that The Pitt led the overall nomination count with 25 nominations, making its performance during the awards season one to watch closely.
Its Night 2 wins strengthen its position heading into the main Primetime Emmy ceremony.
Rob Reiner Receives a Posthumous Emmy
One of the most emotional moments of the night involved Rob Reiner.
The actor and filmmaker received the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in The Bear.
Reiner’s win was particularly meaningful because he died in December 2025.
His Emmy also created a notable piece of awards history.
According to The Guardian, the win came 48 years after his first acting Emmy for All in the Family, setting a new record for the longest gap between acting Emmy wins.
Reiner’s performance in The Bear therefore became more than another guest appearance.
It became the final Emmy chapter of a career that stretched across television, film and directing.
The moment also received a strong emotional response from people attending the ceremony.
Betty Gilpin Wins for ‘Widow’s Bay’
Betty Gilpin won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Apple’s Widow’s Bay.
The series was one of the biggest winners of Night 2, continuing a strong weekend for the Apple TV production.
Widow’s Bay ultimately led Night 2 with eight Emmy wins, according to Variety.
Its performance was particularly notable because it emerged as one of the weekend’s strongest performers despite being a relatively new title.
The show also won the Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series.
That combination of acting and casting recognition highlights the strength of its ensemble.
‘DTF St. Louis’ Scores Major Wins
Another major winner was DTF St. Louis.
The series took home several awards on Night 2, including wins for directing and writing in the limited-series or anthology-series/movie categories.
The project also earned acting recognition, helping make it one of the strongest performers among limited-series contenders.
Its success shows how competitive the limited-series category has become.
With audiences increasingly watching shorter television stories through streaming platforms, limited and anthology series have become an important part of the Emmy landscape.
‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ Wins Outstanding Movie
The Emmy for Outstanding Movie went to Remarkably Bright Creatures.
The title competed against Heads of State, Miss You, Love You, People We Meet on Vacation and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War.
The win gives the movie an important distinction during the 2026 awards season.
Movie categories at the Creative Arts Emmys often recognize television films and streaming productions that may not receive the same level of attention as major theatrical releases.
‘Love Story’ Wins for Casting
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette won Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Casting is an important part of bringing a historical or real-life story to television.
In a project based on recognizable public figures, finding actors who can effectively portray the central characters can greatly affect how audiences experience the story.
The Emmy therefore recognizes the team responsible for assembling the cast, rather than only the actors who appear on screen.
‘Palm Royale’ Wins for Choreography
Palm Royale took home the Emmy for Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming.
The category also included Bridgerton, Noah’s Arc: The Movie, Stumble, Wednesday, and Will Trent.
Choreography is one of the categories that shows why the Creative Arts Emmys are important.
Television production involves much more than acting and writing.
Dance, movement, costumes, makeup, cinematography, editing, sound, production design, and visual effects all contribute to the final product.
The Creative Arts ceremony gives these areas their own spotlight.
‘Spider-Noir’ Gets Recognition Despite Cancellation
Another interesting story from Night 2 was Spider-Noir.
The series won several technical awards, including recognition for cinematography and visual effects, according to reporting from the awards weekend.
Its success is notable because the series had already been canceled.
Awards recognition after cancellation can give a project additional attention and remind viewers of the creative work involved in its production.
It also demonstrates that Emmy voters can recognize individual achievements regardless of a show’s future.
‘I Love Lucy’ Receives the First Legacy Award
The Television Academy also introduced a new award during the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy celebrations.
The inaugural Legacy Award went to I Love Lucy.
The Academy said the award recognizes the show’s profound and generational impact on television, audiences and culture.
More than seven decades after its original run, I Love Lucy remains one of the most influential sitcoms in television history.
The Legacy Award therefore connects the current Emmy ceremony with the history of American television.
Creative Arts Emmys Are About More Than Acting
The Creative Arts Emmys are sometimes less visible than the main Primetime Emmy ceremony.
However, they represent a huge part of television production.
The awards recognize areas such as:
- Voice performances
- Guest acting
- Animation
- Casting
- Cinematography
- Editing
- Production design
- Costumes
- Makeup
- Hairstyling
- Choreography
- Visual effects
- Sound
- Music
- Writing and directing
This makes the Creative Arts ceremony important for understanding how television is actually produced.
A successful television series depends on hundreds of creative decisions, many of which happen away from the screen.
Night 1 Also Produced Major Winners
Night 2 was only part of the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy weekend.
The first ceremony took place on September 5 and focused on variety, reality, nonfiction and other categories.
The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show featuring Bad Bunny led Night 1 with seven awards.
The Traitors followed with six wins, while The Late Show with Stephen Colbert collected five.
Together, the two Creative Arts ceremonies honored more than 100 winners.
When Are the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards?
The main 78th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will take place on September 14, 2026.
The ceremony will be hosted by Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay and will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock.
Hargitay herself was among the winners during the Creative Arts weekend.
She received two awards for her HBO documentary My Mom Jayne, including Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
That creates an interesting situation for Hargitay as she moves from Emmy winner to Emmy host within the same awards season.
When Can Fans Watch the Creative Arts Emmys?
The two Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies will be combined into a single edited television broadcast.
The Television Academy announced that the program will air on FXX on September 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
This gives viewers a chance to see highlights and major moments from both nights before the main Emmy ceremony takes place.
Why Night 2 Matters for the Main Emmy Race
The Creative Arts results can provide clues about the momentum behind certain shows before the main Primetime Emmy Awards.
Shows such as The Pitt, Widow’s Bay, Pluribus, DTF St. Louis and Paradise have now added Emmy wins to their 2026 campaigns.
However, Creative Arts victories do not automatically predict the winners in the major series, lead acting or writing categories being presented on September 14.
The main ceremony will have its own set of competitive races.
Still, the results give audiences a clearer picture of which shows and performers have impressed Emmy voters.
Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026 Night 2: What Stands Out?
Several stories stand out from the second night.
Julie Andrews continuing her Emmy-winning run as Lady Whistledown is one of the biggest highlights.
Shailene Woodley’s win for Paradise gives the drama another strong moment.
The Pitt continues to demonstrate its strength across acting and casting categories.
South Park remains a major force in animation.
Widow’s Bay emerged as the night’s biggest overall winner with eight awards.
And Rob Reiner’s posthumous victory gave the ceremony one of its most memorable emotional moments.
The results also demonstrate the wide range of talent recognized by the Emmy Awards.
From veteran performers like Julie Andrews and Rob Reiner to newer television projects, the Creative Arts Emmys highlight the many different people responsible for creating television.
