‘Law & Order’ Star Mariska Hargitay Will Be the First Woman to Host the Emmys in 15 Years

Awards show hosting gigs have become an increasingly hard sell over the past decade, with networks repeatedly turning to comedians as the safest bet for keeping audiences engaged through a marathon of acceptance speeches. That pattern is about to change in a significant way this fall.

NBC has spent months planning an extended celebration of its 100th anniversary, weaving that milestone into everything from primetime scheduling to its biggest live events of the year. That celebration now extends to one of television’s most prestigious nights, with the network tapping a familiar face from its own longest-running drama to lead the festivities.

Mariska Hargitay, star and executive producer of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” has officially been announced as host of the 78th Emmy Awards, making her the first woman to take on the role in fifteen years. Hargitay will lead the ceremony live from L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater on Monday, September 14, airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock, marking her first time hosting the show after previously appearing on the telecast multiple times as a presenter.

“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career. It’s my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards, in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC, and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers,” Hargitay said in a statement. Her selection makes her only the fourth woman this century to host the ceremony, following Ellen DeGeneres, Heidi Klum’s co-hosting stint and Jane Lynch, who last held the role back in 2011.

Television Academy chair Cris Abrego praised the decision to bring Hargitay into the hosting role, describing her as one of television’s most beloved and enduring figures. That sentiment reflects just how deeply Hargitay’s presence resonates across nearly three decades of the same character, having played Captain Olivia Benson since “SVU” premiered in 1999, making it the longest-running primetime live-action drama in American television history.

Hargitay’s own history with the Emmys runs deep beyond her hosting duties. She won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series award in 2006 for her role on “SVU” and has since earned eight additional nominations for the part. She’s also taken home a News and Documentary Emmy in 2019 for producing “I Am Evidence,” and her 2025 HBO documentary about her late mother, Jayne Mansfield, titled “My Mom Jayne,” remains eligible for consideration at this year’s ceremony.

Despite that extensive résumé, Hargitay revealed the offer wasn’t an immediate yes for her. Speaking on an August 13 appearance on “Today,” she described getting the call from NBC’s network head while backstage at a stage production, initially assuming she might be getting fired before realizing the network wanted her to host the Emmys instead, admitting it took her time to fully process the unexpected request.

Hargitay’s selection carries added significance given “SVU” enters its 28th season this fall and is set to hit its 600th episode, a milestone that underscores just how central her character has become to television history. She’s already appeared on last year’s Emmy ceremony as part of a tribute marking the “Law & Order” franchise’s 35th anniversary, making this year’s hosting role feel like a natural extension of her ongoing relationship with the awards show.

Nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards were announced ahead of the ceremony, setting the stage for what promises to be a notable night both for the shows and performers competing and for Hargitay’s own hosting debut. Given how rarely dramatic actors are chosen to lead these ceremonies compared to comedians, her selection represents a genuinely unconventional but well-received choice from NBC and the Television Academy.

With the ceremony now just weeks away, all eyes will be on whether Hargitay’s blend of warmth and gravitas translates smoothly into the comedic timing typically expected from awards show hosts.

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