2026 Emmy Awards Feature Peacock-Blue Carpet and Mariska Hargitay Hosting

Television stars arrived at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles for the 2026 Emmy Awards, featuring a peacock-blue carpet to mark the 100th anniversary of NBC.

NBC Centennial Blue Replaces Tradition on the Red Carpet

Instead of the familiar vibrant crimson, television’s biggest night rolled out a peacock-blue arrival path at L.A. Live. The color choice served as a direct nod to the 100th anniversary of NBC, the network broadcasting the ceremony. Stars leaned into the oceanic palette or provided stark contrasts against the azure floor, wearing pale pinks and baby blues that shifted the traditional evening wear dynamic.

Among those matching the lighter aesthetic were “The Pitt” stars Katherine LaNasa and Supriya Ganesh, alongside Sarah Pidgeon, Emilia Clarke, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Abby Elliott, and Sara Foster. The visual departure set a distinct stage for a milestone broadcast year.

Mariska Hargitay Takes the Stage After Creative Arts Wins

In a departure from the traditional comedian-led opening, the evening found its master of ceremonies in a network stalwart. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay stepped into the hosting role following a historic personal milestone.

The actor arrived at the Peacock Theater already holding two Emmys secured during the previous week’s Creative Arts Emmys for her documentary, My Mom Jayne. That early hardware added extra weight to her 27th season leading the long-running NBC police procedural before she ever picked up a microphone to guide the main telecast.

Metals, Crystals, and Literal Statuary Dominate Fashion Choices

As always, the arrivals line turned into a high-stakes runway for the industry’s nominees and presenters. Zendaya continued her unbroken run of red-carpet spectacles, appearing in a custom Prada naked dress embellished with crystals while celebrating her nomination for the final season of Euphoria alongside stylist Law Roach.

Selena Gomez leaned into metallic opulence, channeling a gold Louis Vuitton gown that evoked the trophy itself. But it was Hacks actor Megan Stalter who took the concept to its literal extreme by arriving covered in body paint to transform into a literal Emmy statue.

Looking Back at Decades of Emmy Style Precedent

The 2026 arrivals arrived carrying the weight of decades of pop culture fashion history. The annual ceremony has long favored bold tailoring and archival nods, from Sarah Jessica Parker’s 2003 tribute to Carrie Bradshaw’s tutu in a pink tulle Chanel confection to Chloë Sevigny’s 2009 polka-dotted one-shoulder gown created by Isaac Mizrahi.

2026 Emmy Awards Feature Peacock-Blue Carpet and Mariska Hargitay Hosting — Photo: Vogue Arabia

More recent milestones included Cindy Crawford’s 1992 presentation look in a black satin bustier and beret, as well as Jenna Ortega’s Death Becomes Her-inspired Givenchy chandelier top from the previous year. Those past moments establish a lineage that the 2026 class continued with structural gowns, feathers, and sculptural tailoring from houses like Loewe, Chanel, and Balenciaga.