Given the fact that Mariska Hargitay has been steering Law & Order: SVU for 27 years (!!) now, it’s safe to say she was the perfect choice to host the 2026 Emmys last night. She is, after all, a TV legend.
There was even more to celebrate: Hargitay was also the first woman to host the Emmys in 15 years. “When I first heard that, I was genuinely surprised,” Hargitay tells Vogue post-event. “Of course I understand the significance of it, and I’m incredibly proud to be that woman. But I also hope the next woman doesn’t have to wait another 15 years. There are so many brilliant, funny, fearless women who could stand on that stage.”
Her opening monologue certainly did not disappoint. “NBC is celebrating its 100th year, and I’ve been on Law & Order for all of them,” was one of many zingers. There were skits with Taylor Swift, and even a musical number with Andrew Rannells. “I love television,” Hargitay says. “I’ve spent so much of my life making it, and I very much understand how many people it takes to tell these stories and make them matter. So the idea of getting to stand in that room, and celebrate this community, felt incredibly special.”
My mother’s diamond. She’s always with me.
Photo: Adir Abergel
While she certainly made her Emmys hosting gig look easy, there was a lot of prep work that went into making the night one to remember. “Let’s be honest, it’s a little terrifying,” says Harigtay. “But I’m in a season of my life where I’ve been presented with opportunities that terrify me a bit, so I thought, Why not? It’s important for us all to remember that we can do hard things.”
So what exactly went into her grand lead-up to the Emmys? First and foremost, it was getting the jokes down—and the right jokes. Luckily, she had the best team Hollywood could offer. “I was lucky enough to have gotten to work with the Emmy-winning writers of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and it has been one of the greatest creative experiences of my career,” says Hargitay. “As well as the incredible producing team of the Emmys, led by the legendary Jesse Collins. So the truth is, I knew that everything was going to be great, because I was working with the greatest.”
