Mariska Hargitay is slated to host the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. The Law & Order: SVU actress, who received the news fresh off her Broadway debut in Every Brilliant Thing , will host the 2026 Emmys, NBC announced on Tuesday, July 7.

Hargitay acknowledged the news in a statement, saying, “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.”

She continued, “Whether it’s an actor or a director, a costumer or a sound designer, we are all so privileged to take part in creating television that unites us,” she added. “Regardless of how, where or when we watch, we are together in our laughter, our tears, our love of stories — and our delighted anticipation to see what happens next.”

The actress Hargitay has been nominated 8 times for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Olivia Benson on SVU, and she won the award in 2006. She is due to return to Law & Order: SVU to film her 28th season.

The hosting announcement is part of a larger theme of the ceremony, celebrating women-led performances and contributions to the entertainment industry. On July 8th, the Television Academy released the 78th Emmy Nominations Announcement, revealing that 39 women were nominated for acting performances across the 12 primary lead, supporting, and guest acting categories for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, which includes the limited series and Creative Arts categories, priming the awards to be women-centric.

The Emmys will air live on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, on NBC and Peacock.