The Best Memes & Viral Moments Of The 2026 Emmy Awards

If there’s one thing you’ll need before watching the 2026 Emmy Awards, it’s tissues. The ceremony, which took place on Sept. 14 in Los Angeles, is honoring the year’s best television as usual, from The Pitt to Hacks. However, the show is also paying tribute to some of the brightest stars the world lost this past year, from Dolly Parton to Catherine O’Hara.

The 2026 Emmys are being hosted by Law & Order: SVU star (and inspiration for Taylor Swift’s cat Olivia Benson) Mariska Hargitay, marking the first time that a woman has emceed the ceremony in 15 years. Read on for the best memes and most viral moments from the awards show.

Mariska’s Monologue (feat. Nicole Kidman)

Hargitay delivered one of the most clever monologues of any awards show, joking that she can’t pronounce the word “finale” because... well, her show hasn’t had one. However, the peak moment came when she recreated Nicole Kidman’s iconic AMC commercials and recited her viral quotes, only for Kidman to shut it down in the most comedic way.

“Zip it, movie lady, it’s TV’s turn tonight,” Hargitay joked back, which even Kidman couldn’t fight.

Allison Janney Is Home Alone

After winning Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The Diplomat, Allison Janney couldn’t hide her shock. And instead of just burying her face in her hands, she accidentally did Macaulay Culkin’s iconic pose from the Home Alone poster. Naturally, it’s an instant meme.

Taylor Swift Investigates... Taylor Swift

Hargitay reprised her Law & Order: SVU role for the Emmys and asked the most important question: Will Swift attend the show? Poking fun at Swifties’ elaborate theories (yes, I felt attacked), she pulled out two crime boards and questioned every TV show’s Swiftian connection.

Then, Swift herself joined the team (with her cat Olivia in tow) as if she were a normal detective, concluding that she’d attend the Chiefs game instead — but would maybe do a pre-recorded sketch. And yes, she actually did go to the Chiefs game, proving her commitment to the bit.

Matthew Rhys Makes History

Keri Russell’s partner, Matthew Rhys, received his second Emmy early in the night, winning Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series for The Beast In Me. Not even an hour later, he won again, taking home Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay and becoming the first male actor to win two lead categories in the same year. As if that wasn’t enough, combined with his 2018 drama win for The Americans, he’s now the first male performer to receive Emmys in all three categories.

Reba Pays Tribute To Dolly

Dolly Parton received her flowers at the Emmys, starting with a touching tribute from her Steel Magnolias co-star Sally Field. Then, her close friend and fellow country legend Reba McEntire took the stage to perform a poignant rendition of her 1983 ballad “Appalachian Memories,” an inspired choice that also honored Parton’s beloved family and hometown in Tennessee. Ending the number with an emotional “I love you, Dolly,” McEntire reflected how every fan felt.

Catherine O’Hara’s On-Screen Kids Make Us Cry

Speaking of Home Alone, Culkin joined Schitt’s Creek stars Annie Murphy and Dan Levy to lead the Emmys’ In Memoriam tribute, giving a teary-eyed homage to their shared on-screen mom Catherine O’Hara. Together, the trio reflected on their favorite memories with the Emmy winner before Noah Kahan performed a rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” to honor the past year’s lost ones, ending with Jamie Lee Curtis honoring late directors James Burrows and Rob Reiner.