How to Stream the 2026 Emmy Awards Red Carpet Live
NBC's red carpet preshow, hosted by Trisha Paytas and Nicky Campbell, will stream live on TikTok starting at 3:45 p.m. PT. The 78th Emmy Awards, hosted by Mariska Hargitay, air at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The ceremony leads with 'The Pitt' as top nominee with 25 nods.
The red carpet preshow marks a notable shift toward social platforms, with NBC choosing TikTok as the primary streaming home for its arrivals coverage rather than a traditional broadcast outlet. The Associated Press will run a separate livestream, giving viewers two concurrent options for watching celebrity arrivals.
The ceremony itself carries significant anniversary programming, including tributes to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's 30th year and Charlie's Angels' 50th, featuring original cast members. Noah Kahan's In Memoriam performance adds a musical element to the evening's commemorative segments. The Pitt's 25 nominations place it ahead of Hacks and Widow's Bay in what shapes up as a competitive race across streaming platforms.
This year's Emmys could signal how award-show consumption continues migrating from traditional broadcast to social and streaming platforms, potentially reshaping how audiences engage with live entertainment events. The TikTok-focused red carpet may particularly attract younger viewers who might otherwise skip the ceremony, while the dual livestream options reflect growing fragmentation in live-viewing habits. The ceremony's anniversary tributes could also drive nostalgic engagement across generations, though the ultimate cultural impact will depend on whether these digital-first strategies translate into sustained viewership beyond the event itself.