List of Emmy Award Winners 2025: Who Took Home the Awards?

The Emmy Award is a prestigious honor given to actors, writers, directors, producers, and others in the TV industry. It was first awarded in 1949. On September 14, 2025, the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.

The ceremony was hosted by American actor and stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze, organized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and aired on CBS and Paramount+.

The network channels to receive maximum awards were HBO/HBO Max, Netflix, Apple TV+, ABC, and FX. The programs with major wins are The Studio, The Penguin, Adolescence, Severance, and Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special.

Here is the complete list of all Emmy Award winners 2025.

Best Drama Series
The Pitt

Best Comedy Series
The Studio

Best Limited or Anthology Series
Adolescence

Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Noah Wyle, The Pitt

Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Britt Lower, Severance

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Tramell Tillman, Severance

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt

Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Seth Rogen, The Studio

Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Jean Smart, Hacks

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Jeff Hiller, Somebody Somewhere

Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Stephen Graham, Adolescence

Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Cristin Milioti, The Penguin

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Owen Cooper, Adolescence

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Erin Doherty, Adolescence

Best Writing for a Drama Series
Dan Gilroy, Andor

Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham, Adolescence

Best Writing for a Comedy Series
Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Frida Perez, The Studio

Best Writing for a Variety Series
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

Best Reality Competition Program
The Traitors

Best Talk Series
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Best Scripted Variety Series
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

Best Structured Reality Program
Queer Eye

Best Directing for a Comedy Series
Seth Rogen, The Studio

Best Directing for a Drama Series
Adam Randall, Slow Horses

Best Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Philip Barantini, Adolescence

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Merritt Wever, Severance

Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Bryan Cranston, The Studio

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Julianne Nicholson, Hacks

Best Game Show
Jeopardy!

Best Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program
Alan Cumming, The Traitors

Outstanding Animated Program
Arcane

Outstanding Television Movie
Rebel Ridge

Best Variety Special (Live)
SNL50: The Anniversary Special

Best Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Best Documentary Or Nonfiction Series
100 Foot Wave

Best Documentary Or Nonfiction Special
Pee-wee as Himself

Best Documentary Or Nonfiction (Hosted Nonfiction)
Conan O’Brien Must Go

The 77th Emmys turned into a grand, star-studded night, celebrating exceptional talent from every corner of the TV world. ((The Guardian))

Emmy Awards: History and Evolution

The Emmy Awards are one of the most prestigious honors in the global television industry. They recognize excellence in television programming, including acting, directing, writing, and technical achievement.

Established in the mid-20th century, the Emmys have evolved alongside television itself, reflecting changes in technology, storytelling, and viewing habits.

Origins of the Emmy Awards

The Emmy Awards were founded in 1949 by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) in the United States.

At the time, television was a relatively new medium, and there was a growing need to recognize creative and technical achievements distinct from film and radio.

The name “Emmy” is derived from “Immy,” a nickname for the image orthicon camera tube, an early television technology.

The term was later feminized to “Emmy,” and the statuette was designed as a winged woman holding an atom, symbolizing art and science.

The first Emmy Awards ceremony was held on January 25, 1949, in Hollywood, California. That inaugural event honored only local Los Angeles television programs, reflecting the regional nature of early television broadcasting.

Expansion to National Recognition

In 1955, the Emmy Awards expanded beyond local programming to include national television shows, marking a major shift in scope. This expansion coincided with the rapid growth of television networks across the United States.

To manage the increasing scale of the awards, multiple organizations were formed:

• Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS): Oversees Primetime Emmys
• National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS): Oversees Daytime Emmys, News & Documentary Emmys, and Sports Emmys
• International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences: Oversees the International Emmy Awards
• Each organization focuses on specific segments of the television industry.

Introduction of Different Emmy Categories

As television diversified, the Emmy Awards introduced specialized ceremonies:

• Primetime Emmy Awards (established formally in the 1950s) honor evening television programming
• Daytime Emmy Awards (first held in 1974) recognize daytime shows such as talk shows and soap operas
• International Emmy Awards (established in 1973) honor television produced outside the United States
• News & Documentary Emmys and Sports Emmys were later added to recognize journalism and sports broadcasting
• This separation allowed more precise evaluation of programming across genres and time slots.

Technological and Cultural Impact

The Emmy Awards have mirrored major technological changes in television. Early ceremonies focused on live broadcasts and black-and-white programming.

As color television, cable networks, and satellite broadcasting emerged, the scope of eligible content expanded.

In the 1990s and 2000s, the rise of cable television brought new competitors, such as HBO, AMC, and FX, which challenged traditional broadcast networks. This period marked a shift toward more complex storytelling and higher production values.

In the 2010s, streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu became eligible for Emmy consideration, fundamentally reshaping the awards landscape. Streaming series now regularly compete with, and win against, traditional television programs.

Emmy Awards in the Modern Era

Today, the Emmy Awards recognize hundreds of categories across multiple ceremonies each year. They remain a benchmark of quality and peer recognition within the television industry.

The voting process involves thousands of television professionals who evaluate submissions within their areas of expertise. This peer-review system is intended to maintain industry standards and credibility.

The Emmy Awards also serve as a historical record of television’s evolution, highlighting shifts in genre popularity, representation, and production style over decades.

Since their establishment in 1949, the Emmy Awards have grown from a regional ceremony into a global institution celebrating television excellence.

Their history reflects the transformation of television from a local broadcast medium into a diverse, international industry.

As television continues to evolve through new platforms and technologies, the Emmy Awards remain a central measure of achievement and innovation in the field.