From Variety · Selome Hailu · · 1m
Emmys draw 6.7 million viewers
NBC’s Monday Emmys slipped from last year, but beat the show’s recent Monday benchmarks.
In brief
NBC’s Monday Emmys slipped from last year, but beat the show’s recent Monday benchmarks. The 2026 Emmys were down from 2025, but the Monday-night context makes the result stronger than the topline drop suggests. Originally reported by Variety.
NBC draws 6.7 million
The 78th Emmy Awards reached 6.7 million viewers on NBC on Monday night, according to Nielsen.
“hit 6.7 million viewers on Monday night”
Down from last year
That audience was 9% below the 2025 ceremony on CBS, which pulled in 7.4 million viewers.
“a 9% decrease from last year’s ceremony”
Sunday helped 2025
Last year’s show aired on a Sunday, a friendlier slot for a three-hour awards telecast than Monday night.
Monday comparison looks better
Compared with Fox’s Monday Emmys in 2024, NBC’s telecast was up 41% from 4.4 million viewers.
“NBC accomplished a 41% increase”
NFL skewed 2024
The 2024 Emmys faced an NFL playoff game, so Variety points to NBC’s 2022 Monday show as the cleaner comparison.
“the most accurate comparison is perhaps to NBC’s own Monday night Emmys in 2022”
NBC beats its benchmark
Against NBC’s 2022 Monday Emmys, the 2026 show improved 10%, rising from 5.9 million to 6.7 million viewers.
“made a 10% improvement”
What to remember
The 2026 Emmys were down from 2025, but the Monday-night context makes the result stronger than the topline drop suggests.
