Breaking News: 2026 Primetime Emmys Music Category Winners Unveiled!

The 2026 Primetime Emmys, formerly known as the Creative Arts Emmys, celebrated outstanding achievements in music across seven distinct categories over two nights. Held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, the event on Sunday, September 6 (night two), and Saturday, September 5 (night one), recognized a diverse array of talent, with several first-time winners and seasoned veterans adding to their accolades.

One of the most notable wins came in the Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics category, where Gavin Brivik and Andrew Bird emerged as 'giant-slayers'. They took home the Emmy for their song “Need Someone” from the hit drama series *The Pitt* (HBO Max). Their victory saw them surpass high-profile nominees such as Lady Gaga, who was recognized for “The Dead Dance” from *Wednesday*, and *South Park* creator Trey Parker, nominated for “Christian Woman”.

Apple TV's *Widow’s Bay* proved to be a strong contender, securing two of the seven music categories. David Fleming earned his second Primetime Emmy, winning Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) for his work on the show. He previously won for *Jim Henson Idea Man*. Additionally, Toko Nagata received her first Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Music Supervision on *Widow’s Bay*, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Another Apple TV hit, *Pluribus*, also garnered multiple Primetime Emmys, with Dave Porter receiving two. Porter was honored for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music and also for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) as a scoring mixer on the show. These marked his first Primetime Emmys, highlighting his significant contribution to the series.

In the category of Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score), Sean Callery and Sara Barone were recognized for their work on Netflix’s *The Beast in Me*. This win brought Callery's Primetime Emmy total to five, building on his previous successes for *24* (three wins) and *Marvel’s Jessica Jones*. For Sara Barone, this marked her inaugural Primetime Emmy win.

The first night of the pre-telecast Emmys on Saturday, September 5, saw two major music awards presented. Miguel Gandelman secured the Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction for his work on *The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny*. Gandelman's win placed him among an elite group, as he became the third person to win this award for a Super Bowl Halftime Show, following Adam Blackstone and Kendrick Lamar with Tony Russell in previous years. Furthermore, Tyler Strickland was awarded Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary/Nonfiction or Reality Program for *John Candy: I Like Me* (Prime Video), celebrating his contribution to non-fiction storytelling through music.