For viewers in Brazil, the main ceremony of the 78th Emmy Awards is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. Brasília time. The Television Academy lists the start at 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (ET), which corresponds to 9:00 p.m. in Brasília on that date. For Latin America, Warner Bros. Discovery has confirmed a live broadcast on TNT on pay TV and HBO Max via streaming.
The detail most likely to cause confusion is the Creative Arts Emmys. They are not a symbolic “pre-Emmys” event or a separate awards program: they are part of the same 78th edition and award real Emmys across two earlier nights devoted to a large number of artistic, technical and production categories. In 2026, those ceremonies took place on September 5 and 6, before the main September 14 telecast.
Emmy 2026 in Brazil: start time and where to watch
The main ceremony begins at 9:00 p.m. on September 14, Brasília time. Warner Bros. Discovery has confirmed two live options for Latin America:
- TNT: the pay-TV broadcast;
- HBO Max: the live streaming option.
The regional TNT and HBO Max confirmation is available on the Warner Bros. Discovery LATAM page. The Television Academy, meanwhile, sets the main ceremony for September 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT, live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Mariska Hargitay will host.
Creative Arts vs. the main ceremony: what changes
Both parts belong to the same Emmy Awards, but they serve different roles in the schedule. The Creative Arts ceremonies handle many categories that cannot fit into the three-hour main telecast, including awards connected to cinematography, costumes, casting, editing, sound, makeup, visual effects, design and other crafts, as well as categories for formats such as variety, reality and nonfiction.
The split does not mean those awards are “less important.” The Television Academy itself explains that the breadth of recognized work is too large for a single telecast. In 2026, some categories that might look like main-night material were also moved to the earlier ceremonies, including writing for a variety series, supporting actor and actress in a limited series or movie, directing for a limited series or movie, and writing for a limited series or movie. The changes were published by the Television Academy.
The September 14 ceremony concentrates some of the categories with the highest general-audience visibility, including outstanding drama series, comedy series, limited or anthology series and lead performances, among other categories selected for the NBC telecast in the United States.
Why are there already winners before September 14?
Because the 2026 Emmys are spread across three nights: September 5, 6 and 14. The first two have already taken place at the Peacock Theater. The Television Academy has published the winners from September 5 and September 6. That is why headlines saying that series and professionals have “already won Emmys” before the main gala are accurate.
This also helps explain win totals: a program can enter the September 14 ceremony with several statuettes already earned in Creative Arts categories and still compete for major awards during the main show.
What is the Creative Arts program on September 12?
In the United States, the September 5 and 6 ceremonies will be condensed into an edited broadcast called The 78th Emmy Awards (Creative Arts), scheduled for Saturday, September 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on FXX. The Television Academy says that edited program will also be available on Hulu the following day.
The September 12 program should not be confused with the September 14 main ceremony. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery LATAM's current announcement confirms regional coverage of the September 14 event on TNT and HBO Max, but that same announcement does not confirm a Latin American airing of the edited Creative Arts special. For Brazilian viewers who want the main gala, the relevant date and time are therefore September 14 at 9:00 p.m..
Quick Emmy 2026 schedule
| Date | What happens | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Sep. 5 | First Emmy/Creative Arts night | Artistic, technical and production categories; already held. |
| Sep. 6 | Second Emmy/Creative Arts night | More awards are presented; already held. |
| Sep. 12 | Edited Creative Arts special in the U.S. | FXX at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT; it is not the main gala. |
| Sep. 14 | Main 78th Emmy Awards ceremony | 9:00 p.m. Brasília time; TNT and HBO Max in Latin America. |
What to check before you start watching
- Use 9:00 p.m. Brasília time as the reference for the start of the main ceremony on September 14.
- On pay TV, check the TNT schedule; for streaming, the live event is on HBO Max.
- If you see Emmy coverage dated September 12, check whether it refers to the edited Creative Arts special rather than the main gala.
- If the platform or channel later announces a local pre-show, check the schedule on the day itself, because the regional confirmation used for this guide specifies the September 14 live broadcast but does not provide a Brazil-specific pre-show time.
In short: to watch the main Emmy 2026 night in Brazil, mark Monday, September 14, at 9:00 p.m., on TNT or HBO Max. The Creative Arts ceremonies are part of the same edition, but their awards were handed out earlier, and the September 12 U.S. special is an edited version of those two nights, not the main gala.
