The Creative Arts Emmy Awards, held in Los Angeles as a prelude to the main ceremony on 14 September, have turned Bad Bunny into one of the evening's biggest winners. The Puerto Rican artist took home seven statuettes for his halftime show at Super Bowl LX, a performance that has already made history.
The production, officially titled "The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny," arrived at this year's Emmys with a notable achievement already in hand. In July, it became the most-nominated halftime special in the awards' history, with nine nods, surpassing the record set by Lady Gaga in 2017.
The Television Academy recognised the show's technical ambition and creative flair with seven awards. Among them were Outstanding Music Direction for Brazilian conductor Miguel Gandelman, and Outstanding Choreography for Variety Programming for choreographers Charm La'Donna and Karina Ortiz. The show also won for technical direction, lighting design, sound mixing, and directing for a special programme.
Bad Bunny's presence at this year's Emmys extended beyond the Super Bowl. His hosting stint on Saturday Night Live in late 2025 earned the Emmy for Outstanding Makeup for Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Programming, adding to his growing collection.
It has been a record-breaking year for the artist, who already holds the 2026 Grammy and Latin Grammy, helping Spanish-language music become one of the most streamed and awarded genres globally. These seven Emmys continue that winning streak.
A continental message to millions
The singer used the largest audience on US television to promote a vision of America as a single continent, rather than a term reserved for the United States. The show concluded with a commemorative ball bearing the motto "Together we're America" (Juntos somos América), accompanied by a parade of flags and names of every country in the region, from Canada to Chile.
The nominations for this edition were announced by Puerto Rico-born actress Liza Colón-Zayas, known for her role in The Bear, alongside comedian Jeff Hiller. The 2026 Emmy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 14 September at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Other winners on the first night
Bad Bunny's success was not an isolated story on the first night of the Creative Arts Emmys. His Super Bowl show became the most awarded programme of the evening, with seven statuettes, ahead of The Traitors (six) and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (five).
Stephen Colbert's programme, which ended its eleven-year run in May, won for Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming for an episode featuring Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello, as well as Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Series for an instalment with Bruce Springsteen.
The Muppet Show on Disney+ collected four awards and won Outstanding Pre-Recorded Variety Special, beating Taylor Swift's tour farewell The Eras Tour: The Final Show. Sabrina Carpenter, who served as executive producer and performer, secured her first Primetime Emmy.
Other notable prizes included Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series for Mr. Scorsese on Apple TV, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Programme for Billy Joel: And So It Goes on HBO Max. The Blink Again segment from Sean Combs: The Reckoning on Netflix took the editing award for nonfiction programming.
In the music field, Miguel Gandelman became the third person to win Outstanding Music Direction for a Super Bowl halftime show, following Adam Blackstone (2022) and Kendrick Lamar with Tony Russell (2025). Tyler Strickland won Outstanding Music Composition for a documentary, nonfiction or reality programme for John Candy: I Like Me. Both earned their first Primetime Emmys.
Director Hamish Hamilton won Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special for the third time in four years, having previously won for Rihanna's halftime show in 2023 and the Oscars in 2024. Actress and director Mariska Hargitay received two awards for My Mom Jayne, a documentary about her mother Jayne Mansfield. She will also host the 78th Emmy Awards, broadcast live on NBC on 14 September.
Of the 49 categories presented on Saturday, these were the results. Another 53 will be handed out on Sunday, the second night of the Creative Arts Emmys. Only 19 of those will feature in the main televised ceremony. Highlights from both Creative Arts ceremonies will air on FXX on 12 September and stream on Hulu the following day.
