ABC News and National Geographic Dominate 2026 News & Documentary Emmy Awards
ABC News and National Geographic emerged as the standout winners during the first night of the 2026 News & Documentary Emmy Awards, held at the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. The event celebrated excellence in journalism, recognizing outstanding contributions in various categories.
Major Award Winners
ABC’s flagship program, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, secured the award for Outstanding Live News Program. In a notable achievement for CNN, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper received the award for Outstanding Recorded News Program. Overall, ABC News garnered a total of eight awards, while National Geographic’s Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller won seven Emmys. CNN followed with four awards.
The ceremony was hosted by Amber Ruffin, who guided the audience through an evening of recognition and celebration. Debra O’Connell from ABC presented the lifetime achievement honors to Martha Raddatz, an Emmy and Peabody-winning correspondent. Sam Pollard, an Emmy-winning documentarian and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, is set to receive his own lifetime achievement award on Thursday.
Statements from Industry Leaders
Adam Sharp, president and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, emphasized the historical significance of journalism in his remarks. He stated that the revolutionary generation’s commitment to public freedom, underscored by the First Amendment, has inspired generations of writers, publishers, and broadcasters to advocate for the public’s right to know. Sharp noted that journalists serve as “torchbearers for the public right to know and to speak.”
Presenters and Participants
The event featured a diverse array of presenters, including Lisa Abramowicz from Bloomberg, Jason Bellini from Scripps, and Jim Cantore from The Weather Channel. Other notable presenters included Jeremy Diamond from CNN, Vanessa Hauc from Telemundo, and Hallie Jackson from NBC News. The presence of seasoned journalists and media personalities highlighted the importance of the awards within the industry.
Winners in the documentary categories are expected to be announced on Thursday, further expanding the recognition of excellence in journalism.
Complete List of Night One Winners
- Outstanding Live News Program
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir
ABC News - Outstanding Recorded News Program
The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper
CNN Worldwide - Outstanding Live Breaking News Coverage
“U.S. Army’s Grand Military Parade”
ABC News Special Report
ABC News - Outstanding Extended Breaking News Coverage
“The Fires”
60 Minutes
CBS News - Outstanding Live News Special
“American Catastrophe: LA Burning”
20/20 & ABC World News Tonight
ABC News - Outstanding Recorded News Special
“The Children of Gaza”
ABC News Live
ABC News [ABC News Studios] - Outstanding Continuing Coverage: Short Form
Earthquake in Myanmar
BBC News - Outstanding Continuing Coverage: Long Form
“Along the Green Line”
The Guardian - Outstanding Light Feature: Short Form
“What Japan’s Atom Bomb Survivors Have Taught Us”
Retro Report - Outstanding Light Feature: Long Form
“Operation Babylift: The 50 Year Journey”
20/20 & ABC News Live
ABC News - Outstanding Hard News Report: Short Form
“The War in Gaza”
60 Minutes
CBS News - Outstanding Hard News Report: Long Form
“Chasing a Ghost: The Search for Austin Tice”
CNN Worldwide - Outstanding Investigative Coverage: Short Form
“DOGE Package”
The New York Times - Outstanding Investigative Coverage: Long Form
“Strike On Iran: The Nuclear Question”
Frontline | PBS [The Washington Post | Bellingcat | Evident Media] - Outstanding News Discussion & Analysis
“Deport Them All: Who’s to Blame for Springfield’s Immigrant Crisis?”
More Perfect Union - Outstanding Interview: Short Form
CNN’s Jeremy Diamond Presses Hamas Official on Suffering in Gaza
CNN Worldwide - Outstanding Interview: Long Form
“Eric Dane Speaks”
ABC News [ABC News Studios] - Outstanding War or Violent Conflict Coverage
“Kids Under Fire”
Fault Lines
Al Jazeera International USA - Outstanding Science & Tech Coverage
“Scam City”
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
Muck Media [National Geographic] - Outstanding Climate, Environment or Weather Coverage
“Shark Hunters”
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
Muck Media [National Geographic] - Outstanding Health or Medical Coverage
“The Tranq Dope Underground”
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
Muck Media [National Geographic] - Outstanding Arts, Culture or Entertainment Coverage
“Underground Street Racing”
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
Muck Media [National Geographic] - Outstanding Business, Consumer or Economic Coverage
“The Zombie Debts Making Wall Street Rich”
Bloomberg Investigates
Bloomberg Originals - Outstanding Social Issue Coverage
“Black Market Love”
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
Muck Media [National Geographic] - Outstanding True Crime Coverage
Wicked Game: Devil in the Desert
ABC News Studios - Technical Excellence: News
Live from the Southern California Fires
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir
ABC News - Outstanding Emerging News Journalist
Hanako Montgomery
CNN Worldwide - Outstanding Journalist in Spanish Language
Victor Valles Mata
TelevisaUnivision - Outstanding News Program in Spanish
“Jorge Ramos: Asi Veo las Cosas”
I’m Back
Tres Alebrijes LLC - Outstanding Breaking News Story in Spanish
“Cobertura de los Incendios en Los Ángeles”
Noticias Telemundo con Julio Vaqueiro
Noticias Telemundo - Outstanding Investigative News Coverage in Spanish
“Sobreviviendo al CECOT”
ProPublica | The Texas Tribune | Alianza Rebelde
Investiga | Cazadores de Fake News - Outstanding Feature News Story in Spanish
“Estatus: Venezolano”
ProPublica | FRONTLINE FEATURES [ProPublica | FRONTLINE] - Outstanding Writing: News
“Kids Under Fire”
Fault Lines
Al Jazeera International USA - Outstanding Research: News
“Brides for Sale”
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
Muck Media [National Geographic] - Outstanding Direction: News
“Black Market Love”
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
Muck Media [National Geographic] - Outstanding Video Journalism: News
“Filmed In Gaza”
NBC News - Outstanding Editing: News
Filmed In Gaza
NBC News - Outstanding Graphic Design: News
Johnny Harris
Newpress - Outstanding Cold Open or Title Sequence: News
“How New Magnets Could Power the Future”
Bloomberg Primer
Bloomberg Originals - Outstanding Promotional Announcement: News
“The Substance and Soul of the South”
AJC [Jam Entertainment] - Outstanding Regional News Story: Breaking/Spot News
Hurricane Francine Live Rescue
WDSU - Outstanding Regional News Story: Investigative
“Inspecting the Inspectors”
KMOV-TV
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-05-28 07:21:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk