At the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys held in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 5, Jimmy Kimmel secured the award for Outstanding Host for a Game Show for ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, Jeopardy! captured the prize for Outstanding Game Show during the same ceremony.
The Bottom Line
- The Winner: Jimmy Kimmel won Outstanding Host for a Game Show at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys, repeating his victory from the previous year.
- The Franchise: Jeopardy! picked up the win for Outstanding Game Show on the same night.
- The Broadcast: The Creative Arts Emmys are scheduled to air on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FXX, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.
Inside the Creative Arts Emmys Race for Daytime and Variety Dominance
Late-night fixture and comedian Jimmy Kimmel added another trophy to his mantel this weekend. The win highlights ABC’s enduring success with its primetime revival of the classic trivia format, which Kimmel has steered since 2020.
Steve Harvey earned a nomination for Celebrity Family Feud, Ken Jennings contended for Jeopardy!, Colin Jost stepped up for Pop Culture Jeopardy!, and Martin Short represented Match Game.
How the Nominees Stack Up in Modern Television
The following breakdown maps out the nominated hosts and their respective programs from the 2026 ballot.
| Host | Show |
|---|---|
| Jimmy Kimmel | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire |
| Steve Harvey | Celebrity Family Feud |
| Ken Jennings | Jeopardy! |
| Colin Jost | Pop Culture Jeopardy! |
| Martin Short | Match Game |
Each nominee brings a distinct background to the podium. Steve Harvey, who has hosted Celebrity Family Feud for 11 years, relies on years of stand-up timing and crowd interaction. Ken Jennings, who took over hosting duties following the passing of Alex Trebek in November 2020, roots his hosting style in his historic 74-game winning streak as a contestant back in 2004. Meanwhile, Colin Jost brought his Saturday Night Live “Weekend Update” sensibilities to the genre with the 2024 debut of Pop Culture Jeopardy!.
The Legacy of Millionaire and the Road to September 12
Kimmel’s continued success with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire builds on a foundation first popularized in the U.S. by Regis Philbin. Following his win last year, Kimmel paid homage to the original host in the press room, noting that the franchise likely wouldn’t still be on the air without Philbin’s initial run.
Beyond his game show accolades, Kimmel remains a multi-threat presence for ABC. His flagship late-night program, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, secured nominations this season in both the Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series and Outstanding Variety Series categories.
Fans looking to watch the ceremonies unfold on television will have to wait just a bit longer. The Creative Arts Emmys broadcast is set for Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FXX, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
