2018 Emmy Winners: The Complete List of Award Winners and Industry Impact

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards, held on September 17, 2018, saw HBO’s Game of Thrones reclaim its throne as Outstanding Drama Series, while Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel dominated the comedy categories. This ceremony marked a pivotal shift in television history as streaming services reached a tipping point, with Netflix and HBO tying for the most total wins.

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards: Historical Context and Overview

The 2018 Emmy Awards arrived during a period of massive transition for the television industry. Often referred to as the era of "Peak TV," the sheer volume of high-quality scripted content made the competition for the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards more intense than in previous decades. The ceremony was broadcast on NBC and hosted by Saturday Night Live "Weekend Update" anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost.

The 2018 awards were defined by three major storylines: the return of Game of Thrones after a year of eligibility absence, the sweep by a freshman comedy on a streaming platform (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and the symbolic tie between the traditional prestige powerhouse, HBO, and the streaming disruptor, Netflix. Both networks finished the 2018 Emmy cycle with 23 wins each (including Creative Arts Emmys), signaling that the "Streaming Wars" had officially moved into a phase of total parity with premium cable.

For viewers and historians looking back from 2026, the 2018 winners list represents a specific cultural moment where established legends were honored alongside the rising stars of the digital age. It was a year where veteran actors like Henry Winkler and Matthew Rhys received long-overdue recognition, while newcomers like Rachel Brosnahan and Darren Criss cemented their status as industry leaders.

Drama Series Winners: A Return to Form and Final Farewells

In the drama categories, the narrative was split between the sheer scale of fantasy epics and the intimate, grounded storytelling of spy thrillers and historical dramas.

Outstanding Drama Series: Game of Thrones

After being ineligible for the 2017 awards due to its production schedule, Game of Thrones returned to win the top prize for its seventh season. This win reinforced the show's status as the most dominant force in television history, despite the increasing competition from more "grounded" prestige dramas. The win for Season 7 was seen by many critics as a reward for the show’s technical ambition and cultural footprint, which remained unmatched in the landscape of 2018.

Lead Actor and Actress in a Drama

One of the most celebrated moments of the night was Matthew Rhys winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the final season of The Americans. Rhys’s win, alongside a Writing win for the show’s series finale, "Start," was widely viewed as a "justice win" for a show that had been a critical darling for six years but often overlooked by the Television Academy.

On the female side, Claire Foy took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the second season of The Crown. This was Foy’s final season in the role before the cast was rotated for the show’s third season, making it a poignant farewell to her transformative performance.

Supporting Performers in Drama

Peter Dinklage won his third Emmy for his role as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones, setting a record for the most wins in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category (at the time). Meanwhile, Thandiwe Newton (credited as Thandie Newton) won Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as Maeve Millay in Westworld. Newton’s win was a testament to the complex, philosophical nature of her character’s "awakening" in the show’s second season.

Comedy Series Winners: The "Maisel" Sweep

If the drama categories were a battle of titans, the comedy categories were a coronation for Amazon Prime Video.

Outstanding Comedy Series: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel became the first show from a streaming service to win Outstanding Comedy Series. The show’s first season was a whirlwind of fast-paced dialogue, vibrant 1950s production design, and sharp feminist commentary. Its victory ended the three-year winning streak of HBO’s Veep (which was not eligible in 2018 due to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s health-related production hiatus).

Record-Breaking Night for Amy Sherman-Palladino

The show’s creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, made history by becoming the first person to win in both the Writing and Directing categories for a comedy series in the same year. Her wins for the pilot episode highlighted her unique rhythmic style and the technical difficulty of the show’s "one-shot" long takes.

Comedy Acting Honors

Rachel Brosnahan won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, while her co-star Alex Borstein won Outstanding Supporting Actress. These wins underscored the "Maisel" dominance. In the male categories, Bill Hader won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the first season of Barry, a dark comedy about a hitman trying to become an actor. Perhaps the most emotional win of the night was Henry Winkler for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Gene Cousineau in Barry. It was Winkler’s first Emmy win in a career spanning over four decades, famously ending a "losing streak" that began with his nominations for Happy Days in the 1970s.

Limited Series and Movie Categories: High-Stakes Storytelling

The 2018 Limited Series categories featured some of the most star-studded and critically acclaimed productions of the year.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

FX’s second installment of the American Crime Story anthology took home the award for Outstanding Limited Series. The show was praised for its non-linear structure and its exploration of homophobia in 1990s America. Darren Criss won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his chilling portrayal of serial killer Andrew Cunanan, a performance that transitioned him from a musical theater star to a serious dramatic heavyweight.

Regina King and the Power of "Seven Seconds"

In a surprise but well-deserved win, Regina King took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Netflix’s Seven Seconds. Despite the show having been canceled after one season, King’s powerhouse performance as a grieving mother seeking justice was undeniable. This win was a precursor to King’s incredible run of awards in subsequent years, including her Oscar win for If Beale Street Could Talk.

Complete List of 2018 Primetime Emmy Winners (Main Categories)

The following table summarizes the winners across the major Primetime Emmy categories for the 70th annual ceremony.

Variety and Reality Programming: Breaking Barriers

The variety and reality sectors of the 2018 Emmys saw long-standing favorites continue their streaks while others broke historical barriers.

• RuPaul's Drag Race: In a landmark win, RuPaul's Drag Race won Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, ending the multi-year reign of The Voice. This was a significant moment for LGBTQ+ representation on mainstream television and signaled the show's transition from a niche hit to a cultural phenomenon.
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: John Oliver continued HBO’s dominance in the Variety Talk category, winning for the third consecutive year. The show's blend of deep-dive investigative journalism and comedy remained the gold standard for the genre.
• Saturday Night Live: The legendary sketch show won Outstanding Variety Sketch Series. As the host network for the ceremony (NBC), SNL had a strong presence throughout the night, with many of its cast members appearing in sketches and as presenters.

The Writing and Directing Awards: Creative Excellence

Behind the scenes, the 2018 Emmys rewarded creators who pushed the boundaries of traditional television structures.

In the Drama field, Stephen Schiff won Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for The Americans finale, "Start," providing a perfect send-off for the acclaimed series. Stephen Daldry won Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for The Crown episode "Paterfamilias," which explored the traumatic childhood of Prince Philip.

In the Limited Series field, Ryan Murphy won for Directing The Assassination of Gianni Versace, further cementing his status as the most influential producer in modern television. William Bridges and Charlie Brooker won the Writing award for the Black Mirror episode "USS Callister," which also won the award for Outstanding Television Movie.

The Creative Arts Emmys: Technical and Guest Honors

While the Primetime ceremony gets the most viewership, the Creative Arts Emmys (held a week prior) provide a more comprehensive look at the industry. In 2018, the Creative Arts Emmys were notable for several reasons:

1. Anthony Bourdain's Posthumous Wins: Following his tragic passing earlier in the year, Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown won six Emmys, including Outstanding Informational Series or Special. It was a moving tribute to his impact on global storytelling and food culture.
2. Guest Acting Winners: Tiffany Haddish won for hosting Saturday Night Live, while Ron Cephas Jones won for This Is Us. Samira Wiley won for The Handmaid’s Tale, and Ed Diehl won for The Crown.
3. HBO vs. Netflix: The Creative Arts ceremony is where Netflix made up significant ground. By winning heavily in technical categories like Cinematography, Sound Editing, and Picture Editing (largely for The Crown and GLOW), Netflix was able to match HBO’s total win count for the first time in history.

Industry Impact: The Significance of the 2018 Winners

The 2018 Emmy winners reflect a year where the "old guard" and the "new wave" lived in a delicate balance. HBO proved it could still win with massive, expensive spectacles like Game of Thrones, but Amazon and Netflix proved they could win on the strength of character-driven storytelling and auteur-led projects.

This was also a year of increased diversity in the winners' circle. From Regina King and RuPaul to the cast of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the Television Academy showed a growing (though not yet perfect) commitment to recognizing a broader range of voices and experiences.

From the vantage point of 2026, we can see that 2018 was the beginning of the "Golden Age of Streaming Dominance." Within a few years of this ceremony, the landscape would be further complicated by the launches of Disney+, Apple TV+, and Max, but the 2018 Emmys remain the moment when the industry acknowledged that the digital future had finally arrived.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the most Emmys in 2018?

In terms of networks, HBO and Netflix tied for the most wins with 23 each across the Primetime and Creative Arts ceremonies. In terms of individual shows, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was the biggest winner at the Primetime ceremony with 5 wins (8 total including Creative Arts), while Game of Thrones led the overall count with 9 total wins.

Did Game of Thrones win Best Drama in 2018?

Yes, Game of Thrones won Outstanding Drama Series in 2018 for its seventh season. This was its third win in the category, following wins in 2015 and 2016.

Why was Julia Louis-Dreyfus not nominated in 2018?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her show Veep were not eligible for the 2018 Emmys. Production on the final season was delayed while Louis-Dreyfus underwent treatment for breast cancer. She returned to the Emmys in 2019.

Which streaming service won Outstanding Comedy Series first?

Amazon Prime Video became the first streaming service to win Outstanding Comedy Series with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel at the 2018 Emmy Awards.

How many Emmys did Anthony Bourdain win in 2018?

Anthony Bourdain's show Parts Unknown won six Emmys posthumously in 2018, including Outstanding Informational Series or Special and Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming.

Final Recommendation for Researchers and Fans

To fully understand the 2018 Emmy landscape, it is recommended to view the winning episodes of The Americans ("Start") and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ("Pilot"). These two productions represent the peak of their respective genres during this era—one a masterful conclusion to a slow-burn drama, the other a vibrant, high-energy introduction to a new era of comedy. For those tracking the evolution of television, the 2018 winners list serves as the definitive map of the industry's transition from traditional cable dominance to the streaming-first world of today.