Night Two of the 2026 News & Documentary Emmys crowned Prime Minister as the top documentary prize winner. The HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films project follows Jacinda Ardern’s ascent to New Zealand’s 40th prime minister. The ceremony unfolded at Jazz at Lincoln Center, with Michael Ian Black hosting the evening.
In addition to the top award, the telecast highlighted several outstanding honors across categories. Simon Schama: The Holocaust, 80 Years On earned the prize for outstanding historical documentary, while Tiler Peck: Suspending Time won for arts and culture. Secrets of the Penguins from National Geographic took the prize in the nature category.
Selected category winners
- Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary — Lost in the Jungle
- Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary — Prime Minister
- Outstanding Social Issue Documentary — The Ride Ahead
- Outstanding Investigative Documentary — Critical Incident: A Death at the Border
- Outstanding Historical Documentary — Simon Schama: The Holocaust, 80 Years On
- Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary — Tiler Peck: Suspending Time
- Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary — The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice
- Outstanding Nature Documentary — Secrets of the Penguins
- Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary — Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media
- Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary — The Strike
- Outstanding Short Documentary — Projecting Protest
- Best Documentary — Prime Minister
- Outstanding Writing – Documentary — Underdogs
- Outstanding Research – Documentary — Turning Point: The Vietnam War
- Outstanding Direction – Documentary — 2000 Meters to Andriivka
- Outstanding Cinematography – Documentary — Heart of the Emperors; Secrets of the Penguins
- Outstanding Editing – Documentary — Cover-Up
- Outstanding Graphic Design – Documentary — In Waves and War
- Outstanding Music Composition – Documentary — Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey
- Outstanding Sound – Documentary — Underdogs
- Outstanding Lighting Direction – Documentary — Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders
- Outstanding Art Direction / Set Decoration / Scenic Design — Documentary — Songs From the Hole
- Outstanding Promotional Announcement — Documentary — Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember
- Outstanding Regional Documentary — Blue – The Life and Art of George Rodrigue
The night also honored veteran documentarian Sam Pollard with a lifetime achievement award.
Source: Original article
