The 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards delivered a night full of surprises, celebrations, and heartfelt moments, honoring the behind-the-scenes brilliance that powers television. From Julie Andrews making history at 89 with her third Emmy win to The Studio leading all shows with nine trophies and The Penguin dominating the limited-series categories, the evening highlighted just how much artistry goes into shaping the shows audiences love. With nearly 100 awards spread across two nights, the ceremony at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater set the stage for the upcoming Primetime Emmys while reminding everyone that the magic of television begins with its creators and craftsmen.
Julie Andrews makes Emmy history — at 89
Julie Andrews added another milestone to her storied career Saturday, taking home her third Emmy at age 89. The legendary performer won for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her work on Netflix’s Bridgerton — her first Emmy since 2005 — a rare late-career triumph that set the tone for an evening that celebrated the craftsmen and women behind television’s biggest shows.
The Studio sweeps the craft categories
Apple TV+’s satirical comedy The Studio led the Creative Arts haul, collecting nine Emmys across a wide range of technical and creative categories. The series scored for everything from cinematography and production design to casting and picture editing, plus multiple sound and costume honors — proof that the show’s parody of Hollywood also boasts serious filmmaking firepower. Winners from the series leaned into the show’s meta spirit onstage: nearly every recipient paused to shout out “Sal Saperstein,” a running gag lifted straight from the program.
One of the night’s more talked-about wins came for Adam Newport-Berra, who was honored for cinematography on the episode nicknamed “The Oner.” The episode itself plays as a single, unbroken shot — and Newport-Berra described it afterward as the creative summit the team aimed to reach, a technically ambitious sequence that mirrored the show’s premise of making art by pretending to.
The Penguin dominates limited-series crafts
HBO’s The Penguin emerged as the big winner in the limited-series craft race, amassing eight trophies. Its haul heavily favored behind-the-scenes departments: prosthetic makeup, visual effects, hairstyling, period/fantasy costumes, and multiple sound awards were among the prizes it picked up. Those wins underscored how the show’s period world and creature work relied on detailed practical and digital craftsmanship to bring Gotham’s underworld to life.
Drama and animation: other big winners
Disney+’s Andor performed strongly in the drama technical categories, taking four Emmys for areas such as costumes, production design, picture editing and special visual effects. Apple TV+’s Severance also fared well across multiple disciplines — including production design and title work — contributing to its tally of craft honors.
Animation also had a banner night: Riot Games’ Arcane won Outstanding Animated Program and picked up several juried animation achievement awards (background design, color, and more). Netflix’s Love, Death + Robots earned multiple individual animation recognitions as well.
Talent and small, memorable moments
Night one’s performer winners included Julianne Nicholson (Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks), Bryan Cranston (Guest Actor in a Comedy for The Studio), Shawn Hatosy (Guest Actor in a Drama for The Pitt) and Merritt Wever (Guest Actress in a Drama for Severance). The evening contained lighter — and human — moments: Bridgerton’s costume win was accompanied by a wardrobe mishap when period pants kept slipping on designer John Walter Glaser; The Daily Show’s Desi Lydic joked about having to watch “too much Fox News” while accepting a short-form award; and comedian Robby Hoffman briefly vaped onstage before announcing a cinematography winner.
Juried awards and single-category winners rounded out the list: Rebel Ridge won Television Movie, Octopus! (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) received a juried motion design honor, and a raft of sound, editing and effects prizes went to shows from across the streaming landscape.
What the Creative Arts Emmys mean — and what’s next
The Creative Arts ceremonies hand out nearly 100 trophies across two nights and function as the technical foundation for the main Primetime Emmy telecast. As presenter Maya Rudolph put it during the show, this is the awards night for the people who “make all the magic happen” — the crews whose work builds the worlds audiences watch.
The Creative Arts festivities continue with another slate of craft awards the next night; organizers have scheduled a broadcast of the Creative Arts show on FXX (Saturday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT) and have arranged streaming availability on Hulu through Oct. 7. The main Primetime Emmys follow live on CBS on Sept. 14, where many of the night’s nominated programs will compete for acting, writing and series prizes.
Bottom line
Saturday’s Creative Arts Emmys crowned technical excellence across the industry — from a surprise onscreen victory by a beloved icon (Julie Andrews) to blockbuster craft wins for shows such as The Studio and The Penguin. If the technical awards are any indication, the upcoming main telecast promises tight competition between programs that combined storytelling flair with top-tier production values.
