The Emmy Awards may be all about celebrating television’s biggest achievements, but some of the most memorable moments happen away from the stage — in selfies, backstage photos and candid social media posts.
Over the years, stars have used Emmy night to capture everything from glamorous red-carpet looks to hilarious behind-the-scenes moments with costars, friends and family.
At the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys, several stars added fresh moments to the long list of memorable Emmy snapshots. The Handmaid’s Tale star Amy Landecker crossed paths with Heated Rivalry actor Connor Storrie, while Linda Cardellini documented the emotional moment she received her Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Mariska Hargitay also had a major night, winning for her HBO Max documentary special My Mom Jayne. One fan caught up with the Law & Order: SVU star after the ceremony while she was still carrying her Emmy.
Lisa Rinna brought her signature fashion energy backstage as well, sharing glamorous footage from the event while wearing vintage Tom Ford.
The Emmys have also delivered plenty of memorable reunions over the years.
In 2025, Hargitay reunited with former Law & Order: SVU costar Christopher Meloni, giving longtime fans another Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler moment. Meloni also posed with Hargitay and Ice-T during the ceremony and snapped photos with Sydney Sweeney and Tony Goldwyn from their seats.
The Game of Thrones cast created one of the most iconic Emmy selfies in 2019 after winning Outstanding Drama Series. Sophie Turner, Alfie Allen, Peter Dinklage, Maisie Williams and other cast members gathered backstage to celebrate the victory.
Veep also produced several classic Emmy moments. Tony Hale once joked about taking a “loser photo” with his costars even after the series won Outstanding Comedy Series, while earlier photos captured Hale, Anna Chlumsky and Julia Louis-Dreyfus hanging out together during commercial breaks.
Some celebrity selfies have been more playful than glamorous.
Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake stuck their tongues out at the camera on their way to the 2018 Emmys, with Biel joking that they were a group of “professional mature adults.”
Heidi Klum shared her own pre-show strategy that year by reclining in the car to avoid wrinkling her dress.
Rachel Bloom took an even less glamorous approach in 2017, posting a photo of herself sitting on a toilet as part of her “red carpet prep.”
Other Emmy snapshots have focused on friendship.
Busy Philipps celebrated best friend Michelle Williams in 2019, while Mandy Moore posed with This Is Us costar Susan Kelechi Watson in matching pink looks.
Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington created a memorable pandemic-era Emmy moment in 2020 when they watched the remotely held ceremony together at a socially distanced gathering.
Celebrity encounters have also produced unexpected pairings, from Diplo partying with The Bear star Matty Matheson to Zach Braff posing with Josh O’Connor and Brett Goldstein.
Looking even further back, Amy Schumer showed fans her hotel room service as part of her 2015 Emmy preparation, while Jimmy Kimmel posted a photo of Matt LeBlanc giving him the middle finger during the ceremony.
Whether glamorous, goofy or emotional, these selfies have become a second layer of Emmy history — showing fans what happens before, during and after television’s biggest night.
