2026 Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients Announced; ‘Have I Got News For You’ Hosts Ceremony
The 2026 Sports Emmys and News & Documentary Emmys will take place over three consecutive nights next month, as announced by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The academy has revealed the recipients of this year’s lifetime achievement awards.
Steve Bornstein, a veteran sports media and entertainment executive, will be honored during the Sports Emmys on May 26. Emmy-winning ABC News journalist Martha Raddatz will receive accolades at the News Emmys on May 27, while acclaimed documentarian Sam Pollard is set to be recognized at the Documentary Emmys on May 28. Brief biographical details for each honoree follow.
All three ceremonies will be held at the Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan.
From left: ‘Have I Got News for You’ co-hosts Michael Ian Black, Roy Wood Jr, and Amber Ruffin
The co-hosts of CNN’s Have I Got News for You will serve as emcees for the awards ceremonies. Roy Wood Jr will lead the Sports Emmys, while Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black will handle responsibilities for the News and Documentary ceremonies, respectively.
These events will highlight achievements in American sports, news, and documentary broadcasting over the past year.
Here are the biographies of the lifetime achievement award honorees as provided by NATAS:
Steve Bornstein is a prominent figure in sports media and entertainment, boasting 40 years of experience in building influential global brands. He joined ESPN in 1980, shortly after the network’s inception, and became its youngest President and CEO by 1990. Under his leadership, ESPN launched several key initiatives, including ESPN2 and the X Games. Bornstein later served as President and CEO of NFL Network and held the position of EVP Media at the NFL. He currently leads the North American division of Genius Sports.
Martha Raddatz is ABC News’ chief global affairs correspondent and co-anchor of This Week. With decades of experience covering national security and foreign policy, she has reported from various conflict zones worldwide, including Iraq and Afghanistan. Raddatz has also moderated general election debates and is an acclaimed author with bestsellers including The Long Road Home and the upcoming The Hero Next Door.
Sam Pollard is an esteemed editor and documentary producer-director. His work includes editing multiple Spike Lee films from 1990 to 2010, as well as co-producing the Oscar-nominated documentary Four Little Girls. Pollard won awards for his involvement in documentaries such as When the Levees Broke, If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise, and was an executive producer on Netflix’s Katrina: Come Hell and High Water and The Perfect Neighbor.
