Noah Kahan to perform during 2026 Emmys 'In Memoriam' segment

The announcement adds Kahan to the musical lineup for this year’s ceremony, with the Stick Season singer bringing his folk-pop sound to one of the Emmys’ most poignant moments.

Kahan’s selection of Bridge Over Troubled Water is particularly fitting for an In Memoriam tribute, with the song having become one of the most recognisable musical expressions of comfort, support and resilience since its release by Simon & Garfunkel in 1970.

The performance will accompany a tribute to members of the television community who have died since the previous Emmy ceremony. The segment is expected to honour a number of notable figures from across acting, production and other areas of the entertainment industry.

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will be hosted by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay. The ceremony will air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and will recognise television programmes and performers from the past awards season.

Kahan’s appearance comes as the singer continues a major run of success following the release of his music and his rise from singer-songwriter favourite to one of the biggest names in contemporary folk-pop. The Emmy performance also gives Kahan an opportunity to step outside the traditional concert setting and perform a song that has been embraced by generations of listeners.

Alongside the In Memoriam segment, this year’s Emmy ceremony will feature a special tribute to the late Dolly Parton. Emmy producers have confirmed that the country music icon will be honoured during the telecast, although details about the tribute have largely been kept under wraps.

The ceremony will also honour Michael J. Fox with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his work supporting Parkinson’s research and advocacy. The 2026 Emmys arrive after the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which took place earlier in September and recognised achievements across a range of technical and creative categories.

The main ceremony will bring together this year’s leading television nominees, including stars and shows competing for the night’s biggest awards. For Kahan, however, the focus will be on remembrance. His performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water will provide the musical backdrop as the television industry pauses to remember colleagues and performers who have died in the past year.

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on September 14, with Kahan’s In Memoriam performance forming one of the ceremony’s most anticipated musical moments.