‘I Love Lucy’ to Receive Television Academy’s First Ever Legacy Award

The Television Academy has finally revealed that the inaugural recipient of its Legacy Award will be the trailblazing sitcom “I Love Lucy,” which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

The new award is presented to a TV program that has made a profound, generational impact on audiences and society. The honor will come with a special Emmys tribute to the still-popular, still-relevant comedy co-created by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on the second night of the Creative Arts Emmys taking place on Sunday, September 6. 

“‘I Love Lucy’ truly helped define what television could be,” said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy, via statement. “Beyond its place in television and cultural history as one of the medium’s most beloved shows, its creative ambition, technical innovation, and groundbreaking approach to the business of television established a blueprint that continues to influence our industry 75 years later. We are proud to celebrate a series whose impact is so enduring as the first recipient of the Television Academy’s Legacy Award.”

In hindsight, one major clue that “I Love Lucy” was the frontrunner for the Legacy Award was the Television Academy-organized Televerse festival having a live script reading and panel conversation for the 75th anniversary of the CBS show, with current Emmy nominee Constance Zimmer playing Lucy Ricardo, “Star Trek: Discovery” star Wilson Cruz playing Ricky Ricardo, and “One Day at a Time” star Justina Machado playing Ethel Mertz. The cast also pulled off a similar event at the 2026 ATX TV Festival in June.

The Legacy Award honoree was selected by the Academy’s Board of Governors from candidates recommended by its Special Awards Committee.

The 78th Emmy Awards will be held over three nights, on September 5, 6 and 14. The September 14 ceremony, hosted by Emmy-winner Mariska Hargitay, will be broadcast live on NBC from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will stream live and on demand on Peacock. Nights one and two will be edited into a single broadcast, the 78th Emmy Awards (Creative Arts), airing Saturday, September 12, on FXX at 8 p.m. ET/PT, available to stream on Hulu the next day.