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Emilia Clarke, Gwendoline Christie and Kit Harington have been fixtures in HBO's medieval fantasy series, which grabbed top award for best drama series.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, star of HBO political satire "Veep", also hit the purple carpet early.

"Veep" and returning Emmy champ "The Marvelous Mrs Maisel" from Amazon Studios were in the running for best comedy series, but the prize ultimately went to "Fleabag".

It was a big night for British comedian Phoebe Waller-Bridge thanks to her buzzy shows "Killing Eve" and also "Fleabag," which drew 20 Emmy nominations between them.

Director Ava DuVernay and the five men known as the Central Park Five, whose wrongful arrests in New York three decades ago are dramatized in the Emmy-nominated "When They See Us," also walked the purple carpet.

"Pose" star Billy Porter sported a crystal-studded black suit and an enormous hat.

The 71st Emmy awards show, chosen by members of the Television Academy, was broadcast live on Fox.

Already the most-awarded series in Emmy history with 38 wins, "Game of Thrones" landed a record 32 nominations for its final season, including nine for its actors, despite a fan uproar over the conclusion of the series.

The haul for "Game of Thrones" helped cable channel HBO lead all comers with 137 Emmy nominations this year, ahead of Netflix with 117, reflecting the battle for dominance between traditional outlets and streaming services.