Hockey, horror comedy and hospital drama lead the way at the 2026 TCA Awards.
Heated Rivalry skated off with the marquee Program of the Year prize Thursday as the Television Critics Association revealed the winners of its 42nd annual awards. Widow’s Bay topped all programs with three trophies including Outstanding Comedy, and HBO Max’s The Pitt built on its leading 25 current noms with a TCA win for Outstanding Achievement in Drama.
Apple TV freshman Widow’s Bay followed its scary-good 19 Emmy nominations with additional TCA wins for Outstanding New Program and Individual Achievement in Comedy for star Kate O’Flynn. Rhea Seehorn snagged the Individual Achievement in Drama award for Apple TV’s Pluribus. Both actresses also are up for Emmys next month.
HBO Max’s smash Heated Rivalry isn’t eligible for Emmy consideration because it was fully funded and produced by Canadian outfit Crave (Bell Media). Per Television Academy rules, a U.S. partner must be intrinsically involved in production.
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Netflix’s Death by Lightning struck with a TCA Award in the Movies, Miniseries or Specials category, while Peacock’s The Traitors snuck off with the Reality prize. Other big winners included CBS’ recently wrapped The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch and PBS’ The American Revolution in the News and Information category.
Stephen Colbert also was honored with the 2026 Career Achievement Award. TCA’s other special honoree is the groundbreaking 1990-94 sketch comedy series In Living Color.
Netflix’s Long Story Short and Squid Game scored respective wins for Animation and International Series.
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Here are the winners of the 2026 TCA Awards:
Program of the Year
Heated Rivalry, Crave / HBO Max
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
Widow’s Bay, Apple TV
Outstanding Achievement in Drama
The Pitt, HBO Max
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries or Specials
Death by Lightning, Netflix
Outstanding New Program
Widow’s Bay, Apple TV
Individual Achievement in Drama
Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus, Apple TV
Individual Achievement in Comedy
Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay, Apple TV
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information
The American Revolution, PBS
Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS
Outstanding Achievement in Reality
The Traitors, Peacock
Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Disney+
Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical, Apple TV
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Long Story Short, Netflix
Outstanding International Series
Squid Game, Netflix
Career Achievement
Stephen Colbert
Heritage Award
In Living Color
