Heated Rivalry dominates 2026 Canadian Screen Awards

It's the biggest night in Canadian entertainment — and the fan-favourite hockey drama Heated Rivalry is poised to dominate as the Canadian Screen Awards wrap up with their marquee finale on Sunday.

The series enters the night riding on a red-hot winning streak after collecting 13 awards from its 18 nominations during Saturday night's gala for scripted television. Now it's set to battle it out for several of the evening's top prizes, including best drama series and best lead performer.

Fans have been lining the red carpet at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto, where the event is being held, hoping to catch a glimpse of the show's stars, Hudson Williams and Sophie Nélisse, whose performances have helped turn the series into a worldwide sensation. The show has been steaming up TV screens with its romance between two hockey players played by Williams and Connor Storrie.

Nélisse, who plays Williams' on-screen girlfriend Rose Landry and who nabbed a Screen Award for best supporting performer on Saturday, will be presented with this year’s Radius Award. It's an honour that recognizes individuals whose work has gained international recognition and contributes to Canada’s global reputation.

Sunday's gala will be hosted by Calgary-born actor, comedian and Kim’s Convenience star Andrew Phung, who gushed earlier this week about the Canadian content experiencing a wave of mainstream recognition this year.

"There's so many projects that hit critical mass this year," Phung told CBC’s Griffin Jaeger at Thursday's rehearsal. "Eyes are on our industry, eyes are watching our projects, fans have found things they love.... I'm just so excited to be a part of it — and honestly, it's genuinely an honour to be able to host this night."

Another Canadian juggernaut poised to make a strong showing is the CBC/Netflix Arctic sitcom North of North, leading all nominees with 20 nominations.

The Nunavut-shot series has already picked up seven awards, including best writing and best supporting performer during Saturday's gala. It remains in the running for some of the top prizes, including best comedy series and best lead performer for Anna Lambe.

Meanwhile, R.T. Thorne's post-apocalyptic thriller 40 Acres has already claimed all nine awards for which it was nominated and will look to complete the sweep by snagging the brass ring for best motion picture.

Potentially standing in its way is Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, the acclaimed comedy that has already collected several awards, including best supporting performance in a comedy for Matt Johnson, who also directed and co-wrote the film.

Sunday night's ceremony will also honour comedian, Mike Myers. The Toronto-born star will be on hand to receive the Icon Award, recognizing his ongoing contributions to the industry both at home and abroad.

Best known for his career-defining roles in Austin Powers and Wayne's World, the Saturday Night Live alum also became known recently for popularizing the cultural phrase "elbows up" in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to annex Canada.

Myers' appearance is fitting on a history-making night for the Canadian Screen Awards. For the first time, the ceremony will be broadcast across multiple networks and streaming platforms, including CBC, CTV and Global. Organizers billed the expanded broadcast as a celebration of Canadian culture and a show of support for homegrown talent.

Arguably, few artists embodied that homegrown spirit more than Catherine O'Hara. The beloved Canadian actor, who died in March, was also honoured during Sunday's ceremony with a heartfelt tribute from her longtime friend and Schitt's Creek and SCTV co-star Eugene Levy.

The celebration of O'Hara's decades-long career also served as the introduction to the evening's emotional in memoriam segment, featuring a performance by Tia Wood that paid tribute to the artists and industry figures who died over the past year.

Below is a list of the nominees in the major categories to be presented at Sunday night's ceremony. The list will be updated with the winners as the show goes on.

Best Motion Picture

• Jennifer Holness, 40 Acres
• Ryan Bobkin, Sara Wylie, Sophy Romvari, Blue Heron
• Hany Ouichoi, The Cost of Heaven | Gagne ton ciel
• Laurie Pominville, Hany Ouichou, Eric K. Boulianne, Follies | Folichonneries
• Kim McCraw, Luc Déry, Lovely Day | Mille secrets mille dangers
• Matthew Miller, Matt Greyson, Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie
• Alireza Khatami, Michael Solomon, The Things You Kill
• Samuel Cohn-Cousineau , Jonathan Frantz, Wrong Husband | Uiksaringitara

Performance in a Leading Role, Drama | Meilleure interprétation dans un premier rôle, drame

• Jasmin Geljo, Cat’s Cry
• Milya Corbeil Gauvreau, Fanny
• Grace Glowicki, Honey Bunch
• Nina Kiri, Out Standing
• Michaela Kurimsky, Sweet Angel Baby
• Marlene Jewell, There, There
• Noah Parker, Who by Fire | Comme le feu
• Theresia Kappianaq, Wrong Husband | Uiksaringitara
• **WINNER: Grace Glowicki, Honey Bunch

Performance in a Leading Role, Comedy | Meilleure interprétation dans un premier rôle, comédie

• Eric K. Boulianne, Follies | Folichonneries
• Catherine Chabot, Follies | Folichonneries
• France Castel, The Furies | Les Furies
• Neil Elias, Lovely Day | Mille secrets mille dangers
• Jay McCarrol, Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie
• Patrick Hivon, Peak Everything | Amour Apocalypse
• Karine Gonthier-Hyndman, Two Women | Deux femmes en or
• Laurence Leboeuf, Two Women | Deuz femmes en or
• **WINNER: Jay McCarol, Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie

Best Lead Performer, Drama Series

• Supinder Wraich, Allegiance
• Michelle Morgan, Heartland
• François Arnaud, Heated Rivalry
• Hudson Williams, Heated Rivalry
• Kathleen Munroe, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent
• Carolina Bartczak, Plan B
• Melanie Scrofano, Revival
• Allan Hawco, Saint-Pierre
• **WINNER: Hudson Williams, Heated Rivalry

Best Lead Performer, Comedy

• Meaghan Rath, Children Ruin Everything
• Jasmeet Raina, Late Bloomer
• Mary Walsh, The Missus Downstairs
• Anna Lambe, North of North
• Jermaine Richards, The Office Movers
• Meredith MacNeill, Small Achievable Goals
• Jennifer Whalen, Small Achievable Goals
• Anastasia Phillips, The Trades
• **WINNER: Anna Lambe, North of North

Best Comedy Series

• Children Ruin Everything
• Late Bloomer
• North of North
• Son of a Critch
• The Trades

Best Drama Series

• Heated Rivalry
• Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent
• Plan B
• Saint-Pierre
• Wild Cards

Radius Award

Academy Icon Award

Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism

For a complete list of 2026 Canadian Screen Awards winners and nominees, please visit the official site here.