The Television Critics Association (TCA) has unveiled the nominations for its 42nd annual awards, with Heated Rivalry, Industry, and Widow's Bay emerging as the most nominated programs of the year. Each series earned five nominations, underscoring their critical acclaim and growing influence across the television landscape.
Among the most prestigious categories is Program of the Year, where nominees include Heated Rivalry, Hacks, The Pitt, Pluribus, The Comeback, Widow's Bay, Industry, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The recognition for The Late Show comes amid the program's recent conclusion after a celebrated run under Stephen Colbert.
One of the year's biggest stories is the breakout success of Heated Rivalry, the hockey drama that has become both a critical and cultural phenomenon. In addition to its Program of the Year nomination, stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams both received Individual Achievement in Drama nominations, placing the co-stars in direct competition with one another.
The comedy categories are equally competitive. Acclaimed performers such as Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder of Hacks will face off in the TCA's non-gendered Individual Achievement in Comedy category, alongside a distinguished field of television talent.
This year's awards also mark an expansion for the TCA, which has introduced new categories recognizing achievements in animation and international programming. The additions reflect the increasingly global and diverse nature of television storytelling.
Among the nominees drawing mainstream attention is The Muppet Show: Sabrina Carpenter, which received a nomination in the Achievement in Variety, Talk, or Sketch category. The Disney+ and ABC special celebrated the 50th anniversary of the beloved franchise and featured Carpenter as both executive producer and guest star. During the special, she performed alongside Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy while helping introduce the iconic series to a new generation of viewers. The program will compete against industry heavyweights including The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Saturday Night Live.
Founded by more than 220 television journalists from the United States and Canada, the TCA Awards are widely regarded as one of the industry's most respected indicators of critical excellence. Winners will be announced later this summer through the organization's official social media platforms.
Here is the complete list of nominations for the 2026 TCA Awards:
Program of the Year
- The Comeback - HBO Max
- Hacks - HBO Max
- Heated Rivalry - Crave/HBO Max
- Industry - HBO Max
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - CBS
- The Pitt - HBO Max
- Pluribus - Apple TV+
- Shrinking - Apple TV+
- Widow's Bay - Apple TV+
Achievement in Comedy
- Abbott Elementary - ABC
- The Comeback - HBO Max
- The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins - NBC
- Hacks - HBO Max
- The Lowdown - FX
- Margo's Got Money Troubles - Apple TV+
- Shrinking - Apple TV+
- Widow's Bay - Apple TV+
Achievement in Drama
- The Gilded Age - HBO Max
- Heated Rivalry - Crave/HBO Max
- Industry - HBO Max
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - HBO Max
- Paradise - Hulu
- The Pitt - HBO Max
- Pluribus - Apple TV+
- Task - HBO Max
Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, or Specials
- All Her Fault - Peacock
- The Beast in Me - Netflix
- Beef - Netflix
- Death by Lightning - Netflix
- DTF St. Louis - HBO Max
- Half Man - HBO Max
- Lord of the Flies - Netflix
- Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette - FX
Outstanding New Program
- Alien: Earth - FX
- The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins - NBC
- Heated Rivalry - Crave/HBO Max
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - HBO Max
- The Lowdown - FX
- Margo's Got Money Troubles - Apple TV+
- Pluribus - Apple TV+
- Widow's Bay - Apple TV+
Individual Achievement in Drama
- Marisa Abela, Industry - HBO Max
- Sterling K. Brown, Paradise - Hulu
- David Harbour, DTF St. Louis - HBO Max
- Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt - HBO Max
- Ken Leung, Industry - HBO Max
- Myha'la, Industry - HBO Max
- Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus - Apple TV+
- Connor Storrie, Heated Rivalry - Crave/HBO Max
- Hudson Williams, Heated Rivalry - Crave/HBO Max
- Noah Wyle, The Pitt - HBO Max
Individual Achievement in Comedy
- Hannah Einbinder, Hacks - HBO Max
- Elle Fanning, Margo's Got Money Troubles - Apple TV+
- Harrison Ford, Shrinking - Apple TV+
- Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback - HBO Max
- Kate O'Flynn, Widow's Bay - Apple TV+
- Matthew Rhys, Widow's Bay - Apple TV+
- Jean Smart, Hacks - HBO Max
- Tim Robinson, The Chair Company - HBO Max
Achievement in News and Information
- 60 Minutes - CBS
- The American Revolution - PBS
- CBS This Morning - CBS
- Disneyland Handcrafted - Disney+
- Frontline - PBS
- Have I Got News for You - CNN
- Marty, Life Is Short - Netflix
- Mr. Scorsese - Apple TV+
Achievement in Variety, Talk, or Sketch
- The Daily Show - Comedy Central
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! - ABC
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - HBO Max
- Late Night with Seth Meyers - NBC
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - CBS
- The Muppet Show: Sabrina Carpenter - Disney+
- Saturday Night Live - NBC
Achievement in Reality
- Couples Therapy - Showtime/Paramount+
- Finding Mr. Christmas - Hallmark
- The Great British Baking Show - Netflix
- Love on the Spectrum - Netflix
- RuPaul's Drag Race - MTV
- Survivor - CBS
- Top Chef - Bravo
- The Traitors - Peacock
Achievement in Family Programming
- Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation - Disney+
- Electric Bloom - Disney+/Disney Channel
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Disney+/Hulu
- Phineas and Ferb - Disney+/Disney Channel
- Stranger Things: Tales from '85 - Netflix
- Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - Disney+/Disney Channel
- Wizards Beyond Waverly Place - Disney+/Disney Channel
- WondLa - Apple TV+
Achievement in Children's Programming
- Carl the Collector - PBS KIDS
- The First Snow of Fraggle Rock - Apple TV+
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ - Disney+/Disney Jr.
- Phoebe & Jay - PBS KIDS
- Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical - Apple TV+
- Sofia the First: Royal Magic - Disney+/Disney Jr.
- Weather Hunters - PBS KIDS
- The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball - Hulu
Achievement in Animation (New Category)
- Bob's Burgers - Fox
- Haunted Hotel - Netflix
- Invincible - Prime Video
- King of the Hill - Hulu
- Long Story Short - Netflix
- The Simpsons - Fox
- South Park - Comedy Central
- Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord - Disney+
- Women Wearing Shoulder Pads - Adult Swim
Achievement in International Series (New Category)
- The Boyfriend - Netflix
- Crime Scene Zero - Netflix
- Drops of God - Apple TV+
- The House of the Spirits - Prime Video
- Last Samurai Standing - Netflix
- Squid Game - Netflix
