‘Heated Rivalry’ Wins Big at Canadian Screen Awards

Did Heated Rivalry win about as many awards as it could at the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards? Yes, it did, and honestly, are we surprised? A day after the show swept all the technical categories it was nominated for, as well as supporting actor and guest star, it came back with a bang to give Hudson Williams the award for Best Lead Performer and the show the win as Best Drama.

The show, which became an overnight sensation when it premiered late last year, was always going to have a good haul at the Canadian Screen Awards. We spoke a lot about its quality when it first premiered, and awards are about recognizing that. But perhaps the most remarkable thing about what the show achieved on the last weekend of May is that the show didn’t just get the big, buzzy awards. No, it also managed to sweep the categories people sometimes don’t think of.

Music. Cinematography. Casting. The categories that sometimes don’t get a lot of recognition. The ones people often don’t pay attention to. The names we often forget, even if they are such a big part of what makes our favorite shows so good.

Because yes, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are the show (oh, how we wish Connor could have been nominated, too!). But they wouldn’t have been able to give us the performances we can’t get out of our heads without Jacob Tierney and so many other people excelling at their jobs. So, as they’re celebrated by their peers, let’s take a moment to recognize the job well done. They deserve it.

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Here are the categories Heated Rivalry won:

Best Direction, Drama Series – Jacob Tierney

Best Writing, Drama Series – Jacob Tierney

Best Photography, Drama – Jackson Parrell

Best Picture Editing, Drama – Véronique Barbe

Best Sound, Fiction – Vincent Riendeau, Martin M Messier, Joe Scandella, Natalie Fleurant, Simon Meilleur, Eric Med Lagacé, Peter Lopata, Valéry Dufort-Boucher

Best Production Design or Art Direction, Fiction – Aidan Leroux, Alder Dunlap, James McCrindle

Best Costume Design – Hanna Puley

Best Visual Effects – Simon Devault, Philippe Massonnat, Christophe Trepanier, Felix Arsenault

Best Original Music, Drama – Peter Peter

Best Original Music – Original Song (“It’s You”) – Peter Peter

Best Supporting Performer, Drama – Sophie Nélisse

Best Guest Performance, Drama Series – Nadine Bhabha

Best Achievement in Casting, Fiction – Jenny Lewis, Sara Kay

Best Lead Performer, Drama Series – Hudson Williams

Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award

Best Drama Series

Do you think Heated Rivalry deserved all the wins? Share with us in the comments below!