Heated Rivalry has swept all 13 technical categories it was nominated for in the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, and honestly, are we surprised? The show, which became an overnight sensation when it premiered late last year, was always going to have a good night. 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 May 30th is that… we haven’t even gotten to the big categories yet.
No, those will be presented during the main ceremony on May 31st.
Instead, these are 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. 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.
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
The show is still nominated for Best Drama Series and Best Lead Performer, Drama Series (both Hudson Williams and François Arnaud). Only Canadians can be nominated, which is why you won’t see Connor Storrie on the list, though he is already a winner in our hearts.
