Heated Rivalry claims TCA’s top prize as Widow’s Bay becomes biggest winner

Heated Rivalry has taken home the top honour at the 2026 Television Critics Association Awards, winning Program of the Year, while Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay emerged as the ceremony’s biggest winner with three awards.

The HBO Max series, starring Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, received the prestigious Program of the Year award but did not win in any other category. Creator Jacob Tierney thanked the Television Critics Association and congratulated the other nominees following the show’s victory.

Meanwhile, Widow’s Bay won Outstanding Achievement in Comedy, Outstanding New Program and Individual Achievement in Comedy for Kate O’Flynn. The horror comedy entered the TCA Awards with five nominations, matching Heated Rivalry and Industry for the most nominations.

The show’s star Matthew Rhys accepted the series awards in a video appearance, joking about the fictional island’s beaches, seafood and lobster before his connection was interrupted.

The Pitt also continued its awards success by winning Outstanding Achievement in Drama for the second consecutive year. Rhea Seehorn won Individual Achievement in Drama for Pluribus, becoming the first performer to win the category for two different shows after previously taking the prize for Better Call Saul in 2023.

Stephen Colbert was another major winner, receiving both the Career Achievement Award and Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Other 2026 TCA Awards winners included Death by Lightning, The Traitors, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Long Story Short and Squid Game. In Living Color received the Heritage Award.

For the sixth time in seven years, the TCA Awards did not have an in-person ceremony, with winners accepting their honours through video appearances.