Heated Rivalry became the major victor at the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, capturing 16 of its 18 nominations at the ceremony held in Toronto on May 31st. The show's dominance included wins for Best Drama Series, Best Direction, Best Writing, and acting honours across multiple categories.

Williams' triumphant moment

Hudson Williams claimed the award for Best Lead Performer in a Drama Series, beating out fellow cast member François Arnaud and other contenders. In his acceptance speech, Williams spoke warmly about his collaborators, thanking author Rachel Reid for creating the Heated Rivalry universe, producers Brendan Brady and Jacob Tierney, his parents, and his girlfriend Katelyn Larson for her support. He also extended special acknowledgment to his co-star Connor Storrie, who plays the series' central Russian character, declaring that his own performance would not have been possible without Storrie's presence on screen.

A show built on chemistry

Heated Rivalry, a Canadian production that premiered in November 2025 on the streamer Crave and simultaneously on HBO Max in the US, has quickly become a global phenomenon. Beyond the acting honours, the show collected technical awards spanning costume design, sound, visual effects, cinematography, and art direction. The series' second season is already in development and is set to begin filming in July.

Emmy eligibility question

While the Canadian Screen Awards victory marks a significant achievement, the show faced ineligibility for this year's Emmy Awards due to its status as a 100 percent Canadian production with no US producers—HBO Max only joined as a distributor after production wrapped and weeks before release. Industry observers have questioned whether this technicality should affect the show's eligibility, especially given its enormous social media footprint and cultural impact among audiences worldwide.

Sources: Queerty, Out

Cover photo: TKA201, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

tv-drama

Hudson Williams wins Canadian Screen Award for Heated Rivalry lead role