The 18th annual Dorian TV Awards celebrated the best in television, with ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Hacks’ emerging as the biggest winners of the night. The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) announced the winners on Saturday, August 15, 2026, honoring shows across mainstream and LGBTQ-themed programming.
Both series took home four awards each, making them the most recognized programs at this year’s ceremony. HBO Max led all networks with 10 total wins, while Apple TV secured five awards and Netflix followed with four.
‘Heated Rivalry’ Wins Best Drama and Best LGBTQ TV Show
The Canadian romantic hockey drama ‘Heated Rivalry’ proved to be a favorite among critics. The show won Best TV Drama and Best LGBTQ TV Show, solidifying its place as one of the year’s most acclaimed series.
Actor François Arnaud took home the award for Best Supporting TV Performance – Drama for his role as a closeted veteran hockey player who comes out on the ice. Series creator Jacob Tierney received the GALECA LGBTQIA+ TV Trailblazer honor for “creating art that inspires empathy, truth and equity”.
The show’s win in the LGBTQ category came ahead of strong competition including ‘The Comeback’ , ‘Hacks’ , ‘Half Man’ , and ‘Pluribus’ .
‘Hacks’ Final Season Earns Comedy and Writing Awards
The showbiz satire ‘Hacks’ , a longtime favorite with GALECA voters, won Best TV Comedy and Best Written TV Show for its fifth and final season.
Star Jean Smart won Best TV Performance – Comedy, marking her third consecutive win in this category. Smart’s performance in the final season of the HBO Max series continues to earn critical praise.
Hannah Einbinder , who stars alongside Smart, received the Wilde Wit Award, a special honor from GALECA. Lisa Kudrow was named a GALECA TV Icon for her performance in the final season of ‘The Comeback’ .
“What excites me most about this year’s Dorian winners is the range—the swooning devotion of Heated Rivalry, the tender complexity of The Boyfriend, the bravery that cuts through Half Man, and the community memory being kept alive in Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery.”
— Gerrick Kennedy, GALECA Vice President and TV awards chair
Apple TV Shows Shine with Acting and Genre Wins
Apple TV had a strong showing at the Dorians with two new series earning recognition.
Rhea Seehorn won Best TV Performance – Drama for her role in the post-apocalyptic dark comedy ‘Pluribus’ . The show also tied with FX/Hulu’s ‘Alien: Earth’ for Most Visually Striking TV Show.
The horror-comedy ‘Widow’s Bay’ was named Best Genre TV Show, with Kate O’Flynn winning Best Supporting TV Performance – Comedy.
Other Major Category Winners
‘Half Man’ , starring Richard Gadd, won Best TV Movie or Limited Series. ‘Squid Game’ took home Best Non-English Language TV Show. The Japanese reality hit ‘The Boyfriend’ won Best LGBTQ Non-English Language TV Show.
Bad Bunny won Best TV Musical Performance for his Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. ‘The Traitors’ won Best Reality Show for the third consecutive year.
‘South Park’ won Best Animated Show, and ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ won Best Current Affairs Show.
‘Boots’ , the gay military comedic drama, won Best Unsung TV Show eight months after its cancellation by Netflix. ‘Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery’ won Best LGBTQ TV Documentary or Documentary Series. ‘The Hunting Wives’ was named Campiest TV Show.
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Special Honors for Lisa Kudrow and Hannah Einbinder
Lisa Kudrow received the GALECA TV Icon Award for her work in the final season of ‘The Comeback’ . Kudrow, known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in ‘Friends’ , has been a cultural touchstone for the LGBTQ community.
Hannah Einbinder received the Wilde Wit Award for her comedic work on ‘Hacks’ . The award recognizes sharp wit and humor in television.
HBO Max dominated the evening with 10 total awards, including wins for ‘Heated Rivalry’ , ‘Hacks’ , and ‘Half Man’ . Apple TV followed with five wins, and Netflix earned four.
The Dorian TV Awards, now in their 18th year, continue to highlight the diversity and quality of LGBTQ-inclusive programming across television and streaming platforms.
Also Read: Heated Rivalry Season 2 Star Edvin Ryding Faces Backlash Over Alleged Social Media Activity
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