British television productions claimed the spotlight at the 53rd International Emmy Awards, with the period drama Rivals and the comedy series Ludwig securing the top prizes in their categories. The ceremony, held in New York City on November 24, 2025, saw the United Kingdom win a total of seven awards, solidifying its strong presence in global television.
The awards celebrate the best television programs produced and first aired outside the United States. This year’s winners were selected from a record 64 nominees across 16 categories, representing 26 countries. The gala was hosted by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos and also honored industry leaders with special awards.
Complete List of International Emmy Awards 2025 Winners
Here is the full list of winners from the 53rd International Emmy Awards ceremony.
| Category | Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Drama Series | Rivals | United Kingdom |
| Comedy Series | Ludwig | United Kingdom |
| Best Actor | Oriol Pla (Yo, adicto) | Spain |
| Best Actress | Anna Maxwell Martin (Until I Kill You) | United Kingdom |
| TV Movie/Mini-Series | Lost Boys and Fairies | United Kingdom |
| Documentary | Hell Jumper | United Kingdom |
| Telenovela | Deha (The Good & The Bad) | Türkiye |
| Current Affairs | Dispatches: Kill Zone: Inside Gaza | United Kingdom |
| News | Gaza, Search for Life | Qatar |
| Arts Programming | Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days | Japan |
| Non-Scripted Entertainment | Shaolin Heroes | Denmark |
| Sports Documentary | It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football | Spain |
| Kids: Animation | Bluey | Australia |
| Kids: Factual & Entertainment | Auf Fritzis Spuren | Germany |
| Kids: Live-Action | Fallen | United Kingdom |
| Short-Form Series | La Médiatrice (The Mediator) | Canada |
A Closer Look at the Major Winners
Rivals, which won for Best Drama Series, is a Disney+ production set in the 1980s. Based on Jilly Cooper’s popular novel, the show follows the scandalous lives of wealthy and powerful media figures in the fictional English county of Rutshire. Its ensemble cast includes David Tennant, Aidan Turner, and Danny Dyer. The show’s success comes as it prepares for a second series.
The award for Best Comedy Series went to Ludwig, a BBC production. The series stars David Mitchell as a puzzle-writing misfit who impersonates his missing twin brother, a police detective, to help solve the mystery of his disappearance. The show also features Anna Maxwell Martin, who won her award for a different project.
Other Notable British Wins
The United Kingdom’s seven awards highlighted the diversity of its programming. Anna Maxwell Martin won the Best Actress award for her lead role in the ITV true crime mini-series Until I Kill You. The drama is an adaptation of Delia Balmer’s autobiography about her relationship with a serial killer.
The TV Movie/Mini-Series category was won by the BBC’s Lost Boys and Fairies, a three-part drama that tells the emotional story of a gay couple navigating the adoption process in Cardiff. Another BBC production, Hell Jumper, won the Documentary award for its first-person footage of volunteers in Ukraine.
In the Current Affairs category, Channel 4’s Dispatches: Kill Zone: Inside Gaza was victorious. The documentary provides a raw look at the impact of the Israeli military assault on Gaza, as seen through the eyes of children, journalists, and doctors.
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Key Winners from Around the World
While the UK dominated, other countries also celebrated significant wins. Spain’s Oriol Pla took home the Best Actor award for his performance in the Disney+ drama Yo, adicto (I, Addict), which follows a man’s journey to overcome addiction. Spain also won the Sports Documentary category for It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football, a Netflix film that chronicles the aftermath of the Rubiales scandal in Spanish soccer.
Australia’s beloved children’s show Bluey won for Kids: Animation, maintaining its global popularity. Denmark’s Shaolin Heroes, a reality show where contestants leave their conventional lives to train in martial arts, won for Non-Scripted Entertainment. Türkiye’s Deha (The Good & The Bad) won the Telenovela category.
Special Honors of the Night
The ceremony also presented two special awards. The International Emmy Founders Award was given to Dana Walden, the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, in recognition of her three-decade career in television. During her speech, Walden highlighted the importance of creative risk-taking.
“I know this award is typically given to the people who create the stories. And rightfully so. But I view this honor as recognition of a vital partnership,” Walden said. “One that exists between the creator who dreams the dream, and the team that believes in it enough to clear the path.”
The International Emmy Directorate Award 2025 was presented to João Roberto Marinho, chairman and president of Brazil’s Grupo Globo, honoring his leadership and the company’s legacy in independent journalism.
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