What to know
- Queer projects are making a major impact at the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards
- Heated Rivalry earned 18 nominations across major television categories
- Settle Down leads the digital media field with nine nominations
- Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance received recognition in the documentary category
- The awards ceremony takes place on Sunday at Toronto’s Canadian Broadcasting Centre
Toronto, the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards are set for this Sunday, and it’s a big year for Queer stories.
Hosted by Canadian comedian Andrew Phung, the 14th annual Canadian Screen Awards is set for this Sunday at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto, honouring the 2025 achievements of Canadian film, television and digital media production.
Last year, 2SLGBTQ+ stories had a moment, and that is definitely reflected in the nominations for this year’s awards. Here are three major Queer projects up for awards at this year’s event.
Heated Rivalry
If you haven’t heard of Heated Rivalry, you may be living under a rock. The Queer hockey romance series stole the hearts of Canadians, Queer, straight and cisgender alike, with intense yearning, relatable storylines, and well… hockey.
Showrunner Jacob Tierney recently told Queer & Now that he thinks a major reason the series did so well is the fact that it brings audiences a Queer lovestory with a happy ending. And Canadians’ affinity for Shane Hudson and Ilya Rosonov’s love story is apparent, with “Heated Rivalry” earning 18 nominations in the television category.
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Notable nods include Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady for Best Drama Series,
Jacob Tierney for Best Direction, Drama Series, and Best Writing, Drama Series. Stars Hudson Williams and François Arnaud were both nominated for Best Lead Performer in a Drama Series, while Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova and Sophie Nélisse were both nominated for Best Supporting Performer in a Drama.
In addition to nominations for her work on “Heated Rivalry”, Nélisse is also set to receive the Radius Award. The honour is given annually to a Canadian whose work is gaining significant international recognition and acclaim, celebrating individuals who are expanding the reach of Canadian talent and creativity on the world stage.
Settle Down
And 2SLGBTQ+ representation continues to shine in the digital category. Following the Settle Down’s premiere in early 2025, Canadian showrunner and actor Alexander Nuñez told Queer & Now that the project’s creation centred on accurate 2SLGBTQ+ representation.
“Queer representation, I think, is more important than ever right now. Because I think people forget that we all bleed red,” he explained.
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The Toronto-based series, which follows an expert on love with a failing marriage, secured nine nominations for this year’s awards, leaving it with the most digital media nominations of the year.
Nominations include Alexander Nuñez for Best Lead Performance, Web Program or Series and Best Writing in Web Program or Series, while Anna Catley and Arielle Skolnik were nominated for Best Picture Editing in a Web Program or Series.
Actors Nadine Bhabha, Izad Etemadi, Josette Jorge, Tymika Tafari, and Leighton Alexander Williams were all nominated for Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series.
Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance
Meanwhile, this 2025 documentary about Queer resistance and activism in Canada has picked up several nominations.
Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance, directed by Noam Gonick, traces the history of 2SLGBTQ+ activism in Canada in a movie featuring archival footage and interviews with activists, artists, and organizers. The film documents crucial moments in the country’s Queer history, including but not limited to the We Demand Rally, Operation Soap protests, and the rise of Two-Spirit organizing.
It was nominated in the movie section, with Ricardo Acosta being tapped for Best Editing in a Feature Length Documentary.
