Canadian entertainment news — Canada’s biggest night in film and television is almost here. The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards air Sunday May 31 at 8:00 PM ET — hosted by Andrew Phung, broadcast on every major Canadian network simultaneously, and celebrating a year that produced some of the best Canadian content in recent memory. Here is your complete guide.
By Maplestime Entertainment Desk | Toronto, Ontario | September 19, 2026
Sources: Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, Global News | Last updated: September 19, 2026
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards air Sunday May 31 at 8:00 PM ET — 9:00 AT, 9:30 NT
- Hosted by comedian and Kim’s Convenience star Andrew Phung
- Broadcast simultaneously on CBC, CBC Gem, Crave, CTV, Global, and STACKTV
- North of North led all TV nominees with 20 nominations including Best Comedy Series
- Heated Rivalry followed with 18 nominations including Best Drama Series
- Film 40 Acres led the film category with 10 nominations
- Canadian Screen Week runs Wednesday May 27 to Sunday May 31 at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto
- 146 categories recognized across film, television, and digital media
Canada’s Biggest Entertainment Night Has Arrived
The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television announced the nominees for the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, recognizing excellence across 146 categories in film, television, and digital media. The 14th annual awards were presented over four days in Toronto during Canadian Screen Week 2026.
For Canadians who care about homegrown stories told by homegrown talent — and there are millions of us — the Canadian Screen Awards is the night that matters most. It is the Oscars and the Emmys rolled into one distinctly Canadian celebration.
It has been an extraordinary year for Canada’s creative community, according to the CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. Looking at this year’s nominees, that assessment feels accurate. The shows and films nominated in 2026 represent some of the most ambitious, original, and genuinely excellent Canadian content produced in years.
When and How to Watch the Canadian Screen Awards 2026
Date: Sunday May 31, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM AT / 9:30 PM NT
The ceremony will be broadcast and streamed on CBC, CBC Gem, Crave, CTV, Global, and STACKTV. The simultaneous broadcast across every major network means you can watch on whatever screen is most comfortable — your living room TV, your laptop, or your phone.
Your Host — Andrew Phung
The celebrations will culminate in the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, hosted by Andrew Phung. Phung is one of the most beloved comedic performers in Canada right now. Best known as Kimchee in the CBC sitcom Kim’s Convenience — itself a Canadian Screen Awards favourite — Phung brings warmth, sharp comedic timing, and genuine love for Canadian storytelling to the host role. He was the right person for this moment.
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The Top Nominees — Television at the Canadian Screen Awards 2026
North of North — The One to Watch (20 Nominations)
Television series North of North tops both television and overall nominations with 20, including Best Comedy Series, Best Ensemble Performance Comedy, and Anna Lambe for Best Lead Performer Comedy.
North of North has been a cultural breakthrough moment for Canadian television — a comedy rooted in Arctic life that connected with audiences far beyond its setting. Twenty nominations is a statement. If this show didn’t have a big night on May 31, it would have been the upset of the year.
Heated Rivalry — 18 Nominations
Heated Rivalry scores 18 nominations, including Best Drama Series. The drama category battle between Heated Rivalry and the rest of the nominees will be one of the most compelling storylines of the evening. Eighteen nominations for a drama series signals a show that the industry voted for across nearly every technical and performance category.
Small Achievable Goals — 12 Nominations
Following close behind with 12 nominations, Small Achievable Goals has emerged as one of the year’s most critically praised Canadian series.
Digital Media — Settle Down and 18 to 35
In the digital media categories, Toronto-set queer comedy Settle Down led with nine nominations, followed by London, Ontario-set youth hostel comedy 18 to 35 with five. The digital media categories continue to be where some of Canada’s most innovative storytelling is happening.
The Top Nominees — Film at the Canadian Screen Awards 2026
40 Acres — Leading the Film Category (10 Nominations)
In the film category, 40 Acres leads with 10 nominations. This film has been one of the most discussed Canadian productions of the past year and its awards night performance will be closely watched by the industry.
Other Major Film Contenders
Among other top film contenders are French-Canadian comedy Follies, horror-thriller Honey Bunch, and time-hopping bromance Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, with eight nominations each. The range — comedy, horror, drama, genre-bending work — reflects the genuine breadth of what Canadian filmmakers are producing right now. This is not a single-story industry.
Canadian Screen Week — Five Days Before the Big Night
The awards ceremony on May 31 is the finale of a week-long celebration. Winners will be unveiled during Canadian Screen Week 2026, taking place from Wednesday May 27 to Sunday May 31 at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. Over the course of six award presentations, nominees and winners will be recognized alongside this year’s Special Award recipients, leading up to the finale: the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards.
Why the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards Mattered
There is something happening in Canadian television and film right now that deserves to be celebrated loudly. The shows nominated in 2026 — North of North, Heated Rivalry, Small Achievable Goals — are not just good Canadian shows. They are genuinely excellent television by any international standard.
The Canadian Screen Awards on May 31 is the moment the industry stops and acknowledges what Canadian creators have built over the past year. For viewers who have been following these shows, it is a chance to see the work recognized. For those who haven’t — the nominees list is a ready-made watching guide for the rest of the year.
Maplestime will provide updates from the Canadian Screen Awards as announcements are made.
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Were you rooting for North of North on awards night — or did Heated Rivalry steal your heart? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Canadian entertainment fan who needs to catch up on the best homegrown TV and film of the year.
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