Canada’s biggest night in film and television is six days away. The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards air this Sunday May 31 — 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 | May 22, 2026 Source: Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television | Last verified: May 22, 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 — impossible to miss
• North of North leads all TV nominees with 20 nominations including Best Comedy Series
• Heated Rivalry follows with 18 nominations including Best Drama Series
• Film 40 Acres leads 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 Is Almost Here

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 will be 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

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 Sunday May 31 at 8:00 PM ET on CBC, CBC Gem, Crave, CTV, Global, and STACKTV.

If you have a Canadian TV subscription or streaming service, you have no excuse to miss it. 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. AIOSEO

Andrew 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 is the right person for this moment.

The Top Nominees — Television

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, presented by Lionsgate Canada, 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 has connected with audiences far beyond its setting. Twenty nominations is a statement. If this show does not have a big night on May 31, it will be the upset of the year.

Heated Rivalry — 18 Nominations

Heated Rivalry scores 18 nominations, including Best Drama Series, presented by Blink49 Studios.

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. Watch this one carefully on awards night.

Digital Media — Settle Down and 18 to 35

In the digital media categories, Toronto-set queer comedy Settle Down leads 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 — and both of these nominations reflect the diversity and creativity of Canada’s independent digital creators.

The Top Nominees — Film

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. WPBeginner

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, which have eight nominations each. Sight AI

The range of films nominated in 2026 — comedy, horror, drama, and 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 of Events 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.

If you are in Toronto this week, Canadian Screen Week events are worth attending. The CBC Broadcast Centre becomes the heart of the Canadian entertainment industry for five days — a rare chance to see Canadian film and television celebrated in the city where so much of it is made.

Why This Year’s Canadian Screen Awards Matter

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.

Set your reminder for Sunday May 31 at 8:00 PM ET. Andrew Phung is hosting. Canada’s best is about to take the stage.

Source: Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television | Global News | Data current as of May 22, 2026.

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Who are you rooting for at the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards? Is North of North your pick for Best Comedy? Tell us in the comments — and share this with every Canadian entertainment fan you know.