Heated Rivalry and Hacks emerged as the biggest winners at the 2026 Dorian TV Awards, with both series taking four honors from GALECA.
‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Hacks’ Dominate the Night
August 15, 2026 – Heated Rivalry and Hacks came out on top at the 18th annual Dorian TV Awards, with both series earning four wins from GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.
The honors recognize standout television across mainstream and LGBTQ-focused programming, with this year’s ceremony celebrating a particularly strong collection of dramas, comedies, performers, and creators.
Heated Rivalry had one of the night’s biggest victories, taking home Best TV Drama as well as Best LGBTQ TV Show. The series also earned Best Supporting TV Performance – Drama for François Arnaud and the LGBTQIA+ TV Trailblazer Award for creator Jacob Tierney.
Meanwhile, Hacks capped its acclaimed run with four awards of its own, giving the HBO Max comedy another major moment during its final season.
Credit: Sabrina Lantos/HBO
‘Heated Rivalry’ Takes the Drama Spotlight
The success of Heated Rivalry adds another major recognition to a series that has become one of the most talked-about television dramas of the year.
Its Dorian wins acknowledge both the show’s overall impact and the performances and creative work behind it.
Winning Best TV Drama put the series ahead of a competitive group that included Industry, The Gilded Age, Pluribus, and The Pitt.
The series also won Best LGBTQ TV Show, competing against The Comeback, Hacks, Half Man, and Pluribus.
For a show centered on a queer romance, the recognition is particularly significant because it celebrates both its dramatic storytelling and its LGBTQ representation.
François Arnaud Earns Acting Recognition
François Arnaud was another major winner for Heated Rivalry, taking home Best Supporting TV Performance – Drama.
His performance became one of the show’s most recognized elements, helping give the series additional depth beyond its central romantic storyline.
The acting win also demonstrates how the Dorian Awards spread recognition across different aspects of television rather than limiting major honors to the shows themselves.
Arnaud’s award joins a growing list of accolades connected to the series during its breakout year.
Jacob Tierney Receives a Major Honor
Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney also received the GALECA LGBTQIA+ TV Trailblazer Award, recognizing his contribution to television and LGBTQ storytelling.
The honor adds a more personal dimension to the show’s success. While awards for individual performances and series celebrate what appears on screen, the Trailblazer recognition highlights the creative leadership behind the project.
Tierney’s work on Heated Rivalry has helped turn the series into a significant piece of contemporary LGBTQ television, making the recognition one of the evening’s notable honors.
Credit: Bell Media
‘Hacks’ Adds Four More Wins to Its Final Season
Hacks matched Heated Rivalry with four awards, giving the acclaimed comedy a strong showing as it approaches the end of its television run.
The series took home Best TV Comedy, while Jean Smart received Best Lead TV Performance – Comedy for her role as Deborah Vance. Hannah Einbinder also earned Best Supporting TV Performance – Comedy, adding another acting honor to the show’s haul.
The comedy’s fourth award came in the form of the TV Musical Performance honor, recognizing the series’ memorable use of music alongside its sharp writing and performances.
The recognition arrives during an important moment for Hacks, which has established itself as one of television’s most consistently celebrated comedies.
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder Continue Their Winning Run
Smart’s latest recognition reflects the central role she has played in the series since its debut.
As veteran comedian Deborah Vance, Smart has built a character who is simultaneously demanding, vulnerable, ambitious, and deeply complicated. Her performance has been a major part of the show’s appeal and has helped anchor its story across multiple seasons.
Einbinder, meanwhile, has developed Deborah’s younger comedy counterpart, Ava Daniels, into an equally important part of the series.
Their relationship provides much of the show’s emotional and comedic tension, with the two characters frequently shifting between mentorship, rivalry, friendship, and professional partnership.
The Dorian recognition for both performers therefore adds another achievement to a relationship that has become central to Hacks.
Other Major Dorian TV Winners
While Heated Rivalry and Hacks dominated the number of wins, several other productions and performers also received recognition.
The awards included categories spanning drama, comedy, LGBTQ television, performances, writing, directing, and other creative achievements, reflecting the wide range of programming considered by GALECA members.
The ceremony also highlighted performers whose work stood out individually, demonstrating that the awards were not solely focused on the year’s biggest shows.
That balance is part of what makes the Dorian TV Awards notable within the television awards calendar: established favorites can compete alongside newer series that have quickly developed passionate audiences.
Credit: HBO Max
A Strong Year for LGBTQ Television
The results also underline the continued prominence of LGBTQ storytelling on television.
Heated Rivalry‘s win for Best LGBTQ TV Show was particularly significant because the series has placed its queer characters and relationships at the center of its story rather than treating representation as a secondary element.
Other nominees in the category included The Comeback, Hacks, Half Man, and Pluribus, showing the breadth of LGBTQ-related television recognized this year.
The category reflects how much television has expanded in the types of LGBTQ stories it can tell, ranging from romance and comedy to family stories and complex dramas.
Why the Dorian Wins Matter
Awards such as the Dorians can provide another measure of a show’s cultural impact beyond ratings and mainstream awards recognition.
For Heated Rivalry, the four wins reinforce its breakout status and highlight the performances and creative work that helped establish the series.
For Hacks, the awards provide another celebration of a comedy that has remained influential throughout its run.
The combination of both shows at the top of this year’s winners list also illustrates the range of television being celebrated—from an LGBTQ drama with a passionate following to an established comedy led by two generations of performers.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Dorian TV Awards delivered a strong night for Heated Rivalry and Hacks, with each series collecting four awards.
Heated Rivalry took the top drama prize and Best LGBTQ TV Show, while François Arnaud and creator Jacob Tierney were also recognized. Hacks meanwhile continued its awards success with wins for the series and its leading performers.
The results reflect a television landscape where established hits and newer breakout shows can receive recognition side by side.
For Heated Rivalry, the four victories mark another major achievement during its breakout year. For Hacks, they offer a fitting celebration of a series that has built a strong legacy through its writing, performances, and distinctive approach to comedy.
FAQs
Which shows won the most awards at the 2026 Dorian TV Awards?
Heated Rivalry and Hacks led the winners list with four awards each.
What award did Heated Rivalry win?
The series won Best TV Drama and Best LGBTQ TV Show, while François Arnaud won for his supporting performance and Jacob Tierney received the LGBTQIA+ TV Trailblazer Award.
Did Jean Smart win at the Dorian TV Awards?
Yes. Smart won Best Lead TV Performance – Comedy for her work in Hacks.
Did Hannah Einbinder win a Dorian Award?
Yes. Einbinder received Best Supporting TV Performance – Comedy for Hacks.
Who is the creator of Heated Rivalry?
Jacob Tierney is the creator of Heated Rivalry and received the LGBTQIA+ TV Trailblazer Award at the Dorian TV Awards.
What are the Dorian TV Awards?
The Dorian TV Awards are presented by GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, recognizing achievements across television and LGBTQ-focused entertainment.
Published by HOLR Magazine