Canadian Screen Awards 2026: North of North & Heated Rivalry Lead Nominations
The Canadian Screen Awards nominations are in, and two productions are leading the pack: CBC’s North of North, with a remarkable 20 nominations, and R.T. Thorne’s post-apocalyptic thriller 40 Acres, garnering 10 nods. The announcement, made on , signals a strong showing for Canadian television and film, even as the industry navigates ongoing challenges.
North of North, a sitcom centered on a young Inuk mother who publicly ends her marriage, has achieved a level of recognition rarely seen at the CSAs. The series joins Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Schitt’s Creek as one of only three titles to ever receive 20 or more nominations. The accolades extend to multiple acting categories, including a best lead performer nomination for Anna Lambe, and supporting performance nominations for Braeden Clarke and Maika Harper. The show as well received a nomination for best comedy ensemble.
Close behind is Heated Rivalry, with 18 nominations, including recognition for best drama series and lead performer nominations for both François Arnaud and Hudson Williams. A rule change implemented this year, requiring nominees to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, meant that Williams’ American co-star, Connor Storrie, was ineligible for a nomination.
In the film category, 40 Acres stands out as a critical and commercial success. The film, described as a post-apocalyptic thriller following a Black and Indigenous family of farmers, earned nominations for best motion picture and best directing for R.T. Thorne, as well as a first feature film nomination for Thorne himself. The film’s success comes at a time when Canadian films are facing headwinds at the box office.
The list of best motion picture nominees also includes Blue Heron, The Cost of Heaven (Gagne ton ciel), Follies (Folichonneries), Lovely Day (Mille secrets mille dangers), Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, The Things You Kill, and Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara).
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, a sleeper hit described as a Jackass-adjacent, half-scripted, half-improvised story about musicians traveling through time, has also garnered significant attention. Its debut weekend earnings of $350,000 were the best for any English-language live-action Canadian film since 2023’s Blackberry, which previously held the record for the most CSA wins for a single film with 14.
The nominations also highlight a diverse range of television programming. The best comedy series category includes Children Ruin Everything, Late Bloomer, North of North, Son of a Critch, and The Trades. Competing for best drama series are Heated Rivalry, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Plan B, Saint-Pierre, and Wild Cards.
Several individuals will receive special awards at this year’s ceremony. Mike Myers will be honored with the Academy Icon award, Hazel Mae will receive the Gordon Sinclair award for broadcast journalism, and maxine bailey will be presented with the Changemaker award.
The documentary and factual programming categories also boast strong contenders. Endless Cookie, James Bay 1975: The Shock of Two Nations (Baie James 1975 : le choc des nations), Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, Spare My Bones, Coyote! (Mais où va-t-on, Coyote?), and The Track are all nominated for best feature-length documentary. 50,000 First Dates: A True Story, The Assembly, Crime Scene Investigators, Dark Side of the Ring, and Into the Void are vying for the title of best factual series.
In the digital media space, Alexander Nunez’s Settle Down leads with nine nominations, including nods for writing and lead performance. Canada’s Drag Race, a consistent winner in the reality/competition category, is once again in contention for best reality/competition program or series.
These awards arrive at a complex moment for the Canadian screen industry. A recent report from Telefilm Canada revealed a nearly 41 per cent dip in cumulative box office revenue for Canadian films from 2024 to 2025. English-language Canadian films accounted for only 1.4 per cent of the national box office in 2023, a figure bolstered by the success of animated films like Paw Patrol. While Telefilm cautioned that the recent decline follows a particularly strong year in 2024, the numbers underscore the challenges facing Canadian filmmakers.
Despite these challenges, Canadian television continues to achieve international success, with shows like Schitt’s Creek and Heated Rivalry gaining global recognition. The Canadian Screen Awards ceremony, hosted by Andrew Phung, will take place on at 8:00 pm ET and will be broadcast simultaneously on CBC, Bell Media, and Corus platforms – a landmark co-operative move reflecting the industry’s current collaborative spirit. A complete list of nominees can be found here.