Heated Rivalry Omitted From Emmy Nominations Due to Canadian Production Status

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams at the Toronto premiere of “Heated Rivalry”

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The latest Emmy nominations have been announced, yet a critically acclaimed series is conspicuously missing from the list.

Heated Rivalry, the critically acclaimed gay hockey drama that follows the slow‑burn romance between haughty Russian‑born Ilya (Storrie) and reserved Canadian Shane, is ineligible for the Primetime Emmys because it is entirely financed by Canada.

The Television Academy mandates that a series be co‑produced creatively and financially with a U.S. partner to qualify. Heated Rivalry was created by Bell Media for Crave, its wholly owned streaming service that operates exclusively in Canada.

HBO Max, the series’ exclusive streaming home, acquired distribution rights after production concluded, which is why the Television Academy does not classify it as a U.S. co‑production. Consequently, the series is eligible only for the International Emmy Awards.

Adapted from Rachel Reid’s novel by Canadian filmmaker Jacob Tierney — who also wrote and directed the series — the drama premiered on HBO Max in the U.S. and Australia in November 2025. It quickly amassed over 10.6 million views in the U.S., becoming the platform’s highest‑viewed acquired scripted series to date.

The series has been officially renewed, with Storrie and Williams returning for a second season slated for spring 2027 on HBO Max in the United States and Crave in Canada. Season 2 will adapt The Long Game, the sequel novel by Reid, and will be produced by Crave and Accent Aigu Entertainment.

Medical drama The Pitt leads this year’s Emmy nominations with 25 nods, followed by Hacks, which concluded with its fifth and final season this year. Mariska Hargitay is slated to host the 2026 Emmys, which will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock on Monday, September 14.

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