The Emmys rule that impacts “foreign television productions.”

Why Heated Rivalry isn’t nominated for Emmys

The Emmys rule that impacts “foreign television productions.”

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more.

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July 8, 2026 12:07 p.m. ET

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Why ‘Heated Rivalry’ won’t get Emmy nominations this year. Credit:

Sabrina Lantos/HBO

- *Heated Rivalry* isn’t eligible for Emmy nominations. Here’s why.

- The official Emmys rules apply to non-U.S. productions.

- The series, starring Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, scooped up various other honors outside of the Television Academy.

*Heated Rivalry* may have been the biggest pop culture phenom in recent memory, but you won’t see the smash hit about gay hockey players shaking their proverbial and actual sticks at each other getting any love from the Emmys this year.

The Television Academy revealed the nominees for the 2026 Emmys, to be hosted by *Law & Order: SVU* star Mariska Hargitay this September. While *Heated Rivalry* has been scooping up major awards from various guilds and voting groups, including for leads Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, the show remains ineligible for Emmys consideration. (However, Storrie did score his first Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category for hosting *Saturday Night Live* in February.)

According to the applicable rule, “Foreign television production is ineligible unless it is the result of a co-production (both financially and creatively) between U.S. and foreign partners, which precedes the start of production, and with a purpose to be shown on U.S. television.”

Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams on ‘Heated Rivalry’.

Sabrina Lantos/HBO

*Heated Rivalry* is an entirely Canadian production, fully funded and produced by Bell Media for the streaming platform Crave. The series, based on the *Game Changers* romance books by author Rachel Reid, premiered on HBO Max in the U.S., but that deal was only for international distribution. Even now as the cast and crew prepare to start filming season 2 this year, it remains a Bell Media production, though HBO Max will continue distributing the title in other territories.

Showrunner Jacob Tierney previously spoke about how he initially shopped the project to financiers in the U.S., but they all wanted creative compromises. As he told *The Los Angeles Times*, one potential backer wanted a clearer female entry point, suggesting an earlier introduction of Rose Landry (Sophie Nélisse) with a love triangle entanglement. Others wanted to delay the sex scenes until much later in the series.

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So he and his creative partner went to Canada instead. The show is now partly funded by the Canada Media Fund, which requires beneficiaries to be Canadian productions.

Christina Chang and Hudson Williams on ‘Heated Rivalry’.

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The success of *Heated Rivalry* far surpasses any Emmys recognition. In addition to turning its stars into overnight A-listers, the series scooped up honors from organizations including the GLAAD Media Awards, Peabody Awards, and Canadian Screen Awards.

The Television Academy, however, recognized *Heated Rivalry* in May as an Honors recipient for being a show that advances social change.

The 2026 Emmys take place on Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will air live coast-to-coast on NBC and stream on Peacock.

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Source: “EW Emmys”