The hit series "Heated Rivalry" will not receive any nominations when the 2026 Primetime Emmy nominations are announced on Wednesday, despite being one of the most talked-about television shows of the past year. The exclusion is not down to the show's quality or its airing dates, both of which met the criteria, but to its production origins: Emmy rules bar shows financed by production companies based outside the United States. As a series from Canadian firm Bell Media, airing on its streaming service Crave, "Heated Rivalry" is ineligible, though it can still compete at the International Emmy Awards.

The show has nonetheless enjoyed a strong awards run at home, winning 16 prizes at the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, including best drama series and best lead performer for Hudson Williams. American co-lead Connor Storrie was ineligible in Canada owing to his nationality, but may yet earn a US Emmy nod for guest actor in a comedy for hosting "Saturday Night Live" in February. Based on Reid's romance novels about two rival ice hockey players, the series airs on HBO Max in the States and has been renewed for a second season, which is due to shoot this summer and aim for a spring 2027 release.