The Traitors dominated the 2026 Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Wednesday, winning a leading five trophies for Best Competition Series, Best Ensemble Cast, Alan Cumming as Best Show Host, Lisa Rinna as Female Star of the Year, and Rob Rausch as Male Star of the Year.
But it wasn’t all treachery. Following with two wins was the feel-good Love on the Spectrum for Best Unstructured Series and Best Relationship Show — the same categories it won last year.
Other notable champions included Dancing With the Stars (Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety), Jeopardy! (Best Game Show), Tucci In Italy (Best Travel/Adventure Show), Shark Tank (Best Business Show), RuPaul’s Drag Race (Best Lifestyle Show: Fashion/Beauty), and Mr. Scorsese (Best Limited Series).
The Real TV Awards were launched in 2019 to give the burgeoning unscripted genre critical attention and support. Blue-ribbon nominating committees made up of Critics Choice Association members with expertise in nonfiction, unscripted, and reality programming determined the nominees. Winners were chosen by the entire CCA membership.
Thanks to The Traitors, Peacock won the most awards for networks/studios with five. Netflix was next in line with four, followed by ABC with three, ESPN with two, and National Geographic with two.
Here are all of the winners for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards:
BEST COMPETITION SERIES
The Traitors (Peacock)
BEST COMPETITION SERIES: TALENT/VARIETY
Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
BEST UNSTRUCTURED SERIES
Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
BEST STRUCTURED SERIES (TIE)
Couples Therapy (Paramount+ Premium)
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (Food Network)
BEST CULINARY SHOW (TIE)
The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
Top Chef (Bravo)
BEST GAME SHOW
Jeopardy! (Syndicated)
BEST TRAVEL/ADVENTURE SHOW
Tucci In Italy (National Geographic)
BEST BUSINESS SHOW
Shark Tank (ABC)
BEST ANIMAL/NATURE SHOW
Secrets of the Bees (National Geographic)
BEST CRIME/JUSTICE SHOW
Trust Me: The False Prophet (Netflix)
BEST SPORTS SHOW
30 for 30 (ESPN)
BEST SPORTS SHOW: TALK/ANALYSIS
Inside the NBA (ESPN/ABC)
BEST RELATIONSHIP SHOW
Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: HOME/GARDEN
Ugliest House in America (HGTV)
BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: FASHION/BEAUTY
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV)
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN AN UNSCRIPTED SERIES
The Traitors (Peacock)
BEST SHOW HOST
Alan Cumming – The Traitors (Peacock)
MALE STAR OF THE YEAR
Rob Rausch – The Traitors (Peacock)
FEMALE STAR OF THE YEAR
Lisa Rinna – The Traitors (Peacock)
