Stand-up comedian Mohammed “Mo” Amer has found his next gig: hosting the 2026 Peabody Awards.
“It’s a true honor to host the 86th Annual Peabody Awards,” said the first-time host. “The Peabodys have always celebrated storytelling that cuts through the noise and speaks to something real. As someone who grew up feeling unseen in a lot of spaces, I know firsthand how powerful those stories can be. I’m excited to celebrate the artists, journalists, and creators who continue to move culture forward — and tell stories that can make us laugh, think, cry, or see the world a little differently.”
Amer is an award-winning multi-hyphenate best known as the creator and star of the Peabody-winning Netflix series MO, inspired by his experiences as a Palestinian refugee seeking asylum while growing up in Texas.
This year’s Peabody Award winners were announced on April 23 in the categories of news, podcast and radio, documentaries, arts, entertainment, children’s/youth, and interactive and immersive. A unanimous vote of 28 jurors from over 1,000 entries across all aspects of media chose the competitive winners.
Two of the buzziest TV shows of the year — Heated Rivalry and The Pitt — are recipients of the entertainment prize, as are the following: Adolescence, Andor, Common Side Effects, Dying for Sex, Forever, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Mussolini: Son of the Century, Pluribus, and The Rehearsal.
In addition, there are four special honorees: entertainer Amy Poehler (Career Achievement Award), screenwriter Sterlin Harjo (Trailblazer Award), filmmaker James L. Brooks (Inaugural Industry Icon Award), and historic programmer PBS KIDS (Institutional Award).
“The winners of the 86th annual Peabody Awards reflect Peabody’s mission to honor storytelling that has the potential to change culture, whether it’s examining the destructive tactics of ICE, viewing terminal illness through a deeply personal lens, or resisting attempts to stifle free speech, we look forward to recognizing and celebrating these winners,” said Jeffrey P. Jones, executive director of Peabody.
Of this year’s 34 total champions (see below), HBO Max received the most Peabody Awards with six, followed by two apiece for Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and PBS.
NEWS (5 WINNERS)
- Fault Lines: Kids Under Fire and The Disappearance of Dr. Abu Safiya (Al Jazeera)
- Immigration Crackdown (PBS News Hour)
- Los Angeles Burning (ABC News and KABC, Los Angeles)
- Restrained (ABC/KMBC 9)
- The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram (PBS)
PODCAST & RADIO (3 WINNERS)
- Divine Intervention (Wonder Media Network and iHeartMedia)
- Scam Inc (The Economist)
- When We All Get to Heaven (Eureka Street Productions)
DOCUMENTARIES (8 WINNERS)
- The Alabama Solution (HBO Max)
- Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple TV)
- Mr. Nobody Against Putin (BBC Four)
- No Other Land (Antipode Films)
- Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max)
- Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (Kino Film Collection)
- Southpaw — The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott (ESPN)
- Thoughts & Prayers (HBO Max)
ARTS (2 WINNERS)
- Fela Kuti: Fear No Man (Audible, Higher Ground, Western Sound and Talkhouse)
- Sly Lives! (a.k.a. The Burden of Black Genius) (Hulu, Onyx Collective)
ENTERTAINMENT (11 WINNERS)
- Adolescence (Netflix)
- Andor (Disney+)
- Common Side Effects (Adult Swim)
- Dying for Sex (FX / Hulu)
- Forever (Netflix)
- Heated Rivalry (HBO Max)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
- Mussolini: Son of the Century (MUBI)
- The Pitt (HBO Max)
- Pluribus (Apple TV)
- The Rehearsal (HBO Max)
CHILDREN’S/YOUTH (1 WINNER)
- Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Disney+)
INTERACTIVE & IMMERSIVE (4 WINNERS)
- Cleared by Fire (The New Yorker)
- ICE Sweeps Georgia (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
- Investigating War Crimes in Gaza (Al Jazeera English)
- South of Midnight (Compulsion Games)
The star-studded ceremony takes place in Beverly Hills on May 31. This year, the Peabodys are moving away from a traditional awards show structure and toward a more unified celebration where the winners will be grouped around shared themes.
This item was originally published April 23; it was updated May 13 with new information.
