The 2026 Tell-Tale TV Awards: Results! Abbott Elementary, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, and Outlander Among Winners

The results are in!

All three rounds of voting for the 2026 Tell-Tale TV Awards have ended, and now it’s time to find out your favorite TV shows and performers from the past year.

After submitting nominations, readers voted in three full rounds for their favorite TV shows and performers in several different genres.

The first round presented several choices in each category, and the top 12 for every category moved on to Round 2. After another week of voting, the top 6 moved on to the final round.  

Categories include favorite network comedy series, favorite cable or streaming comedy series, favorite network drama series, favorite cable or streaming drama series, favorite limited or anthology series, favorite animated series, favorite new series, and favorite performers in each genre.

Now, we’re excited to announce all of the winners of The 2026 Tell-Tale TV Awards below! 

Check out the final results from the last round of voting here.

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Comedy Categories

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Favorite Network Comedy Series:

• Abbott Elementary
• Runner-up: Saturday Night Live

Favorite Performer in a Network Comedy Series:

• Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
• Runner-up: Janelle James (Abbott Elementary)

Favorite Cable or Streaming Comedy Series:

• Only Murders in the Building
• Runner-up: Resident Alien

Favorite Performer in a Cable or Streaming Comedy Series:

• Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
• Runner-up: Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building)

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Drama Categories

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Favorite Network Drama Series:

• 9-1-1
• Runner-up: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Favorite Performer in a Network Drama Series:

• Oliver Stark (9-1-1)
• Runner-up: Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)

Favorite Cable or Streaming Drama Series:

• NCIS: Tony & Ziva
• Runner-up: Heated Rivalry

Favorite Performer in a Cable or Streaming Drama Series:

• Cote de Pablo (NCIS: Tony & Ziva)
• Runner-up: Hudson Williams (Heated Rivalry)

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Sci-fi/Fantasy and Limited Series Categories

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Favorite Sci-fi/Fantasy Series:

• Outlander
• Runner-up: The Way Home

Favorite Performer in a Sci-fi/Fantasy Series:

• Sam Heughan (Outlander)
• Runner-up: Sadie Sink (Stranger Things)

Favorite Limited or Anthology Series:

• Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair
• Runner-up: All Her Fault

Favorite Performer in a Limited or Anthology Series: 

• Dakota Fanning (All Her Fault)
• Runner-up: Tessa Thompson (His & Hers)

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Additional Categories

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Favorite Animated Series:

• Bluey
• Runner-up: South Park

Favorite Reality Series or Game Show:

• The Great British Baking Show
• Runner-up: Finding Mr. Christmas

Favorite New Series:

• NCIS: Tony & Ziva
• Runner-up: Heated Rivalry

Thank you for voting! Make sure to stay connected with us on social media, and be on the lookout for other fun polls throughout the year.

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