Celtic Media Festival 2026 Nominees Announced
RTÉ’s The Traitors Ireland is among the nominees for the 2026 Celtic Media Festival Torc Awards for Excellence, announced today.
Writer and Actor Sanjeev Kohli, and Festival Director Catriona Logan revealed the full shortlist for the awards, which celebrate the best work in television, film, radio and audio from across the Celtic nations and regions.
Taking place from 2–4 June in Belfast, the annual three-day event will bring together broadcasters, producers and creatives for screenings, industry sessions and daily awards ceremonies. BBC, RTÉ, S4C, TG4, France 3 Bretagne, Virgin Media and Televisión de Galicia are among the broadcasters competing for this year’s Torc Awards.
Returning for its 47th year, the festival showcases standout programming from across Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Cornwall, Brittany and Galicia.
Among this year’s nominees, The Guest (BBC One and BBC One Wales) Karen Pirie (ITV1), Obituary (RTÉ), An t-Eilean (BBC ALBA / BBC Four), Ar y Ffin (S4C), Leonard and Hungry Paul (BBC Northern Ireland) and LUME (TVG / HBO Max / RTP) will compete in the Drama Series category.
The Current Affairs category features major investigations including BBC Wales Investigates – Unmasked: Extreme Far Right, RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland’s Nursing Homes, and Iniúchadh TG4 – Bricí Lochtacha, Pobail Bhriste.
In Entertainment, nominees include The Tommy Tiernan Show (RTÉ) and Hit List Galicia (Televisión de Galicia), while The Traitors Ireland (RTÉ) from Kite Entertainment is among those nominated in Factual Entertainment.
Independent producers feature prominently across the nominations, with companies including Boom Cymru, DoubleBand Films, Tinopolis and Black Camel Pictures appearing across multiple categories.
New for 2026, the Presenter of the Year – Screen award recognises outstanding on-screen broadcasting talent. Nominees include Chris “Flamebaster” Roberts, Donald ‘Sweeny’ MacSween, Duarte Galbán, Manchán Magan, Mari Grug, Mary Ann Kennedy, and Sinéad Ní Churnáin.
The Sound Awards highlight the continued strength of radio and audio storytelling across the sector, with nominations spanning BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Ulster, RTÉ Radio 1, BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and Radio Galega, across documentary, drama, comedy, music and factual programming.
Festival Director Catriona Logan said: “The Torc Awards recognise the exceptional breadth of work being produced across the Celtic media sector. This year’s shortlist highlights the strength of storytelling and production talent working with broadcasters across television, radio and digital platforms — from major drama and entertainment formats to investigative journalism and innovative audio.”
The RTÉ nominees:
ARTS
Listen to the Land Speak | Crossing the Line Productions | RTÉ
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMME
Kabin Crew’s Christmas Special | 84 & Ochto 4 Productions | RTÉ
COMEDY
No Worries If Not! | Wonky Chair Media| RTÉ
CURRENT AFFAIRS
RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland’s Nursing Homes | RTÉ Investigates |RTÉ
DRAMA (SCREEN)
Obituary | Magamedia. APC | RTÉ
ENTERTAINMENT
The Tommy Tiernan Show | Power Pictures Ltd | RTÉ
FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT
The Traitors Ireland | Kite Entertainment | RTÉ
Uncharted with Ray Goggins (and Kneecap) | Diffusion Media | RTÉ
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
North Circular | Madhouse Films | RTÉ
LIVE EVENT
Culture Night Live | IRIS Productions | RTÉ
PRESENTER OF THE YEAR (Screen)
Sinéad Ní Churnáin, RTÉ
SHORT DRAMA
Did You Read About Erskine Fogarty?| Connla’s Well | RTÉ
SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
Blindboy: Land of Slaves and Scholars | Connla’s Well | RTÉ
SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
Cloch Le Carn: Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh |RTÉ
One Valentine’s Day in Edinburgh| Carbonated Comet Productions Ltd | RTÉ
DOCUMENTARY (Sound)
Documentary On One – Voice Notes… Before Voice Notes | RTÉ Radio 1
DRAMA (Sound)
Corrán na Maidine | RTÉ Radio 1
Kozie Moles |Engine Lane Media | RTÉ KIDS JR
FACTUAL SERIES
Cookie Bytes | RTÉ KIDS JR
Oileánach – Oileán Fhínse | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
MUSIC PROGRAMME
Cuan an Cheoil: Cathal Ó Curráin + Megan Nic Fhionnghaile | Stiúideo Cuan | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
The Rolling Wave | RTÉ Radio 1
PRESENTER OF THE YEAR (Sound)
Tristan Rosenstock | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta