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:

Listen to the Land Speak | Crossing the Line Productions | RTÉ

Kabin Crew’s Christmas Special | 84 & Ochto 4 Productions | RTÉ

No Worries If Not! | Wonky Chair Media| RTÉ

RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland’s Nursing Homes | RTÉ Investigates |RTÉ

Obituary | Magamedia. APC | RTÉ

The Tommy Tiernan Show | Power Pictures Ltd | RTÉ

The Traitors Ireland | Kite Entertainment | RTÉ

Uncharted with Ray Goggins (and Kneecap) | Diffusion Media | RTÉ

North Circular | Madhouse Films | RTÉ

Culture Night Live | IRIS Productions | RTÉ

Sinéad Ní Churnáin, RTÉ

Did You Read About Erskine Fogarty?| Connla’s Well | RTÉ

Blindboy: Land of Slaves and Scholars | Connla’s Well | RTÉ

Cloch Le Carn: Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh |RTÉ

One Valentine’s Day in Edinburgh| Carbonated Comet Productions Ltd | RTÉ

Documentary On One – Voice Notes… Before Voice Notes | RTÉ Radio 1

Corrán na Maidine | RTÉ Radio 1

Kozie Moles |Engine Lane Media | RTÉ KIDS JR

Cookie Bytes | RTÉ KIDS JR

Oileánach – Oileán Fhínse | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

Cuan an Cheoil: Cathal Ó Curráin + Megan Nic Fhionnghaile | Stiúideo Cuan | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

The Rolling Wave | RTÉ Radio 1

Tristan Rosenstock | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta