The 2026 TV Week Logie Awards are officially done and dusted, but so much happened during TV’s night of nights!
For starters, Kerri-Anne Kennerley looked pretty in pink as she walked the red carpet. And Robert Irwin crushed his opening monologue.
Read on to see all of the best (and worst) moments from the 2026 Logies.
The best (and worst) moments from the 2026 Logies:
Magda Szubanski presented the Gold Logie
Last year’s Logies Hall of Fame inductee Magda Szubanski awarded the 2026 Gold Logie (but as Sharon, her iconic Kath & Kim character). The prestigious Gold Logie ultimately went to Sam Pang. To no one’s surprise, the comedian’s acceptance speech was hilarious (although it was rather lovely and sincere at times too, especially when he thanked his Have You Been Paying Attention? cast mates Tom Gleisner and Ed Kavalee).
Kath & Kim won TV Week’s Top 20 Australian Shows of All Time
In honour of 70 years of Australian television, TV Week asked the Australian public to vote for their favourite shows. Throughout the 2026 Logies, the top 20 shows as voted by Aussies were revealed… And, drum roll ploise, Kath & Kim ended up taking the top spot! Home & Away came second and A Country Practice came third.
Sam Neill posthumously won Best Lead Actor in a Drama
Sam Neill posthumously won the 2026 Logie for Best Lead Actor in a Drama for his performance in The Twelve. Heather Mitchell accepted the award on the late actor’s behalf and said, “I know how much this would mean to Sam… I know his heart would be so full and he’d want to pour you all a glass of wine. Thank you on behalf of Sam.”
The third 2026 Hall of Fame inductee was revealed
Amanda Keller took to the Logies stage to reveal that the third 2026 Hall of Fame inductee would be her friend, Andrew Denton. Then, in a very funny pre-recorded video that aired during the ceremony, Shaun Micallef, Stephen Curry, The Chaser, Todd Sampson, James Packer and more sang the producer, comedian and television presenter’s praises. “What an honour to share this with Deborah Mailman… And finally we can put the long-running rumours that we’re the same person to rest,” Andrew joked during his acceptance speech. He went on to thank his wife Jennifer Byrne and call US President Donald Trump a “sociopathic a**hole”.
Johnny Young, Sam Neill and more were honoured during the In Memoriam segment
Dannii Minogue introduced the In Memoriam segment by paying loving tribute to the late Johnny Young. Dannii (who Johnny discovered on the television show Young Talent Time in 1979) got visibly emotional while speaking fondly of her mentor. Actress Heather Mitchell then paid tribute to her long-time friend, the late Sam Neill, speaking of his immense talent and knack for producing delicious wine. Katie Noonan and Andrea Lam went on to perform a beautiful rendition of Don’t Dream It’s Over while Derryn Hinch, Mel Schilling and more were honoured.
The second 2026 Hall of Fame inductee was revealed
The classic Aussie show A Country Practice was revealed to be the second 2026 Hall of Fame inductee. Some of the original cast members appeared in a pre-recorded video that played during the ceremony (like Shane Porteous, Anne Tenney and Georgie Parker) and they reminisced about how wonderful it was to film and how proud they all are of the impact A Country Practice has had. Shane Withington said he was especially proud that the late Princess Diana and David Bowie were fans of the show.
Robert Irwin paid loving tribute to his dad (and tortured the audience with live reptiles)
Halfway through the ceremony, Robert paid loving tribute to his dad, the late and great Steve Irwin. He then said he admired how Steve brought a snake to the 2003 Logie Awards. And not a minute later, Robert tore away his suit to reveal his classic Australia Zoo khakis underneath and brought a few live reptiles out into the audience. He gave a blue-tongued lizard to Dr Chris Brown. He popped a small snake on Sam Pang’s table, to which the comedian said, “Mate, if that bites me, I’ll sue you.” And Robert finally brought out a huge python and draped it around the shoulders of a clearly uncomfortable Luke McGregor.
Bruce McAvaney didn’t win the inaugural Bruce McAvaney Award for Most Popular Sports Presenter
Robert Irwin and Johanna Griggs spoke at length about the incredible contributions Bruce McAvaney has made to sports presenting, and Australian television in general, right before awarding the inaugural Bruce McAvaney Award for Most Popular Sports Presenter. It seemed like he was a shoo-in to win an award literally created and named in his honour. And yet, Bruce didn’t win. Jelena Dokic took home the award instead. We’re happy for her obviously but it’s a little odd that Bruce didn’t win, no?
Play School won it’s second ever Logie (WHAT?!)
The Logies played a nice tribute to Play School when it took out the twelfth spot in TV Week’s Top 20 Australian Shows of All Time. And during this tribute, it was revealed that Play School has been entertaining Australian children for the past 60 years and has been inducted into the prestigious Logies Hall of Fame. Moments later, the Logie for Best Children’s Program was awarded to none other than Play School. But the presenters noted that this marks the show’s second ever Logie. How has this iconic show not won more Logies????? Truly mind boggling.
Cate Blanchett, Claudia Karvan and more praised Deborah Mailman
Deborah Mailman was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame and Cate Blanchett, Claudia Karvan, Rachel Griffiths, Stephen Curry and more praised her talent and career in a moving pre-recorded video that played during the ceremony. “I’m proud to be your friend… And no-one deserves this more than you,” Cate said.
Julia Morris, Eddie McGuire and Robert Irwin had a cringe-y moment
Julia Morris and Eddie McGuire presented the award for Best Lifestyle Program together and what started as a (unfunny) skit quickly turned into a seriously cringe-y moment. Julia, after saying how she and Eddie are veterans in the industry, joked that she couldn’t read the autocue and asked if someone could help her.
Robert Irwin came to the rescue and started reading the autocue that apparently said younger television hosts were awful, didn’t know what they were doing and had acne etc. The whole sketch dragged on far too long and just wasn’t funny. But then it was quite cringe-y when Julia claimed that she still couldn’t read the autocue multiple times after the bit had ended. Let it go Julia!
Ally Langdon made a subtle dig at the networks in her acceptance speech
Ally Langdon won the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter Logie. And during her acceptance speech, she revealed that she’s been working at Channel 9 for 25 years now. But then she made a very subtle dig at the industry’s bad habit of pushing older women out. “I’d love to say I’ll be there for another 25 years but I doubt the network will let me.” Bravo, Ally.
There are going to be three inductees this year into the Hall of Fame
We knew ahead of the 2026 Logies that Deborah Mailman was going to be inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame this year. But Robert Irwin let slip during his opening monologue that there would be THREE inductees this year!
Robert Irwin took aim at Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes and Karl Stefanovic
2026 Logies host Robert Irwin nailed his opening monologue. And the 22-year-old’s best jokes (by far!) were the ones that took aim at Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes and Karl Stefanovic. “Apparently I hear that Channel 10 is also developing a reboot of Hughesy, We Have A Problem. And I think it’s called No Seriously, Hughesy, We Have A Problem,” Robert quipped. “Karl Stefanovic didn’t RSVP tonight. Which means we didn’t have to hire quite as many bartenders, but we’ve kept him a spare seat, just in case. It’s over there to the right. The far right,” he continued. Read Robert’s full opening monologue here.
Both Abbey Holmes and Sylvia Jeffreys announced their pregnancies
Talk about baby fever! In exciting news, former Australian rules football player Abbey Holmes and Today host Sylvia Jeffreys both announced their pregnancies at the 2026 Logies. This marks Abbey’s second pregnancy with husband, former AFL player Keegan Brooksby. And Sylvia is pregnant with her third child with husband Peter Stefanovic.
Matty Johnson and Emma Watkins had a fight on the red carpet
Former Bachelor Matty J and Emma Memma host Emma Watkins had a playful fight on the Logies red carpet. No idea why, but we loved every minute of it!
Watch the 2026 Logies now on Channel 7 and 7plus.
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