Sam Pang has won the 2026 TV WEEK Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television, topping a field that included Ally Langdon, Julia Morris, Lisa Millar, Poh Ling Yeow, Robert Irwin and Todd Woodbridge.
The comedian was handed television’s top popularity prize by surprise guest Magda Szubanski, appearing as Sharon Strzelecki, as the ceremony mixed awards for current programs with tributes to figures and shows from Australian television history.
Pang used his acceptance speech to combine deadpan humour with thanks to his colleagues, including Tom Gleisner and Ed Kavalee from Have You Been Paying Attention?.
“I’ve got lots of people to thank tonight and I’ll probably forget some names.
If I do forget you, I’m sorry, but maybe also have a think about how much you did.”
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It capped a ceremony in which ABC programs Goolagong and Dog Park were among the major winners, collecting two awards each.
Dog Park won Best Scripted Comedy Program, while Celia Pacquola collected the Silver Logie for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy for her role in the series.
Goolagong was named Best Miniseries or Telemovie, with Eloise Hart, who appeared in the program and Mystery Road: Origin, also among the nominees for the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent.
The night also delivered a landmark moment for Deborah Mailman, who became the first Indigenous person inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame and only the sixth woman to receive the honour in more than 40 years.
Mailman reflected on her upbringing in Mount Isa and the support she received from her parents.
“Every time I made that 24 and a half hour bus trip back to Mount Isa from Brisbane, my mum and dad were always there waiting for me, so this is for them.”
Broadcaster, television presenter, producer and advocate Andrew Denton was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, alongside long-running Australian drama A Country Practice.
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Denton joked about sharing the honour with Mailman, saying “finally we can put the long-running rumours that we’re the same person to rest”, before thanking his wife Jennifer Byrne and making political remarks during his speech.
There was also a posthumous honour for Sam Neill, who won the Silver Logie for Best Lead Actor in a Drama for The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer.
Heather Mitchell accepted the award for her late friend.
“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.”
The ceremony featured In Memoriam tributes led by Michael Usher, Dannii Minogue and Mitchell for Derryn Hinch, Johnny Young and Neill.
Another acting award went to Brooke Satchwell, who won the Silver Logie for Best Lead Actress in a Drama for Dear Life, while Simon Baker was named Best Supporting Actor for The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
Claudia Karvan won the Silver Logie for Best Supporting Actress for Homebodies. In her speech, Karvan described the award as the most meaningful of her 25-year history with the Logies, noting the series was the first trans-centred story honoured at the awards and dedicating the win to trans children and their families.
“May their voices always be heard.”
In comedy, Steve Bisley won Best Lead Actor in a Comedy for Deadloch, alongside Pacquola’s win for Dog Park.
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The popular-voted categories also delivered wins for Jelena Dokic, who received the Bruce McAvaney Award for Most Popular Sports Presenter, and Ally Langdon, who won the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter.
Langdon, whose nominated work included A Current Affair, The Great Debate and Election 2025: Australia Decides, marked 25 years at Channel 9 while accepting the award.
“I’d love to say I’ll be there for another 25 years, but I doubt the network will let me.”
Robert Irwin won the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter for I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, beating nominees Amanda Keller, Hamish Blake, Julia Morris, Larry Emdur and Lisa Millar.
Irwin spoke about his surprise at winning while co-hosting and described the previous three years as the best of his life, dedicating the award to Australia Zoo.
Elsewhere, Australian Story won Best Current Affairs Program, Play School took Best Children’s Program, Muster Dogs won Best Structured Reality Program and The Assembly was named Best Factual or Documentary Program.
MasterChef Australia collected Best Competition Reality Program, while RFDS won Best Drama Program and Have You Been Paying Attention? was named Best Comedy Entertainment Program.
Tipping Point Australia took Best Entertainment Program, while the Australian Open 2026 won Best Sports Coverage.
The Best News Coverage or Public Affairs Report award went to Bondi Terror Attack, from 7NEWS and Sunrise.
“Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s TV WEEK Logie Awards.
As the nation’s beating heart of screen production, it was great to see our sparkling Harbour City celebrated alongside Australia’s top TV talent.
Sydney and NSW provide the most dramatic filming locations in the country, so it was a privilege to roll out the red carpet and set the scene for celebrating your achievements, while showing off everything our state has to offer to the rest of the nation.”
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