From 'Adolescence' and 'Pluribus' to Gaza war reporting, the 2026 Peabody winners highlight storytelling that prioritises impact over ratings, spanning entertainment, documentary and public service.
The winners of the 86th annual Peabody Awards have been announced, spotlighting a wide spectrum of storytelling, from late-night satire to urgent reporting from conflict zones.
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A total of 34 winners were selected from more than 1,000 entries, following deliberations by a jury of industry professionals and scholars, underscoring the scale and competitiveness of the awards.
Established in 1940, the Peabodys honour stories that prioritise public impact and cultural significance across television, radio, podcasts and digital media, often looking beyond ratings to recognise work that has a tangible impact on society.
This year’s winners reflect that range.
In entertainment, titles such as Adolescence, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Pluribus were among those recognised.
The awards leaned into urgent global issues, with projects such as Fault Lines: Kids Under Fire, The Disappearance of Dr. Abu Safiya and _The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram -_all recognised for their reporting on Gaza and online extremist networks, as well as investigations into immigration crackdowns and ICE operations.
In the documentary category, among the winners was the Oscar-winning Mr Nobody Against Putin. Based on secretly recorded footage by school teacher Pavel Talankin, who exposes how the Putin administration aims to indoctrinate schoolchildren in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this powerful piece of filmmaking has been recognised across the European documentary circuit for its political reporting. Last month, a Russian court banned the distribution of the award-winning documentary, after authorities claimed the film promoted “negative attitudes” about the government and the war in Ukraine.
Among other winners were No Other Land, which previously won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2025, and The Alabama Solution, which received a 2026 Goldsmith Special Citation for Documentary Film.
The awards underline the global reach and prior acclaim of this year’s winners.
“The winners of the 86th annual Peabody Awards reflect Peabody’s mission to honor storytelling that has the potential to change culture, whether it’s examining the destructive tactics of ICE, viewing terminal illness through a deeply personal lens, or resisting attempts to stifle free speech,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody. “We look forward to recognizing and celebrating these winners.”
The 86th annual Peabody Awards winners will be recognized with a ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on 31 May.
Here is the full list of winners:
News
- Fault Lines: “Kids Under Fire” (Al Jazeera English)
- Fault Lines: “The Disappearance of Dr. Abu Safiya” (Al Jazeera English)
- The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram (FRONTLINE/ProPublica)
- 60 Minutes: “The Uvalde Response” (CBS News)
- PBS NewsHour: “America’s Child Care Crisis” (PBS)
- Reuters: “Myanmar’s Hidden War”
Entertainment
- Adolescence
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- The Pitt
- Heated Rivalry
- Andor
- Pluribus
- Reservation Dogs
- Somebody Somewhere
Documentary
- Mr. Nobody vs Putin
- No Other Land
- Come See Me in the Good Light
- The Alabama Solution
- 20 Days in Mariupol
- Beyond Utopia
Interactive and immersive / digital storytelling
- South of Midnight
- Additional investigative and immersive projects
Children’s and youth / arts / podcast-radio / public service
- Multiple winners across categories spanning educational, cultural and public-interest storytelling
