12th Annual Winners Begin April 1, 2026

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The votes have been counted. The results are in. Next month, the 12th Annual American Reality Television Awards (The ARTAS) will officially reveal the winners across all 26 categories — and the competition has never been tighter.

After months of public voting that drew fans from around the world, the 12th Annual ARTAS winners will be announced beginning April 1, 2026, marking another milestone year for the only awards show dedicated exclusively to honoring excellence in reality television.

A Record-Setting Year for Nominations

This season’s nominees represent the full spectrum of unscripted television — from fierce competition series and gripping true crime to heartwarming feel-good shows and boundary-pushing digital content. Networks and streaming platforms across the board earned nominations, led by MTV with 22 nominations, followed by ABC with 20, NBC with 14, and both Investigation Discovery and FOX with 13 each. Streaming platforms also made a strong showing with Hulu earning 9 nominations and Netflix and OWN each securing 6.

The most-nominated shows of the 12th Annual ARTAS reflect the diversity that makes reality TV the most-watched genre on television:

  • American Ninja Warrior — 8 nominations

  • The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks — 7 nominations

  • Jersey Shore Family Vacation — 7 nominations

  • RuPaul’s Drag Race — 6 nominations

  • Hell’s Kitchen — 6 nominations

  • Shark Tank — 5 nominations

  • The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras — 5 nominations

From long-running fan favorites to breakout newcomers, the 12th Annual nominees show exactly why unscripted television continues to dominate the entertainment landscape.

26 Categories Celebrating Every Corner of Reality TV

The ARTAS has always stood apart by recognizing talent both in front of and behind the cameras. This year’s 26 categories include everything from Outstanding Competition Show and Best Overall Show to behind-the-scenes honors like Best Editing, Outstanding Production Crew, and Outstanding Art Direction.

Fan-favorite categories return as well, including Reality King and Reality Queen (Reality Royalty Award®), Guilty Pleasure Show, and Reality TV Moment — the categories that always spark the most passionate debates among viewers.

New this year, international representation continues to expand with nominees from Canada, Norway, and the UK competing in the International Reality Series category alongside American productions, and digital-first content is honored in the Outstanding Digital Reality Series category.

The Votes Are In — Now the Wait

Public voting for the 12th Annual ARTAS has officially closed, and the results are being finalized. Since 2013, the ARTAS has always put the power in the hands of the fans — the public vote decides the final winners in all categories. Over the years, the awards have received millions of votes from fans across the globe, proving that the audience truly is the heart of the reality television industry.

The official winners announcement is beginning April 1, 2026. We’ll be revealing the results across all 26 categories right here and across our social media channels.

12 Years of Celebrating Reality Television

Founded by Executive Producers Kristen Moss and Andrew Ward in 2012, the American Reality Television Awards was created to support, examine, and redefine the art of reality in media by rewarding excellence and encouraging experimentation. What started as a bold idea has grown into a 12-year tradition that has honored some of the biggest names in entertainment — from Gordon Ramsay and RuPaul to Ellen DeGeneres, Steve Harvey, and Vivica A. Fox, who hosted the 9th Annual ceremony.

Past ARTAS ceremonies have premiered across platforms including The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Xumo, YouTube, and TrillerTV, reaching audiences worldwide.

How to Stay Updated

Don’t miss a moment of the 12th Annual winners reveal. Here’s how to stay in the loop:

Sign up for the ARTAS newsletter to be the first to know when winners are announced.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the 12th Annual ARTAS winners be announced?
The winners will be officially revealed beginning April 1, 2026 across our website and social media channels.

How are ARTAS winners decided?
All final winners are determined by public vote after an initial academy vote to narrow down the nominees. Fans worldwide cast their ballots during the open voting period, and the results are final.

How many categories are there in the 12th Annual ARTAS?
There are 26 categories this year, covering competition shows, docu-series, game shows, food series, true crime, digital content, podcasts, and more.

Where can I see the full list of nominees?
The complete nominee list is available at realitytelevisionawards.com/12th-annual-nominees-list.

What is the Reality Royalty Award®?
The Reality Royalty Award® is the ARTAS’ signature honor recognizing the reigning Reality King and Reality Queen of the year, as chosen by the fans.

The American Reality Television Awards (The ARTAS®) is the first and only awards show dedicated exclusively to recognizing talent on screen and behind the scenes of reality television. Learn more at realitytelevisionawards.com.

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