Karl Stefanovic was roasted at the 2026 TV Week Logie Awards in Sydney on Sunday after skipping the ceremony despite receiving a nomination.
Host Robert Irwin opened the broadcast at The Star Sydney by targeting the former Today presenter over his absence and political alignment. Speaking to the audience of industry figures, the 22-year-old presenter joked that event organizers were able to scale back catering services due to Stefanovic missing the event.
"Unfortunately, Karl Stefanovic didn't RSVP tonight, which means we didn't have to hire quite as many bartenders," Irwin told the crowd. "But we've kept him a spare seat, just in case. It's over there to the right - the far right."
The punchline drew immediate laughter across the venue before Irwin turned back to the audience to launch the rest of the evening. "Guys, I'm pumped for an awesome night. Are we ready?" he asked.
Irwin made history at the ceremony as the youngest-ever host of the Logie Awards, Australia's annual television industry ceremony. He stepped into the role following a three-year stint by comedian Sam Pang, who went on to win the evening's flagship TV Week Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.
Vaccine jokes and absent stars
The roasts continued later in the broadcast when comedians Urzila Carlson and Guy Montgomery joined the stage and focused on Stefanovic's recent public statements regarding Covid vaccines.
"Is it just me, or do you guys think Karl Stefanovic hasn't been the same since he got the Covid vaccine?" Montgomery asked.
Carlson delivered a sharp follow-up to Montgomery's question. "Mate, I'd be furious too if I got a vaccine for a disease that doesn't exist," she replied.
Carlson then directed her routine toward another absent media personality, radio host Kyle Sandilands. Her comment drew applause from the room.
"Speaking of all-Aussie legends whose names start with K, Kyle Sandilands isn't here this evening," Carlson told the crowd. "And always with his finger on the pulse."
Departure from Nine and podcast controversy
Stefanovic's absence from the 66th Logie Awards followed his dramatic departure from Nine in June, which brought an abrupt end to his long-running tenure co-hosting the morning program Today.
Nine announced the split by stating it was no longer possible for Stefanovic to continue presenting Today while producing his independent podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show. The decision came after intense backlash over an interview he conducted with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Stefanovic defended the interview as legitimate journalism, insisting that hearing controversial opinions did not amount to endorsing them. The broadcaster had also drawn public attention after apologizing for his role in Nine's Covid vaccination campaign and interviewing figures who questioned vaccines and mainstream pandemic policies.
Despite his departure from Nine, Stefanovic remained eligible for the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter because the nomination covered his work on Today during the qualifying period. Stefanovic previously won the Gold Logie and Most Popular Presenter award in 2011.
The presenter award was ultimately won by Ally Langdon for her work on A Current Affair, The Great Debate and Election 2025: Australia Decides on 9Network. Other nominees in the category included David Speers for Australia Votes 2025: Election Night Live and Insiders on the ABC, Michael Usher for 7NEWS and 7NEWS Spotlight on Seven Network, Sarah Abo for Today on 9Network, and Sarah Ferguson for 7.30 and Australia Votes 2025: Election Night Live on the ABC.
Full list of 2026 Logie Award winners
The 66th TV Week Logie Awards recognized top talent and programs across public and commercial networks:
- TV WEEK Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television: Winner: Sam Pang (Comedian and presenter). Nominees: Ally Langdon (Host and journalist), Julia Morris (Presenter and comedian), Lisa Millar (Journalist and presenter), Poh Ling Yeow (Judge and co-host), Robert Irwin (Presenter), Todd Woodbridge (Host and presenter).
- Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter: Winner: Robert Irwin, I'm A Celebrity.. Get Me Out Of Here! (Network 10). Nominees: Amanda Keller, The Piano (ABC); Hamish Blake, LEGO® Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the Galaxy (9Network); Julia Morris, I'm A Celebrity.. Get Me Out Of Here! (Network 10); Larry Emdur, The Chase Australia (Seven Network); Lisa Millar, Muster Dogs, Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now and Back Roads (ABC).
- Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter: Winner: Ally Langdon, A Current Affair, The Great Debate and Election 2025: Australia Decides (9Network). Nominees: David Speers, Australia Votes 2025: Election Night Live and Insiders (ABC); Karl Stefanovic, Today (9Network); Michael Usher, 7NEWS and 7NEWS Spotlight (Seven Network); Sarah Abo, Today (9Network); Sarah Ferguson, 7.30 and Australia Votes 2025: Election Night Live (ABC).
- Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent: Winner: Lila McGuire, Goolagong (ABC). Nominees: Andrea Lam, The Piano (ABC); Eloise Hart, Goolagong and Mystery Road: Origin (ABC); Rowan Witt, Ghosts Australia (Paramount+); Stuart Broad, The Ashes 2025-26 (Seven Network); Tamala, Ghosts Australia (Paramount+).
- TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Lead Actor in a Drama: Winner: Sam Neill, The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer (Binge/Foxtel). Nominees: Hunter Page-Lochard, Reckless (SBS/NITV); Jacob Elordi, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video); Mark Coles Smith, Mystery Road: Origin (ABC); Rob Collins, RFDS (Seven Network); Stephen Peacocke, RFDS (Seven Network).
- TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Lead Actress in a Drama: Winner: Brooke Satchwell, Dear Life (Stan). Nominees: Aisha Dee, Watching You (Stan); Lila McGuire, Goolagong (ABC); Odessa Young, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video); Tuuli Narkle, Mystery Road: Origin (ABC); Yerin Ha, The Survivors (Netflix).
- TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Winner: Simon Baker, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video). Nominees: Clarence Ryan, Mystery Road: Origin (ABC); Damien Garvey, The Survivors (Netflix); Dan Henshall, The Family Next Door (ABC); Thomas Weatherall, Heartbreak High (Netflix); Thomas Weatherall, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video).
- TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Winner: Claudia Karvan, Homebodies (SBS). Nominees: Catherine McClements, The Survivors (Netflix); Eleanor Matsuura, Dear Life (Stan); Heather Mitchell, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video); Philippa Northeast, The Family Next Door (ABC); Robyn Malcolm, The Survivors (Netflix).
- TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Actor in a Comedy: Winner: Steve Bisley, Deadloch (Prime Video). Nominees: Ben Miller, Austin (ABC); George Zhao, Ghosts Australia (Paramount+); Leon Ford, Dog Park (ABC); Matt Day, Strife (Binge/Foxtel); Michael Theo, Austin (ABC).
- TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Best Actress in a Comedy: Winner: Celia Pacquola, Dog Park (ABC). Nominees: Asher Keddie, Strife (Binge/Foxtel); Denise Scott, Mother and Son (ABC); Kate Box, Deadloch (Prime Video); Madeleine Sami, Deadloch (Prime Video); Michelle Brasier, Ghosts Australia (Paramount+).
- Best Miniseries or Telemovie: Winner: Goolagong (ABC). Nominees: Homebodies (SBS), Mix Tape (Binge/Foxtel), The Family Next Door (ABC), The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video), The Survivors (Netflix).
- Best Drama Program: Winner: RFDS (Seven Network). Nominees: Dear Life (Stan), Heartbreak High (Netflix), Mystery Road: Origin (ABC), The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer (Binge/Foxtel), Watching You (Stan).
- Best Scripted Comedy Program: Winner: Dog Park (ABC). Nominees: Austin (ABC), Deadloch (Prime Video), Strife (Binge/Foxtel), The Artful Dodger (Disney+), Top End Bub (Prime Video).
- Best Competition Reality Program: Winner: MasterChef Australia (Network 10). Nominees: Big Brother (Network 10), I'm A Celebrity.. Get Me Out Of Here! (Network 10), LEGO® Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the Galaxy (9Network), Love Island (9Network), The Block (9Network).
- Best Entertainment Program: Winner: Tipping Point Australia (9Network). Nominees: Australian Idol (Seven Network), Dancing With The Stars (Seven Network), The 1% Club Australia (Seven Network), The Floor (9Network), The Piano (ABC).
- Best Factual or Documentary Program: Winner: The Assembly (ABC). Nominees: But Also John Clarke (ABC), Revealed: Death Cap Murders (Stan), Revealed: Joh - Last King of Queensland (Stan), The People vs Robodebt (SBS), The Secret DNA Of Us (SBS).
- Bruce McAvaney Award for Most Popular Sports Presenter: Winner: Jelena Dokic, 2026 Australian Open, 2025 Melbourne Cup, Wimbledon 2025, Roland Garros 2025, US Open 2025 and Cross Court 2025 (9Network). Nominees: Bruce McAvaney, World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 (SBS); Danika Mason, Today, NRL and Freddy and the Eighth (9Network); Eddie McGuire, Footy Classified Tuesday and 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival (9Network); James Bracey, 9News, Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, NRL, 2026 Australian Open, 2025 Melbourne Cup, 100% Footy and 2025 Australian Swimming Trials (9Network); Ricky Ponting, The Ashes 2025-26 (Seven Network).
- Best Current Affairs Program: Winner: Australian Story (ABC). Nominees: 60 Minutes (9Network), 7.30 (ABC), A Current Affair (9Network), Four Corners (ABC), Today (9Network).
- Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Winner: Have You Been Paying Attention? (Network 10). Nominees: Gruen Nation (ABC), Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee (ABC), Hard Quiz (ABC), The Cheap Seats (Network 10), The Front Bar (Seven Network).
- Best Structured Reality Program: Winner: Muster Dogs (ABC). Nominees: Farmer Wants A Wife (Seven Network), Gogglebox Australia (Network 10), Married at First Sight (9Network), The Golden Bachelor (9Network), The Hospital: In The Deep End (SBS).
- Best Lifestyle Program: Winner: Travel Guides (9Network). Nominees: Getaway (9Network), Grand Designs Australia (ABC), Love It Or List It Australia (Binge/Foxtel), Selling Houses Australia (Binge/Foxtel), The Dog House Australia (Network 10).
- Best News Coverage or Public Affairs Report: Winner: Bondi Terror Attack, 7NEWS and Sunrise (Seven Network). Nominees: Fighting Back, A Current Affair (9Network); Hammered: Inside the Bunnings Machine, Four Corners (ABC); Iran War, 7NEWS (Seven Network); Out of Order, 60 Minutes (9Network); Virginia's Final Wish, 60 Minutes (9Network).
- Best Sports Coverage: Winner: Australian Open 2026 (9Network). Nominees: 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival (9Network), 2025 Men's & Women's State of Origin Series (9Network), AFL Grand Final 2025 (Seven Network), Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games (9Network), The Ashes 2025-26 (Seven Network).
- Best Children's Program: Winner: Play School (ABC). Nominees: Do Not Watch This Show (ABC), Dreaming Big (NITV), Ginger and the Vegesaurs (ABC), Hard Quiz Kids (ABC), Knee High Spies (ABC).
