Must-Watch TV Shows of 2026: Series Mania Jurors Reveal Top Picks!

A Festival of Immense Diversity

Originally launched in 2010 in Paris and later moved to Hauts-de-France in 2018, the Séries Mania Festival annually offers tens of thousands of attendees the chance to experience world premieres of series from across the globe. Additionally, it hosts various meetings, conferences, and masterclasses honoring big names in television.

This year, the competition featured 35 series divided into four categories: short-form competition, international panorama, French competition, and the prestigious international competition with its Grand Prize. Which series stood out among the rest? Find out in the Séries Mania Festival jury’s selection!

Highlighting Emotion

Fueled by a strong and diverse selection, this edition of the festival challenged the jury with the difficult task of selecting the winners among the competing series. The themes of gentleness and emotion were celebrated, particularly with the Polish queer series Proud, soon to be broadcast on HBO Max, which dominated this edition by winning both the Grand Prize of the international competition and the best actor award for Ignacy LISS, who played the lead role.

British drama was also recognized, with creator Dennis Kelly (Utopia) winning the best screenplay award for his new series Waiting for the Out, still in the international competition. Notably, Small Prophets, a heartrending and enchanting series, was voted the best series in the International Panorama category.

In the French competition, the drama Grandiose, soon airing on TF1, stood out: a touching and original series set in a unique school specializing in eating disorders, where teenagers tackle the tough journey of recovery with humor and tenderness.

Explore the Full List of Winners

Short-form Competition

Jury: chaired by Ceylan Yildirim (producer, showrunner), and included Mounia Akl (screenwriter, director), Younès Boucif (actor, rapper, director), and Simon Lööf (actor).

• Best series: AYER’S CLIFF (Canada) – Radio-Canada
• Special mention to HIRAYASUMI (Japan) – NHK

A jury of high school students also awarded their prize:

• LA DERNIÈRE HEURE (France) – ARTE
• Special mention to HOMEBODIES (Australia) – SBS

International Panorama

Jury: chaired by Pénélope Bagieu (author, illustrator), and included Enrico Maria Artale (director), Synnøve Hørsdal (producer), Thomas Ngijol (actor, director, and screenwriter), Kamila Zlatušková (producer and creator).

• Best series: SMALL PROPHETS (United Kingdom) – BBC
• Best directing: Arne FELDHUSSEN in THE FLAWS (Germany) – ZDF
• Best actress: Lauren PATEL in SMALL PROPHETS (United Kingdom) – BBC
• Best actor: Maxime LE FLAGAIS in BIENVENUE À KINGSTON-FALLS – Radio-Canada

A student jury also awarded their prize:

• VARIOLA VERA (Poland) – TVP

French Competition

Jury consisted of international journalists Arabella Wintermayr (Germany), Irene Crespo (Spain), Miina Väisänen (Finland), Justyna Mis (Poland), and Barry Levitt (USA, UK).

• Best series: GRANDIOSE – TF1
• Best actress: Manon KNEUSÉ in CAMARADES – ARTE
• Best actor: Karim LEKLOU in ELDORADO – ARTE / RTBF
• Best original music: Amine BOUHAFA for PRIVILÈGES – HBO Max

International Competition

Jury: chaired by Benedikt Erlingsson (director and screenwriter), and included Alice Braga (actress and producer), Cécile de France (actress), Hatik (rapper, actor), Luke Watson (screenwriter, director), and Ida Panahandeh (creator, screenwriter, and director).

• Grand Prize: PROUD (Poland) – HBO Max
• Best screenplay: Dennis KELLY for WAITING FOR THE OUT (United Kingdom) – BBC
• Best actress: Amanda JANSSON in MY BROTHER (Sweden) – SVT
• Best actor: Ignacy LISS in PROUD (Poland) – HBO Max

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