Magda Szubanski has stepped back into the spotlight for the first time following her battle with cancer, with the iconic comedian making a wild appearance at the 2026 Logie Awards.
Australia’s biggest night in television came to a close with Sam Pang taking out the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.
Host Robert Irwin, who was also nominated in the same category, brought out Szubanski to announce the winner.
The actor emerged in a khaki fit donning a bandage, arm sling, and covered in various injuries as Irwin introduced her as Australia Zoo’s newest team member.
“Don’t all the trainees fall in the tiger enclosure?” Szubanski asked.
The pair paid homage to her Kath and Kim days when she asked if Irwin could announce the award instead, with the wildlife conservationist protesting that he could not in case he won.
“Like, do you really think that’s gonna happen, Robert?” Szubanski asked.
“Sharon, you can’t leave me. You can’t leave me, Sharon. This is TV’s night of nights, Sharon. Look at me. No, look at me. Look at me. I’ve got one word to say to you Sharon — pleaaaase,” Irwin told her, putting on his best Strzelecki voice.
The appearance marks Szubanski’s first public appearance in months, with the comedian announcing in February she was in remission following a battle with stage four mantle cell lymphoma.
Pang received a standing ovation as he accepted the coveted Gold Logie, with the Have You Been Paying Attention panelist first thanking his family.
“They know how important they are to me. I’d like to thank the one in this country, and the secret one overseas as well,” Pang joked.
He also made special mention of his parents, who he “grew up watching television at the feet of”.
“They wouldn’t let me on the couch,” he quipped.
“Watching television in this country, you just never think you’re going to be on it. So, it’s a wonderful industry, it’s a wonderful world full of talented people and amazing programs, as we’ve all seen tonight.
“I just want to say I’m very, very lucky and very, very grateful to be part of it. Thank you very much.”
Bittersweet win for beloved star
Sam Neill has been awarded a posthumous Logie just weeks after he died, with Heather Mitchell saying her close friend’s “heart would be so full” during a heartfelt tribute.
The Jurassic Park actor took out the gong for Lead Actor in a Drama, with the bittersweet win coming a little more than a month after he died from pneumonia in Sydney.
Neill had announced he had beaten cancer just months prior.
The accolade was awarded for his work on The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer.
His friend, Heather Mitchell, accepted the award on his behalf.
“Hello everyone, I’m so sorry I’m not Sam. I know how much this would mean to Sam,” Mitchell said.
“Looking out here at all of you … I know his heart would be so full, and he’d want to pour you all the wine and embrace you all. Thank you on behalf of Sam.”The Twelve is no stranger to the Logies, with Neill taking out the awards for most popular actor (2023) and best lead actor in a drama (2025) for his work on the popular program.
The show, which sees Neill play a defence lawyer in a jury trial, was also nominated for a series of other Logies between 2023 and 2025.
Mitchell said he was “incredibly proud” of the show and talked about it a lot.
An emotional tribute to all those in the television industry who died over the last year, including Sam Neill, brought the Logies to a pause earlier in the evening.
Katie Noonan and Andrea Lam performed one of Neill’s favourite songs, Don’t Dream It’s Over (originally by Crowded House), during the ceremonies’ in memoriam segment, with photos of all those who died brought up on screen.
Tears as star makes history at TV awards
Deborah Mailman became the very first Indigenous actor to be inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame, with the television star not the only one wiping away tears as her fellow performers cheered her on.
There was hardly a dry eye in the room as Mailman made history on Sunday evening.
The Bidjara and Maori actor wiped away tears as the crowd rose in a standing ovation to recognise her illustrious career.
Mailman, who has starred in a plethora of shows including Offspring and Total Control, said she was “overwhelmed to be the first Aboriginal person to receive this honour”.
“And as I look around the room I’m so proud to see so many of our mob being celebrated tonight,” Mailman said.
The stalwart of Australian film paid particular attention to young star Eloise Hart, who was nominated for a Logie at just 10-years-old for her work on the program Goolagong.
She thanked all her loved ones including her husband, and made special mention of her parents who encouraged her acting journey.
“When I had the dream to be an actor and go to university my parents met my dream with nothing but love and encouragement,” she said.
“And every time I made that 24 ½ hour bus ride on the Greyhound Bus from Brissy back home to Mt Isa, my mum and dad were always there waiting for me.”
Cate Blanchett, Claudia Karvan, and Miranda Tapsell were among those who sang Mailman’s praises in a video played to the ceremony, with her school drama teacher even making a cameo.
“She always brings such depth and intelligence to Australian work,” Tapsell said.
“It’s more than just meat pies and vegemite … there’s more to Australian stories than that and she brings that nuance to it all.”
Blanchett hailed her a “trailblazer”.
“Deb, to go back over your incredible library, not only work but your achievements and your influence — it makes me proud to be Australian, and I’m very proud to be your friend. Congratulations.”
‘Never’: Denton’s James Packer life lesson
Andrew Denton was also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday evening, with the greatest hits of his career played with commentary from his loved ones and former colleagues.
It took a hilarious twist when Australian billionaire James Packer was brought up on screen to sing the praises of the television producer and comedian.
“Congratulations for an amazing career. If I was there, I’d sit on your lap,” Packer said, paying homage to when Denton sat on him at the 1999 Logies.
Denton shared a few lessons from his career including too, including the importance of backing yourself, preparing to fail, and praising others “even if they’re your rival”.
“That’s it, that’s everything I’ve learned, other than never to lap dance James Packer,” Denton said.
He also expressed his joy to be receiving the accolade on the same night as Mailman.
“If you don’t adore Deborah Mailman, you’re on the wrong planet and I suggest you leave it right now,” he said.
“I’m also very relieved, and I’m sure she is too, that this finally puts to bed the rumours that have dogged us for years that she and I are the same person.”
Irwin rips out lizard, snakes at awards
Irwin has stripped down to his khakis and ripped out multiple reptiles, first handing off a blue tongue lizard to Dr Chris Brown.
Brown had earlier asked the wildlife conservationist if he was planning on following in his father’s footsteps and reuniting Tim Webster with a snake on stage at the awards.
Steve Irwin brought out a live snake at the 2003 Logies which went on to bite Webster.
“If there are any animal malfunctions, I know you got my back, mate,” Irwin said on the red carpet.
“I appreciate that. A bit of e-reptile dysfunction, if you will,” Brown replied.
After passing off the lizard to Brown Irwin took out two snakes, passing them through the crowd.
Creator of iconic Aussie show honoured
The creator, writer and producer of the popular Australian show A Country Practice, James Davern, has been honoured as the show was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.
Davern died in 2023 at the age of 90, with his son, Pat Davern, accepting the award on his behalf.
“Dad’s number one rule for making quality television was never underestimate the intelligence of your audience. That belief guided he storylines that cemented the show in the national conscience,” he said.
A group of actors, writers, directors and crew joined Davern on stage in a moving display.
“Dad would have wanted to thank each and every one of you, but since he isn’t here to do it, I will … Thank you, all of you,” he said.
‘Never forget’: Tribute to Bondi victims
Journalists and producers from Seven honoured the 15 innocent people who were killed in the alleged terror attack at Bondi Beach as the network won the Logie for best news or current affairs report.
“This is not a moment for celebration … I think in many ways this is a moment of reflection,” they said.
“We should never forget those 15 innocent lives that were lost.
“Tonight … we should think about doing whatever we can … to ensure that something like this never happens again in this country.”
Karvan’s heartfelt speech
Karvan won the Silver Logie for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her work on the program Homebodies, with the iconic actor’s speech met with enormous applause.
“I’ve won a few of these, and without throwing shade on any of my previous wins, this one feels like the most significant and important one. First trans story at the Logies,” Karvan said.
“May all trans parents and kids — parents of trans kids and trans kids — feel seen and heard.”
Stefanovic, Hanson butt of the joke at awards
Karl Stefanovic was the butt of several jokes at Australia’s biggest night in television, with multiple stars taking aim at the former Today host just weeks after his dramatic exit from Nine.
Irwin took aim at Stefanovic at the beginning of the ceremony, revealing he had saved a seat for the former Today co-host.
“We’re about to get going, but before we do, just a quick little bit of housekeeping,” Irwin said.
“Unfortunately, Karl Stefanovic didn’t RSVP tonight, which means we didn’t have to hire quite as many bartenders. But we’ve kept him a spare seat just in case.
“It’s over there to the right, the far right.”
Guy Montgomery was next in line with a Stefanovic wisecrack, asking if anyone thought the former Today host had “not been the same since he got the Covid vaccine”.
He then announced that Kyle Sandilands was not at the awards, which was met with scattered applause from the crowd.
Pauline Hanson also came under fire when actor Shane Jacobson struggled to open an envelope on stage.
“My god! If Pauline Hanson’s mouth was this hard to open, wouldn’t the world be a better place?” Jacobson said.
Stefanovic was up for a gong for his work on Today just weeks after he left the program.
Australians woke up with Stefanovic for decades, with the veteran broadcaster working for the Nine Network for 26 years before they parted ways back in June.
His exit came shortly after he interviewed far-right activist Tommy Robinson on his personal project, the Karl Stefanovic Show.
His departure from Today played out just four days after voting for the Logies opened, with Stefanovic now just hours from finding out whether he will be crowned the country’s most popular presenter.
He was up against his former Today co-host Sarah Abo, who recently welcomed her first child, Sonny.
Ally Langdon ultimately took out the award.
Former Logies host Sam Pang gave Irwin a bit of advice during the ceremony, telling the young star he was doing a “wonderful job” but to “move it along”.
The jest came just after Irwin had asked A Current Affair presenter Ally Langdon how her night was going, with Langdon replying: “I’ll ask the questions, thank you”.
‘I bleed khaki’: Irwin wins first ever Logie
Irwin has taken out the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter for his work on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.
The young star thanked his co-star, Julia Morris, before telling the crowd he is a wildlife conservationist first and foremost.
“My heart beats from Australia Zoo, and I bleed khaki,” Irwin said.
He said his family, who are on a crocodile expedition in Far North Queensland, were watching the awards via a satellite connection, thanking them and his Australia Zoo team for their support before making a touching tribute to his father, Steve Irwin.
“What an honour it is for all of us together to work toward a mission that my dad started. That is the honour of a lifetime, and I never thought I’d get to bring that mission to this stage,” he said.
“But here we are, and thank you.”
Other big names up for accolades included the likes of Jacob Elordi, Odessa Young, Thomas Weatherall, Asher Keddie, and Simon Baker.
More to come