Heartstopper Season 3 Earns Five Nods at the Children’s & Family Emmys

Yesterday, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences dropped the full list of nominees for its fourth annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards—the first major Emmys event of the year and the only one fully dedicated to kids’ and family programming. And leading the rainbow charge again this year is none other than Heartstopper, which continues to be the soft, romantic, rainbow-colored beating heart of young adult television. Our beloved series secured five nominations, making it one of the standout contenders of the entire lineup.

Heartstopper Season 3 is up for Outstanding Young Teen Series, where it’s going head-to-head with Netflix’s Sweet Tooth, Disney+’s Goosebumps: The Vanishing and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, and Apple TV’s Time Bandits. It’s a stacked category, but honestly? Our gay little hearts believe in the power of Nick and Charlie.

Speaking of Nick and Charlie, both lead actors—Kit Connor and Joe Locke—earned nominations for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program for their unforgettable work as Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring. It’s especially heartwarming to remember that during the first annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, Connor won this very award for Season 1, when he and Locke were also competing against each other. And honestly, it would be amazing to see Locke finally get his long-overdue Emmy, too. Full circle, full feelings.

Anygays, Season 3’s emotional gem, Episode 4, Journey, rounded out the final two nominations for Heartstopper: Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Series for creator and writer Alice Oseman, and Outstanding Directing for a Live Action Series for director Andy Newberry. Journey had us all openly weeping into our pillowcases, so this feels extremely deserved to be honest.

With Heartstopper Forever gearing up to close the TV chapter of this universe, it’d be genuinely beautiful to see the show take home a couple of golden statues before its final goodbye. A little Emmy sparkle would be a fitting tribute to a series that has given LGBTQ+ audiences, especially young viewers, a rare space of joy, softness, and representation.

And while LGBTQ+ stories are still slowly carving out more space in children’s and family programming, we still had a few more rainbow-tinted nods to celebrate this year. Cynthia Erivo scored a nomination for Outstanding Single Role Voice Performer for playing The Slink in Disney’s RoboGobo. The show also earned a nod for Outstanding Original Song for a Preschool Program for The Show Will Go On, performed by none other than Alan Cumming. And Netflix’s XO, Kitty grabbed a well-earned nomination for Outstanding Choreography.

Even if our community’s presence in these categories is still limited, we’re here, we’re nominated, and we’re rooting for all of our queer and queer-adjacent talent. The winners will be announced during the 2025 Children’s & Family Emmys, happening March 1 and 2 in New York City at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall. Additional winners in the Juried Individual Achievement in Animation categories will be announced early next year, along with the Lifetime Achievement honoree, host, and presenters.

To browse the full list of nominees, head over to the official Emmys website here.

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The 4th Annual Children’s & Family Emmys will take place on March 1 and 2. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Netflix.