With wildlife warrior, reality TV champ and sometime underwear model Robert Irwin hosting the 2026 Logies, anything could happen.
The 22 year old is the youngest ever host of the Australian television industry's night of nights, from a generation more into TikTok than free-to-air broadcasting.
Irwin has just under 10 million Instagram followers, due partly to a viral salsa routine on the US version of Dancing With The Stars in late 2025, during which he ripped his shirt off and then went on to win the competition.
Ahead of his Logies hosting duties, Irwin explained the Australian television awards to his many American followers.
"For all my mates in the States, it's kinda like our version of the Emmys," he explained in a video.
The multi-hyphenate TV host and son of the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin is also one of six nominees for the coveted Gold Logie - and the only one with the animal kingdom on his side.
Who knows, he might even stand on the podium, tear open the envelope containing the secret of the 2026 winner ... and read out his own name.
In the 66th year of the Logies, Irwin has been nominated for the little golden statue alongside his I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! Australia co-host Julia Morris, making it the fifth time Morris has been been in the running for the top gong.
Channel 10 axed the reality TV staple I'm a Celebrity earlier in 2026 after a 12-season run, before it was picked up by Seven, with the network reportedly on the hunt for fresh hosts.
Could there be anything more representative of the jungle that is the Australian television industry, than the hosts of an axed show competing for a Gold Logie?
Maybe that time at the 2003 Logies, when Channel 10 sports reader Tim Webster was bitten by a snake handled by Steve Irwin, leaving him with puncture marks and a bruise, and regretting his front row seat at the glamorous awards night.
Logies host for the past three years Sam Pang is also up for the Gold, and it's widely agreed his zinger-filled hosting stint will be a tough act to follow.
But Robert Irwin's day job in between television gigs is still catching crocodiles, so even following Sam Pang shouldn't scare him too much.
The other nominees for the Gold are Nine's Ally Langdon and Todd Woodbridge, the ABC's Lisa Millar, and Ten's Poh Ling Yeow.
The 2026 Logies will also present the inaugural Bruce McAvaney Award for Most Popular Sports Presenter.
It's one race McAvaney can't call, especially since the veteran presenter is also one of the nominees - which might be awkward if he doesn't win.
Multiple Logies winner Deborah Mailman will meanwhile become the first Indigenous Australian ushered into the awards' Hall of Fame along with two other inductees yet to be named.
The winner of the Gold will be chosen by public vote, and Irwin has encouraged people to vote for his popular co-host.
The awards night will be held at The Star in Sydney on Sunday night and broadcast on the Seven network, with public voting for the Gold Logie closing at 10pm.
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