Quinta Brunson to Receive Variety Showrunner Award at 2026 SCAD TVfest
Quinta Brunson, creator, executive producer, and star of ABC hit Abbott Elementary, will receive the Variety Showrunner Award at the 14th annual SCAD TVfest. The university's signature event celebrating the best in TV and streaming will screen at the state-of-the art SCADshow theater in Midtown Atlanta Feb. 4–6, 2026.
Brunson writes, stars, and executive produces the series, which is currently airing its fifth season. In 2022, she became the first solo Black woman to win an Emmy Award for comedy writing. The following year, she became the first Black actress to win the lead comedy actress Emmy in more than 40 years, only the second ever to do so.
Brunson's Emmy streak continued in 2025, as she became the first Black woman to earn three comedy writing nominations for one series. Additionally, her fourth acting nomination made her the third-most nominated Black woman for lead comedy actress.
"With Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson has come up with a show that should be considered right up there with some of the greatest sitcoms of all time," said Variety Senior TV Features Editor Emily Longeretta. "The cast, the storytelling, the subject matter, and, most importantly, the laughs, are why Abbott remains at the head of the class. Quinta is the textbook example of what the Variety Showrunner Award is all about."
"Quinta Brunson is a trailblazing force in television, redefining what it means to be a creator, writer, and performer with the groundbreaking success of Abbott Elementary," said SCAD Executive Director of Theaters and Festivals Christina Routhier. "The series has resonated with audiences through its sharp humor, heartfelt storytelling, and authentic portrayal of educators. Her ability to blend comedy with genuine insight has redefined the modern sitcom, and we are thrilled to honor her outstanding contributions to television with the Variety Showrunner Award at SCAD TVfest, where we celebrate the creators shaping the future of the medium."
Brunson currently appears in Walt Disney Animation Studios' record-breaking Zootopia 2 as the voice of Dr. Fuzzby and will next lend her voice to Warner Bros.' Cat in the Hat and star in Universal Pictures' Par for the Course alongside Stephanie Hsu.
Brunson will accept the award at a special ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6, where the festival will screen an episode of Abbott Elementary, followed by a discussion moderated by Schneider.
Passes are on sale now at scadtvfest.com. The full festival lineup will be announced Friday, Jan. 23, which includes gala premiere screenings, spotlights, panel discussions, Q&A events, and other original content.
Previous recipients of SCAD TVfest's Variety Showrunner Award include the Duffer Brothers ("Stranger Things"); Charlotte Stoudt ("The Morning Show"); Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, and Lucia Aniello ("Hacks"); and Sterlin Harjo ("Reservation Dogs").
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