The 2026 Magnolia Awards nominations are generating major controversy across Chinese social media, with stars including Xiao Zhan, Yang Zi, and Hu Ge becoming the center of intense online debate.
According to Chinese media outlet 163, many viewers questioned whether some nominations truly reflected acting ability and project quality, while others accused powerful production companies of influencing the award selection process.
One of the most discussed names was Xiao Zhan, who received his first-ever Best Actor nomination at the Magnolia Awards for the historical drama The Legend of Zanghai.
The drama achieved strong ratings, online popularity, and reportedly even boosted local tourism, making Xiao Zhan one of the most talked-about actors of the year.
However, controversy erupted after online discussions promoted his nomination as “breaking a 13-year curse against historical dramas” at the Magnolia Awards.
Many netizens quickly mocked the statement, pointing out that actors had already received nominations for historical dramas in recent years. Viewers referenced Zhang Ruoyun’s nomination for Joy of Life 2 in 2025, while actor Bai Yu is also competing in this year’s Best Actor category with the historical drama Taiping Nian.
As a result, critics accused Xiao Zhan’s team of exaggerating achievements for publicity purposes.
Meanwhile, Yang Zi’s nomination also triggered heated discussion online.
The actress achieved the rare feat of receiving three consecutive Best Actress nominations through projects including Lost You Forever, Flourished Peony, and Tree of Life.
However, many viewers criticized her performance in Tree of Life, arguing that her emotional acting appeared exaggerated during intense scenes. Some netizens additionally claimed the drama itself underperformed in ratings despite still receiving eight nominations overall.
Questions also emerged surrounding Hu Ge’s Best Actor nomination.
Critics argued that Hu Ge’s role in his nominated project felt more like a special appearance or extended cameo rather than a full leading role, causing some viewers to question the award’s nomination standards.
Beyond individual performances, many online discussions focused on the influence of major production companies behind the scenes.
Netizens pointed out that Xiao Zhan, Yang Zi, and Hu Ge all starred in productions connected to Daylight Entertainment, one of China’s most powerful drama studios based in Shanghai — the same city where the Magnolia Awards are held.
Some viewers speculated that large production houses may hold significant influence over award nominations each year.
The debate also reignited wider criticism about fairness within Chinese entertainment awards.
Chinese outlet QQ referenced previous controversies involving actor Shen Teng, who reportedly received zero votes at the Hundred Flowers Awards despite being one of China’s highest-grossing and most commercially successful actors.
Similarly, although Shen Teng played the lead role in the blockbuster film Full River Red, it was younger actor Jackson Yee who ultimately received the Best Actor nomination.
These recurring controversies continue fueling public skepticism over whether Chinese film and television awards are determined purely by artistic merit — or increasingly shaped by industry influence and behind-the-scenes power dynamics.
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