VRT Awards 2026 Held in New York, Free Philo Stream Set for October 9
The second annual VRT Awards took place October 6 at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan and will stream free on Philo in the US from October 9. Winners included Ariana Biermann, Meredith Marks and Luann de Lesseps, while viewers abroad may need a VPN to watch.
The event, also called the Virtual Reali-Tea, was hosted by Danny Murphy and Evan Real, who also host the Virtual Reali-Tea podcast. Scheana Shay of Vanderpump Rules and Bravo figure Luann de Lesseps performed. TechRadar reported that Summer House was popular in fan-voted categories, while The Real Housewives of Rhode Island won Best Cast, a result that stood out because it is the newest show in the franchise. The Golden Kettle Award went to the cast of The Golden Life, which includes de Lesseps.
In the individual categories, Ariana Biermann won Breakout Star. Meredith Marks was named Style Icon of the Year. Lindsay Hubbard and Gemma won Favorite Dynamic Duo. Kyle Cooke took Hot Tea of the Year. Ciara Miller won Best Reunion Performance. Luann de Lesseps was named Musician of the Year. Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga and Dolores Catania shared the Best Return to Screen award, according to TechRadar. The report also listed nominees: Trinity Tatum, Mia Calabrese and Alicia Carmody in Breakout Star; Paris Hilton, Ariana Madix and Bronwyn Newport in Style Icon; Austen Kroll and Salley Carson, Layla Taylor and Miranda Hope, and Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon in Favorite Dynamic Duo; Bryce Alakai, Robert Irwin and Fraser Olender in Hot Tea; Maddi Reese, Jo-Ellen Tiberi and Karen Huger in Best Reunion Performance; Scheana Shay, Ashley Darby and Drew Sidora in Musician of the Year; and Carole Radziwill, Lala Kent and Vicki Gunvalson in Best Return to Screen.
For US viewers, Philo will carry the ceremony in full. The streaming service is a live TV platform comparable to Sling and Fubo but less expensive, though some channels are missing. While Philo subscriptions can cost money, TechRadar reported that the VRT Awards 2026 coverage is free. The event will begin streaming on the platform on Friday, October 9.
Philo is restricted to US viewers, and the VRT Awards are tied exclusively to Philo, so people outside the United States cannot technically watch the show there without a workaround. TechRadar recommended using a VPN, specifically NordVPN, to bypass geo-locked content when traveling abroad. The report cited NordVPN discounts of 75 percent off and three extra months free, and said the service unlocks Philo. TechRadar regularly reviews major VPN providers and named NordVPN as its top choice.
Danny Murphy and Evan Real, the hosts, have backgrounds in broadcasting and reality TV coverage. Murphy has appeared on SiriusXFM and co-hosted Not Another True Crime Podcast for Betches Media, and he is a comedian with a large social media following. Real hosted a morning show on SiriusXFM, appeared on Entertainment Tonight and The Wendy Williams Show, and has hosted panels at BravoCon, according to TechRadar.
The report also directed readers to related streaming guides, including how to watch The Girls: A Khloé Kardashian Project, Heartbeat and The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked season 2 online. It added that VPN services are evaluated and tested by TechRadar for legal recreational use, such as accessing services from other countries subject to their terms and conditions and improving online privacy and security.