Original Data · 2026

The 2026 TV Fan Heat Index Report

The definitive data study of TV fandom intensity — 332 characters across 85 shows, ranked by TVCeleb's proprietary Fan Heat Index. Free to cite with attribution.

By the TVCeleb Editorial Team Last updated How we research & score

Key Findings

84.0Average Fan Heat Index across all 332 ranked characters
65"Elite" characters scoring 90+ (the top tier of fandom intensity)
98Highest-scoring character: Grogu / Baby Yoda (The Mandalorian)
88Teen is the hottest genre by average character Fan Heat
  • Grogu / Baby Yoda tops the 2026 index with a Fan Heat Index of 98/100, the most intensely followed character in our database.
  • Grogu / Baby Yoda leads all characters in meme velocity (100/100) — the fastest-spreading character in online culture.
  • Walter White has the strongest fandom longevity (99/100), proof of a fanbase that endures far beyond the premiere.
  • Breaking Bad is the highest-rated series overall with a Fan Heat Score of 95/100.
  • The average character scores 84.0/100, and 20% of ranked characters reach the elite 90+ tier.

Scores are calculated using the TVCeleb Fan Heat Index. See the full methodology for how each dimension is defined and weighted.

Top 50 Characters by Fan Heat Index, 2026

Grogu / Baby Yoda — The Mandalorian98
Walter White — Breaking Bad97
Tony Soprano — The Sopranos97
Jon Snow — Game of Thrones96
Thomas Shelby — Peaky Blinders96
Daemon Targaryen — House of the Dragon96
Eleven / Jane Hopper — Stranger Things95
Rue Bennett — Euphoria95
Rhaenyra Targaryen — House of the Dragon95
Homelander — The Boys95
Jinx / Powder — Arcane95
Jesse Pinkman — Breaking Bad94
Daenerys Targaryen — Game of Thrones94
Michael Scott — The Office (US)94
Chandler Bing — Friends94
Din Djarin / The Mandalorian — The Mandalorian94
Tanya McQuoid — The White Lotus94
Jimmy McGill / Saul Goodman — Better Call Saul94
Daryl Dixon — The Walking Dead94
Loki Laufeyson — Loki94
Tyrion Lannister — Game of Thrones93
Wednesday Addams — Wednesday93
Joel Miller — The Last of Us93
Ted Lasso — Ted Lasso93
Beth Dutton — Yellowstone93
Aemond Targaryen — House of the Dragon93
Fleabag — Fleabag93
Rust Cohle — True Detective93
Rick Grimes — The Walking Dead93
Negan — The Walking Dead93
Steve Harrington — Stranger Things92
Dwight Schrute — The Office (US)92
Seong Gi-hun — Squid Game92
Rachel Green — Friends92
David Rose — Schitt's Creek92
Mark Scout — Severance92
Harvey Specter — Suits92
Yoshii Toranaga — Shogun92
Dexter Morgan — Dexter92
Gustavo "Gus" Fring — Breaking Bad91
Arya Stark — Game of Thrones91
Ellie Williams — The Last of Us91
Ruth Langmore — Ozark91
John Dutton — Yellowstone91
Moira Rose — Schitt's Creek91
Alicent Hightower — House of the Dragon91
Kim Wexler — Better Call Saul91
Billy Butcher — The Boys91
The Priest — Fleabag91
Lady Toda Mariko — Shogun91

Highest-Rated Shows by Fan Heat Score

Breaking Bad95
The Sopranos94
Squid Game93
Friends93
Better Call Saul93
Shogun93
Game of Thrones92
Severance92
The Wire92
The Office (US)91
The Mandalorian91
The Boys91
Stranger Things90
Peaky Blinders90
House of the Dragon90
Arcane90
The Last of Us89
Ted Lasso89
Fleabag89
Loki89
Seinfeld89
Wednesday88
Euphoria88
Schitt's Creek88
Suits88

Hottest Genres (Average Character Fan Heat)

Teen (6 characters)88
Fantasy (29 characters)87
Adventure (32 characters)86
Horror (20 characters)86
Mockumentary (16 characters)85
Sports (6 characters)85
Drama (239 characters)84
Thriller (87 characters)84
Sci-Fi (59 characters)84
Satire (20 characters)84
Romance (27 characters)84
Action (36 characters)84

Fan Heat by Streaming Platform (Average Show Score)

Disney+ (3 shows)89
Apple TV+ (3 shows)88
Netflix (27 shows)87
Max (23 shows)87
Peacock (5 shows)87
Amazon Prime Video (5 shows)86
Hulu (16 shows)85
Paramount+ (3 shows)83

Fan Heat by Decade (Average Show Score)

1980s (1 shows)89
1990s (2 shows)94
2000s (19 shows)86
2010s (42 shows)86
2020s (21 shows)87

2026 Fandom Superlatives

🔥 Meme Velocity championGrogu / Baby Yoda100/100 — The Mandalorian
💬 Engagement championGrogu / Baby Yoda97/100 — The Mandalorian
⏳ Longevity championWalter White99/100 — Breaking Bad
🎨 Fan Art championGrogu / Baby Yoda98/100 — The Mandalorian

Cite This Report

This report is free to reference and quote with attribution to TVCeleb.com. Journalists, bloggers, and researchers are welcome to cite the Fan Heat Index. Suggested citation:

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