The National Television Awards (NTAs) have revealed their 2026 nominations, with one category featuring an all-female shortlist for the first time. The 31st ceremony will take place in September, with public voting open on the National Television Awards website until midday on Tuesday, September 8, just hours before the event.
Comedian Joel Dommett will host for the sixth time at The O2 in London, with the ceremony broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX from 8pm.
All-Female Drama Performance Shortlist
This year marks a milestone as the drama performance category is entirely female. Gavin And Stacey star Ruth Jones will compete against Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Sheridan Smith, and Vicky McClure for the prize.
New Category for Celebrity-Led Reality Shows
A new category recognises the rise of fly-on-the-wall celebrity-led shows, with At Home With The Furys, Clarkson’s Farm, and Stacey & Joe going head-to-head. They are joined by Fletchers’ Family Farm, featuring Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, and Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, starring comedians Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse.
In the reality competition category, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and The Traitors dominate, along with their spin-offs I’m A Celebrity… South Africa and The Celebrity Traitors, plus Race Across The World.
Drama and Presenter Nominations
Breakout romance series Heated Rivalry, starring Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams as rival hockey players who fall in love, is nominated for the new drama prize. It competes against A Woman Of Substance, Believe Me, I Fought The Law, and The Other Bennet Sister.
Sir David Attenborough, celebrating his 100th birthday, is recognised for his nature documentary Secret Garden and is also up for the TV presenter prize. He faces This Morning host Alison Hammond, Sort Your Life Out star Stacey Solomon, and Claudia Winkleman, current face of The Traitors. Ant and Dec are also in the running after their 23-year winning streak was ended by Gary Lineker at the 2025 ceremony.
Ant and Dec are also nominated in the quiz show section for Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win, against Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, Richard Osman’s House of Games, The 1% Club, and The Chase.
Comedy, Documentaries, and More
Comedy nominations include Amandaland, Changing Ends, Last One Laughing, Not Going Out, and Mrs Brown’s Boys, which recently cancelled its Christmas and New Year specials as creator Brendan O’Carroll faces an “unexpected medical issue”.
The authored documentary category features posthumous appearances from Caroline Flack and Ozzy Osbourne in Caroline Flack: Search For The Truth and Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home. Also nominated are Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix, Our Girls: The Southport Families, and Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage And Me.
Serial drama nominations include Casualty, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, and Hollyoaks, with actors Aaron Thiara, Jeff Hordley, and Gareth Pierce among those up for serial drama performance. Other categories cover factual entertainment, daytime, talent show, returning drama, and The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award, with Gladiators, The Masked Singer, The Graham Norton Show, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, and Would I Lie To You? in the running.
