Adolescence Dominates Bafta TV Award Nominations for 2026
The British Academy of Television Arts and Crafts has unveiled the nominations for the 2026 Bafta TV awards, with Netflix's gripping drama Adolescence emerging as a frontrunner across several key categories. This year's list showcases a diverse array of British television excellence, spanning drama, comedy, reality, and factual programming.
Full List of Nominees Across Major Categories
In the drama series category, nominees include A Thousand Blows on Disney+, Blue Lights on BBC One, Code of Silence on ITV1, and This City Is Ours on BBC One. The limited drama section features Adolescence on Netflix, alongside I Fought the Law on ITV1, Trespasses on Channel 4, and What It Feels Like for a Girl on BBC Three.
International contenders are strong, with The Bear on Disney+, The Diplomat on Netflix, Pluribus on Apple TV, Severance on Apple TV, The Studio on Apple TV, and The White Lotus on Sky Atlantic all vying for recognition.
Acting Categories Highlight Star-Studded Lineups
Leading actress nominations feature Aimee Lou Wood for Film Club on BBC Three, Erin Doherty for A Thousand Blows on Disney+, Jodie Whittaker for Toxic Town on Netflix, Narges Rashidi for Prisoner 951 on BBC One, Sheridan Smith for I Fought the Law on ITV1, and Siân Brooke for Blue Lights on BBC One.
In the leading actor category, nominees include Colin Firth for Lockerbie: A Search for Truth on Sky Atlantic, Ellis Howard for What It Feels Like for a Girl on BBC Three, James Nelson-Joyce for This City is Ours on BBC One, Matt Smith for The Death of Bunny Munro on Sky Atlantic, Stephen Graham for Adolescence on Netflix, and Taron Egerton for Smoke on Apple TV.
Comedy and Supporting Roles Showcase Talent
Scripted comedy nominees are Amandaland on BBC One, Big Boys on Channel 4, How are you? It's Alan (Partridge) on BBC One, and Things You Should Have Done on BBC Three. Supporting actress and actor categories feature performances from shows like Adolescence, The White Lotus, and Get Millie Black, highlighting the depth of talent in British television.
Reality, Factual, and Specialised Programming
Reality TV nominations include The Celebrity Traitors on BBC One, The Jury: Murder Trial on Channel 4, Squid Game: The Challenge on Netflix, and Virgin Island on Channel 4. Factual series contenders are Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park on Sky Documentaries, Educating Yorkshire on Channel 4, See No Evil on Channel 4, and The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed on ITV1.
Specialist factual nominees cover historical and documentary topics, such as Belsen: What They Found on BBC Two and Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz on BBC Two. Live event coverage includes Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 on BBC One and VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember on BBC One.
Memorable Moments and Additional Categories
The memorable moment category features standout scenes from Adolescence, Big Boys, Blue Lights, The Celebrity Traitors, Last One Laughing UK, and What It Feels Like for a Girl. Other categories include news coverage, single documentaries, soap operas, sports coverage, daytime TV, and children's programming, ensuring a comprehensive celebration of the year's television achievements.
With Adolescence leading the nominations, the 2026 Bafta TV awards promise to be a highly competitive event, reflecting the vibrant and innovative landscape of British television. The full list underscores the industry's commitment to quality storytelling across genres.
