The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has unveiled its hotly anticipated list of nominees for the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards, and it’s safe to say there’s a clear front-runner this year. The Netflix limited series Adolescence has swept the board, securing a remarkable 12 nominations—more than any other contender—setting the stage for what could be a historic night at London’s Southbank Centre on May 10.
Announced on March 24, 2026, the nominations reflect a year of bold storytelling and powerhouse performances, with Adolescence at the epicenter of the buzz. The series, which previously made waves by winning nine Emmy Awards last September and scooping up trophies from the SAG Actors Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and the Golden Globes, is now poised to add even more hardware to its growing collection, as reported by AwardsWatch and the BBC.
Leading the charge for Adolescence are Emmy winners Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty, each earning acting nods for their roles in the hard-hitting drama. Graham, nominated for best actor, is recognized for his portrayal of a distressed father, while Doherty is up for supporting actress and is also nominated in the lead actress category for her work in Disney+’s Victorian thriller A Thousand Blows. This dual recognition places Doherty among the most celebrated actors of the season, underscoring her impressive range and versatility.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for two such different roles in the same year,” Doherty shared in a statement provided to the press, echoing the sentiment of many nominees this season. Her performances—one as a psychologist in Adolescence and another as gang leader Mary Carr in A Thousand Blows—have drawn critical acclaim and sparked conversations about representation and complexity in television storytelling.
Alongside Doherty, Aimee Lou Wood has also emerged as a double nominee, vying for best actress for her role as a young woman with agoraphobia in BBC Three’s Film Club and for best supporting actress as a yoga teacher in the dark comedy The White Lotus. Wood’s nominations highlight the breadth of talent recognized by BAFTA this year, especially among young performers taking on challenging roles.
A Thousand Blows itself is no slouch, racking up seven nominations, including best drama, where it faces off against last year’s winner Blue Lights, as well as Code of Silence and This City is Ours. The competition is fierce, but the shared presence of Stephen Graham in both Adolescence and A Thousand Blows is a testament to his standing as one of the UK’s most versatile actors.
Other major contenders include Disney+’s Andor and Channel 4’s Trespasses, each with six nominations, and Channel 4’s The Celebrity Traitors, which earned five nods and leads the entertainment category. Trespasses also picked up a nomination for best limited drama, joining Adolescence and What It Feels Like For A Girl in that prestigious category.
The acting categories are stacked with familiar and fresh faces alike. For best actor, nominees include Colin Firth (Lockerbie: A Search for Truth), Ellis Howard (What It Feels Like For A Girl), James Nelson-Joyce (This City is Ours), Matt Smith (The Death of Bunny Munro), and Taron Egerton (Smoke), each bringing their own brand of gravitas and charisma to the shortlist. The best actress race is equally compelling, featuring Jodie Whittaker (Toxic Town), Narges Rashidi (Prisoner 951), Sheridan Smith (I Fought the Law), Sian Brooke (Blue Lights), Aimee Lou Wood, and Erin Doherty.
Comedy also gets its moment in the sun, with Amandaland dominating the best comedy actress category. Jennifer Saunders, Lucy Punch, and Philippa Dunne are all up for awards, making it a rare triple-threat scenario. The show is also in the running for best scripted comedy, competing against Big Boys, How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge)—with Steve Coogan up for best male comedy actor—and Things You Should Have Done.
On the entertainment front, The Celebrity Traitors stands out not just for its nominations in best reality show and best entertainment performance for host Claudia Winkleman, but also as a contender for the public-voted Memorable Moment Award. This unique category lets viewers have their say, with nominated moments from Adolescence, Big Boys, Blue Lights, The Celebrity Traitors, Last One Laughing, and What It Feels Like For A Girl all in the running.
According to the BBC, other notable nods include Amanda Holden and Alan Carr’s joint nomination for best entertainment performance in Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job, further highlighting the range of genres and personalities recognized by BAFTA’s nearly 40 juries of industry professionals.
The awards also shine a spotlight on news, current affairs, and factual programming. Documentaries such as Louis Theroux: The Settlers, One Day in Southport, Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park, Undercover in the Police (Panorama), BBC Newsnight: Grooming Survivors Speak, and Gaza: Doctors Under Attack are all in contention. Notably, Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was originally scheduled to air on the BBC but was picked up by Channel 4 after impartiality concerns—a reminder of the complex landscape facing documentary filmmakers today.
Children’s programming and sports coverage have not been overlooked. Beloved animated series Shaun the Sheep is among the nominees, while major sporting events such as Wimbledon, the men’s FA Cup, UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, and Sky Sport’s Ryder Cup coverage are all recognized in their respective categories.
For those who love the behind-the-scenes magic, the BAFTA Television Craft Awards will be held on April 26, 2026, hosted by Maisie Adams. These awards celebrate the technical and creative teams whose work brings television to life, from costume and production design to writing, directing, and sound.
This year’s ceremony, hosted by comedian Greg Davies, will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, promising a night of glamour, surprises, and—if the nominations are any indication—plenty of memorable moments. With Adolescence leading the field and a diverse slate of nominees across every category, the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards are shaping up to be a must-watch event for television fans and industry insiders alike.
As the countdown to May 10 continues, all eyes are on London’s Southbank Centre, where the best and brightest of British television will gather to celebrate another year of groundbreaking work and unforgettable storytelling.