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STARS of the small screen are preparing to descend on The O2 for one of the biggest nights in the British TV calendar.

The 31st National Television Awards (NTAs) take place tonight (September 8), with the winners decided entirely by viewers.

Joel Dommett is back at the helm for a sixth consecutive year, while Sir David Attenborough, Ant and Dec, Claudia Winkleman, and Stacey Solomon are among the famous faces hoping to take home a trophy.

This year has also produced the first all-female Drama Performance shortlist in NTA history.

Sheridan Smith, Ruth Jones, Vicky McClure, Ella Bruccoleri, and Judy Parfitt are all in contention for the gong.

Here’s when the show starts and every nominee who has made the final cut.

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When are the NTAs 2026 and what time do they start?

The 2026 NTAs are being staged at The O2 in London on Tuesday, September 8.

The ceremony starts live at 8pm and is scheduled to run until 10.30pm.

Viewers can watch on ITV1 and ITVX, with the show also available on STV and STV Player in Scotland.

The final public vote closed at noon today, eight hours before the ceremony begins.

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Gary Lineker caused one of the biggest upsets last year when he won TV Presenter, ending Ant & Dec’s extraordinary 23-year run of victories in the category.

What is the NTA shortlist?

There are two rounds of voting at the NTAs.

Back in May, the first round began when viewers chose their favourites from a much larger longlist of shows and stars across 15 categories.

The five contenders receiving the most votes in each category then progressed to the shortlist, which was revealed on August 18.

Voting then reopened for the second stage, with votes cast during both the longlist and shortlist rounds added together to decide the winners.

The 2026 NTA nominees are as follows:

Reality Competition

New Drama

Quiz Show

Authored Documentary

Returning Drama

  • Blue Lights
  • Bridgerton
  • Call the Midwife
  • Stranger Things
  • Trigger Point

TV Presenter

  • Alison Hammond
  • Ant and Dec
  • Claudia Winkleman
  • David Attenborough
  • Stacey Solomon

Reality Docuseries

  • At Home With The Furys
  • Clarkson’s Farm
  • Fletchers’ Family Farm
  • Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
  • Stacey & Joe

Comedy

  • Amandaland
  • Changing Ends
  • Last One Laughing
  • Mrs Brown’s Boys
  • Not Going Out

Drama Performance

  • Ella Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet (The Other Bennet Sister)
  • Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan (Call the Midwife)
  • Ruth Jones as Elena Ravenscroft (Run Away)
  • Sheridan Smith as Ann Ming (I Fought The Law)
  • Vicky McClure as Lana Washington (Trigger Point)

The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award

  • Gladiators
  • Michael McIntyre’s Big Show
  • The Graham Norton Show
  • The Masked Singer
  • Would I Lie to You?

Serial Drama

Serial Drama Performance

  • Aaron Thiara as Ravi Gulati (EastEnders)
  • Gareth Pierce as Todd Grimshaw (Coronation Street)
  • Jeff Hordley as Cain Dingle (Emmerdale)
  • Paul Bradley as Nigel Bates (EastEnders)
  • Sue Devaney as Debbie Webster (Coronation Street)

Factual Entertainment

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Daytime

Talent Show


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