AceShowbiz - The upcoming Royal Television Society (RTS) Program Awards 2026 have recognized the Netflix hit series Adolescence with an impressive six nominations, making it the most nominated individual show this year. The series, which has already garnered significant acclaim including eight Emmy wins last year, continues its strong presence in the awards circuit, highlighted by nods for key cast members such as Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, and Erin Doherty.

The full list of nominations was revealed on Tuesday in partnership with Cast & Crew, ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for March 24, which will be hosted by comedian and presenter Tom Allen. Across 29 competitive categories, the BBC leads with a total of 47 nominations, dominating several fields including comedy and drama.

Within the scripted comedy category, the BBC secured all four nominations with shows like Here We Go, Such Brave Girls, How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), and Things You Should Have Done. Other notable contenders with multiple nominations include Apple TV's Slow Horses, Channel 4's Big Boys, and ITV's Code of Silence, each receiving three nods in the scripted categories.

In addition to the widespread recognition of Adolescence, Erin Doherty is also nominated for her role in Disney+’s A Thousand Blows. Other prominent acting nominations include Aimee Lou Wood and Saskia Reeves for their performances in Slow Horses. The leading actor category features Anthony Boyle from House of Guinness alongside co-star Bobby Schofield from Unforgivable.

The newly expanded entertainment and reality category highlights popular shows such as Race Across the World and The Celebrity Traitors, both produced by Studio Lambert for the BBC, as well as Married at First Sight UK on E4. Notably, Claudia Winkleman, host of The Celebrity Traitors, has earned a nomination for entertainment performance.

Every year, the RTS selects rising talent for the Breakthrough Award, and the 2026 shortlist includes Ellis Howard for What It Feels Like for a Girl, Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie for Just Act Normal, Maximilian Fairley for Unforgotten, and Owen Cooper for Adolescence. This acknowledgment highlights emerging performers who have made significant impacts on-screen.

Below is a detailed overview of the nominations across various categories for the RTS Program Awards 2026:

Arts nominees include Nick Cave’s Veiled World (Sky Arts), The Last Musician of Auschwitz (BBC), and The Trouble With Mr Doodle (Channel 4).

Breakthrough Award nominees are Ellis Howard (What It Feels Like for a Girl), Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie (Just Act Normal), Maximilian Fairley (Unforgotten), and Owen Cooper (Adolescence).

Children’s Programme features nominations like Crongton (BBC), Sky Kids Investigates: World. War. Me. (Sky News), and Wolf King (Netflix).

Comedy Drama contenders include Big Boys (Channel 4), Dreaming Whilst Black (BBC), and Juice (BBC).

Comedy Entertainment nominations feature Last One Laughing (Prime Video), Taskmaster (Channel 4), and Would I Lie to You? (BBC).

In the Comedy Performance - Female category, nominees include Jordan Gray (Transaction), Katherine Parkinson (Here We Go), Lucy Punch, and Philippa Dunne (both for Amandaland).

Comedy Performance - Male nominations include Adjani Salmon (Dreaming Whilst Black), Jon Pointing (Big Boys), Oliver Savell (Changing Ends), and Steve Coogan (How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge)).

Daytime Programme nominees comprise BBC Breakfast: Our Girls: The Southport Families, Loose Women, and The Marvellous Miniature Workshop.

Documentary Series includes Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park, Boyzone: No Matter What, and Murder 24/7.

Drama Series nominations feature Blue Lights (BBC), Code of Silence (ITV), Slow Horses (Apple TV), and This City Is Ours (BBC).

Entertainment & Reality categories include Married at First Sight UK (E4), Race Across The World (BBC), and The Celebrity Traitors (BBC).

Entertainment Performance nominees are Rob Beckett & Romesh Ranganathan (Rob & Romesh Vs), Romesh Ranganathan (Romesh: Can’t Knock the Hustle), and Claudia Winkleman (The Celebrity Traitors).

Formatted Popular Factual includes Go Back to Where You Came From, The Assembly, and The Jury: Murder Trial.

History nominations recognize Flight 149: Hostage of War, Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz, and Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire.

Leading Actor - Female nominations include Rose Ayling-Ellis (Code Of Silence), Erin Doherty (A Thousand Blows), Narges Rashidi (Prisoner 951), and Tamara Lawrance (Get Millie Black).

Leading Actor - Male nominees include Anthony Boyle (House of Guinness), Bobby Schofield (Unforgivable), Malachi Kirby (A Thousand Blows), and Stephen Graham (Adolescence).

Limited Series and Single Drama nominees feature Adolescence, Get Millie Black, I Fought the Law, and What It Feels Like for a Girl.

Live Event nominations include VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember, Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, and Last Night of the Proms: Finale.

Presenter category nominees are Hamza Yassin (Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles), Martin Lewis (The Martin Lewis Money Show Live), and Davina McCall (Stand Up To Cancer: Cancer Clinic Live).

Science & The Natural World nominees include Confessions Of A Brain Surgeon, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey, and Underdogs.

Scripted Comedy is represented by Here We Go, How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), Such Brave Girls, and Things You Should Have Done.

Single Documentary nominees include Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, Grenfell: Uncovered, and Groomed: A National Scandal.

Soap and Continuing Drama nominations go to Casualty, EastEnders, and Hollyoaks.

With its six nominations, Adolescence solidifies its status as a major contender in this year’s RTS Program Awards, reflecting Netflix’s continued investment in high-quality, critically acclaimed television programming. The show’s multiple acknowledgments across acting and drama categories underscore its impact and recognition within the UK television industry.