BAFTA TV Awards Unveils 2026 Host — Find Out Who Will Lead TV’s Big Night

Well, here’s something a little fun for your awards-season calendar: BAFTA has picked Greg Davies to host the BAFTA Television Awards in 2026. If you’re a fan of chaotic comedy game shows, you probably already know Davies as the towering (literally) energy behind Taskmaster, but now he’ll be wrangling a slightly different crowd on one of Britain’s biggest TV nights.

Greg Davies Steps Up as BAFTA TV Awards Host

This will actually be Davies’ first time at the helm of the BAFTA TV Awards. The ceremony is set for May 10, 2026, at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London—so if you’re the type that likes to mark your calendar years in advance, now’s your chance.

Davies isn’t exactly lacking in hosting experience. Alongside Taskmaster (where he’s been roasting comedians since 2015), he’s had memorable roles on The Inbetweeners and The Cleaner—so he’s no stranger to British TV fans. He’ll be taking over BAFTA hosting duties from Alan Cumming, who led the show in 2025.

What Changed After Last Year?

For a bit of recent history: this handoff to Davies comes in the shadow of last year’s BAFTA TV Awards, which (let’s just say) got national attention for all the wrong reasons. That ceremony, hosted by Cumming, ended up infamous after Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson dropped several racial slurs on air. BAFTA is probably hoping for a smoother (and less headline-grabbing) night this time around.

Davies’ Take on Hosting (in Classic Greg Davies Fashion)

"I see the whole event as an opportunity to wave a flag for this beloved medium and, with the exception of one commissioner, two execs and a co-star that I have personal beef with, I will do everything I can to ensure it’s a night of warm celebration for all."

Classic Davies: warm, slightly sarcastic, and absolutely not above reminding everyone he’s got a few axes to grind. (Hopefully, those three people are either in on the joke—or have a good sense of humor.)

Who’s in the Running This Time?

The nominations roll out Tuesday at midday (local UK time), but there’s early buzz that Netflix’s Adolescence could run the table after dominating at earlier award shows. Other shows getting a lot of hype right now: The Pitt and Pluribus. Expect most of the headlines to be about those, unless a dark horse sneaks in—it usually happens at least once at these things.

Key Details, at a Glance

• Date & Venue: May 10, 2026, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
• Host: Greg Davies (first time)
• Replacing: Alan Cumming (2025 host)
• Nominations Announcement: Tuesday, midday UK time
• Shows to Watch: Adolescence (Netflix), The Pitt, Pluribus
• Previous BAFTA TV Awards Drama: Last year’s ceremony marred by a guest’s inappropriate outbursts

Emma Baehr (one of the BAFTA execs) chimed in that Davies’ 'sharp humour, warmth and energy will set the stage for an unforgettable night honoring the very best in British television.' Having seen Davies in action, she’s probably not wrong—although, honestly, one or two good-natured roastings would make the show a lot more watchable.

So if you’d rather watch someone poke fun at your favorite TV stars than see a parade of scripted speeches, mark your calendars: 2026 might actually be an awards show worth staying up for. (No promises about what kind of chaos Greg Davies stirs up, but there’s a reason BAFTA picked him.)