The Grierson Trust’s longlist for the 2026 British Documentary Awards is led by the BBC with 32 entries, followed by Channel 4 with 19 and Netflix with 17.
Sky Documentaries has seven entries on the longlist, with National Geographic at five, Apple TV+, ITV and The Guardian with three each, Disney+ with two, and HBO Max, Prime Video, Channel 5, and Discovery with one each.
By production company, meanwhile, Rogan Productions has the highest number of entries with selections in five categories for The Secret of Me, Grenfell: Uncovered and Boombox: Beats and Betrayal.
A total of 11 titles are recognized in more than one category. In addition to the aforementioned The Secret of Me and Grenfell: Uncovered, the other single docs and series in the running in multiple categories are 2000 Meters to Andriivka, Come See Me in the Good Light, Hostage, Molly vs THE MACHINES, Queen of Chess, Songs from the Hole: Bleeding Fingers, Storyville—The Darkest Web, The Dunblane Tapes, and The Mother of All Cons.
You can see the entire longlist here.
This year’s Best Science and Natural History Documentary award will be presented as the Sir David Attenborough Award for Best Science and Natural History Documentary. Also new for this year is the introduction of Best Digital Documentary and the return of Channel 4 Best Constructed and Formatted Documentary Series, and Most Entertaining Documentary.
Sylvia Bednarz, MD of the Grierson Trust, said: “As the documentary sector continues to face a challenging landscape, it is hugely encouraging to see the originality and caliber of this year’s Grierson Awards longlist. With an exceptional 511 entries, the breadth and quality of submissions this year has been remarkable, showcasing the extraordinary creativity of documentary makers across the industry. We’re particularly pleased that more than 40% of the longlisted titles are directed by women, underlining the importance of supporting and trusting female directors to tell stories with authority and vision.”
Tom McDonald, chair of the Grierson Trust, added: “This longlist shows that, despite the challenges facing the industry across the globe, documentary storytelling is vibrant and vital. Many of the longlisted films and series reflect some of the most pressing stories and issues of our time, from the impact of AI and technology on our lives to stories of incarceration, of war, of civil unrest, as well as films which reflect the joys of life and love in these most complex of times. Congratulations to all of the nominees.”
