BAFTA has opened entries for the 2027 editions of the BAFTA Television Craft Awards and the BAFTA Television Awards and has confirmed categories, eligibility, and voting rules.
The 2027 BAFTA Television Craft Awards will take place on Sunday 25 April and the BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises will be held on Sunday 9 May.
Key Changes this time are in the Emerging Talent: Factual and Emerging Talent: Fiction (TV Craft) categories. The Emerging Talent categories have been updated to “recognise career transitions and better reflect the evolving pathways into and across the screen industries.” Candidates who are already established in either Factual or Fiction genres can now be considered as eligible for Emerging Talent if they switch genres. Candidates who are already established in a craft role or non-craft role can also be considered in these categories if they move into an eligible, distinct craft role.
For the next awards, HBO MAX is to be considered a Broadcaster. With the launch of this new streaming service in the UK, HBO Max will now be considered a ‘Broadcaster’. They will be subject to the standard rules on UK eligibility when determining which categories they can submit entries to.
Bafta is also introducing more Chapter voting for its TV Craft Awards. Costume Design and Make-up and Hair Design chapters will now vote in all three Rounds of the Costume Design and Make-up & Hair Design categories; the Cinematography chapter will now vote in all three Rounds of the Photography: Factual and Photography & Lighting: Fiction categories; and the Casting chapter will now vote in all three Rounds of the Scripted Casting category. Previously, the chapters only voted in Round One of these categories, then juries voted in Round Two and Three.
Sports Coverage returns to Jury vote in Round Two and Three (TV). Following review and industry consultation, after the initial full membership vote in Round One, the Sports Coverage category will return to a Jury vote in Round Two and Round Three. This is to ensure this highly specialised and technical category is assessed primarily on technical execution and craft.
Following industry consultation, BAFTA has updated its rulebook to clarify its approach to AI, reaffirming that the Awards recognise and reward outstanding human creative achievement. The TV and TV Craft Awards rulebooks state:
“The Awards are presented annually to recognise, honour and reward individuals for outstanding human achievement in originating, shaping and realising the final artistic outcome of television regardless of the tools used to bring this work to life. Where the use of Generative AI or other digital tools is relevant to the assessment of the work, BAFTA reserves the right to request additional information regarding the nature of such use and the extent of human creative involvement.”
Bullying and harassment policies will continue to be mandatory for all British productions. This will be extended in 2027, as BAFTA aligns with the work of CIISA (Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority). Entrants are required to declare if productions were committed to consistently safe and inclusive working environments in alignment with the industry-endorsed CIISA Standards. While it is not mandatory to be aligned with the CIISA Standards for the 2027 Awards, the expectation is that this will become a requirement in future years.
Nominations will be announced on 22 March 2027, The BAFTA Television Craft Awards ceremony will be on Sunday 25 April. BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises ceremony will be on Sunday 9 May
Hilary Rosen, chair of BAFTA’s Television Committee, said: “Television continues to be one of the most powerful ways we share stories, spark conversation and unite audiences. As entries open for the 2027 BAFTA TV Craft Awards and BAFTA TV Awards with P&O Cruises, we look forward to celebrating the exceptional creativity, craft and talent behind the programmes that have shaped the year. This year’s rule updates strengthen accessibility, fairness and clarity, and the expertise of our 6,000-strong voting membership, they also reflect the changing nature of our industry, and BAFTA’s continued commitment to recognising outstanding human achievement. BAFTA looks forward to honouring the standout people and productions that will be recognised among the year’s very best.”
Jon Creamer
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