Ready to dive into the hottest reality shows of 2026? Whether you’re craving gripping competitions, heartfelt love stories, or star-studded dramaaaa, this year’s British reality TV scene has it all. From must-watch reality shows streaming now on BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and more, to exciting new series coming soon, here’s your ultimate guide to the best UK reality TV moments airing and streaming this year. Get comfy, because your next binge-worthy obsession is right here!
The best reality shows of 2026 so far:
Race Across the World (Series 6)
Watch Thursday nights on BBC One at 8pm
Race Across the World returns to iPlayer with its most ambitious journey yet, sending contestants on a breathtaking 12,000-kilmoetre trek winding through Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. Andddd the conditions are wilder than ever, shifting from balmy Mediterranean days at 30 degrees to bone‑chilling, subarctic lows of –20°C. It’s a race of grit and pure determination!!
Married at First Sight Australia (Season 13)
Stream on Channel 4
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Taking blind dates to a new extreme, Aussie singles get thrown into the deep end of matrimony, where they say "I do" to partners chosen by relationship experts, meeting for the first time at the altar. Will it be matrimonial bliss, or chaos reign supreme? Sounds juicy doesn’t it?
Love Island All stars (Season 3)
Stream on ITVX
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you can’t have missed allllll the drama from the latest series 3 drop of Love Island All Stars! We’re talking returning islanders Millie Court, Whitney Abebayo and the one and only Scott van-der-Sluis. Consider our heads fully turned by a cheeky American plot twist!! If you’re wanting a looot of drama and goss, this one’s for you!
Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing
Stream now on Channel 4
Hosted by the legendary , this social experiment throws eight pairs of total strangers – with clashing beliefs, opinions and lifestyles – into the ultimate 24/7 endurance test: being handcuffed together. They’ll face challenges, disagreements and a lot of awkward moments, all in a bid to be in the running for the £100k jackpot!
Celebrity Sabotage
Stream on ITVX
Step right up to ITV’s dazzling brand new reality game show where nothing is what it seems! Innocent contestants think they’ve signed up for a new TV show, we’re talking a wholesome cooking show or maybe a quirky dating series... but oh no. Behind the scenes, a gang of cwelebirty is secretly pulling the strings and causing absolute chaos from a hidden HQ to help the unsuspecting players rack up a whopping £30,000 prize pot!
The trouble-makers are: Joel Dommett, Sam Thompson, Judi Love and GK Barry.
Princess Diaries S2
Stream now on ITVX
We have been waiiiiiting for this series drop! Princess Andre is back with a sparkling new series of Princess Diaries. We saw her countdown to 18 in the previous series, and now we’re getting the VIP backstage pass to big-girl era and career moves. Consider us fully invested!
The Hunt: Predator vs Prey
Stream on Channel 4
Imagine this: Hunger Games meets The Traitors. Dropped right into the deep, dark wilderness, this is a high-stake survival showdown between the predators who stalk the prey to try and snatch their money whilst prey scramble to stay hidden, allll for a massive £100,000 prize!
The Heat
Stream on ITVX
Hosted by the MVP that is Olivia Atwood, ITV dishes up a fiery cooking competition alongside Michelin Star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. 10 chefs turn up the heat, in a super slick Barcelona kitchen, all trying to sauté their way to victory. Buttt, the twist is that even after someone gets the chop, the cameras keeeeep rolling. We’re following them long after service is finished. Expect dates, cocktails and messy nights out antics. It’s Masterchef meets Below Deck - and we’re eating it up.
The Summit
Stream on ITVX
Reality lovers and adventure junkies, brace yourselves… The Summit is ITV’s brand‑new series where 14 strangers from completely different walks of life face the challenge of a lifetime – conquering the breathtaking Alps of New Zealand’s South Island. With a £200,000 prize on the line, alliances will form fast… and crumble even faster. Because in this game, the higher they climb, the more the drama rises with them!
Traitors (Series 4)
Stream now on BBC iPlayer
Oh, we are soooooo back! The Traitors returns to the Highlands with trust in short supply and paranoia piled high. Claudia Winkleman is back in the castle, red cloak and all, as 22 hopefuls from across the UK scheme, swear and side-eye their way towards a £120k prize. With deadlier mind games, trickier missions and banishments that sting even more, expect secrets to spill and friendships to crumble at breakfast.
Made in Chelsea (Series 31)
Stream on Channel 4
Drama, heartbreaks and side-eyes are just a few of the antics you can expect from the socially elite 20-somethings living in some of London’s poshest postcodes. And of course we just can’t get enough of it…
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World (Season 3)
Stream now on BBC iPlayer
Sashay back into the werkroom because the world’s fiercest queens are going head-to-head once again! Fan-favourite Drag Race legends from across the globe return to compete for the ultimate crown – and bragging rights. Expect iconic runway looks, savage lip-syncs, shady one-liners and enough drama to make Mama Ru proud!
Traitors Ireland
Watch on BBC iPlayer
Say hello to Traitors Ireland – and trust us, this one brings the chaos. Hosted by the iconic Siobhán McSweeney, the stakes are sky-high as secret alliances, late-night whispers and jaw-dropping betrayals take over the castle. Friendships will shatter, trust will be tested and nobody is safe.
First Dates Beach Club
Stream on Channel 4
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Dreaming of a holiday? Let First Dates Beach Club fly you away to sun-soaked Spain. Think beachside cocktails, cheeky flirting and blind dates that you’ll totally get invested in. But there’s a twist!? These singletons won’t just go on ONE date but stay at the resort and meet a whooole line up of daters. And of course, trusty Fred Sirieix and Merlin Griffiths will be close by playing Cupid.
Can’t stop thinking of the beautiful Spain scenery? Freely have curated an ultimate list of the best travel shows to inspire your wanderlust!
Coming Soon:
I’m a Celebrity South Africa (Season 2)
Stream on ITVX
I’m a Celebrity: South Africa is the ultimate all‑stars edition, swapping the usual Aussie sunshine (and inevitable downpours) for the wild, awe‑inspiring landscapes of South Africa’s Kruger National Park. No more Australian bush… this time our celebs are thrown into an entirely new terrain, teeming with new challenges!
Braving the wilderness this time is a legendary line‑up including Adam Thomas, Scarlett Moffatt, Sir Mo Farah, and the icon herself - Gemma Collins.
The Neighbourhood
Stream on ITVX
Hosted by the incomparable Graham Norton, this show throws real life households into a purpose-built mini-neighbourhood where the stakes are high, the challenges are street sized, and the drama is deliciously unavoidable! They live together 24/7 and thennn need to vote each other out! The game play is to outsmart your neighbours, and edge closer to the big ol’ cash prize by staying the most popular on the street! Welcome to the block party of the century!
Virgin Island (Season 2)
Stream on Channel 4
Virgin Island is officially coming back on our screens! Following adult virgins who have travelled to a gorgeous Mediterranean retreat to take their very first steps in intimacy, all kindly guided through by specialists. It’s warm and super thought-provoking.
The Only Way is Essex (Season 37)
Stream on ITVX
TOWIE is backkkkkk for its 37th series, and this time the drama is kicking off in Vietnam! The case are diving straight back into the chaos following that explosive Christmas specials. Joining the Essex crew are new cast members Joe and Jonnie Gurie, twin TikTok sensations who are about to shake things up! And of course familiar faves are returning, including Amy Childs, Harry Derbridge and Lauren Goodger.
Celebs Go Dating
Stream on Channel 4
Your fave agency doors are swinging open once again as Celebs Go Dating returns for its 15th series, and the hunt for the one is officially back on! This series star-studded line up features: James Haskell, Colleen Nolan (Loose Women), Lucinda Light (Married at First Sight Australia), Gabby Allen (Love Island), and David Potts (Big Brother, Ibiza Weekender). We’re soooo ready for heart-fluttering chaos.
If you're loving the recommendations why not discover all the new dramas coming in 2026!
