UK film and TV production contracts sharply in 2026
New BFI statistics show a steep decline in UK production spending through September.
Translated from Dutch by AI
UK film and high-end television production reached £4.1 billion in the first nine months of 2026. That is lower than in the same period of 2025, when the BFI recorded £5.5 billion.
The British Film Institute published new official statistics on film and high-end television production on Tuesday. Combined spending from January to September 2026 was 25.5 per cent lower than a year earlier. In 2024, the comparable total was £4.7 billion.
The decline is visible in both film and high-end television. Film production reached approximately £1.3 billion, according to reporting on the BFI figures, compared with £2 billion in the first nine months of 2025. High-end television accounted for 133 programmes, with £2.79 billion in UK spending.
Show the figures
| Film and high-end television | |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 4.7mld £ |
| 2025 | 5.5mld £ |
| 2026 | 4.1mld £ |
The figures cover productions that meet the UK’s cultural and tax requirements. They therefore do not measure all filming taking place in the United Kingdom, nor do they provide a complete picture of post-production, development or spending outside the country.
The decline comes as UK producers face more cautious commissioning by broadcasters and streamers. The Guardian linked the figures to announced savings at ITV, which is removing £25 million from its fourth-quarter content budget. That is a separate corporate decision and is not part of the BFI statistic.
For the sector, the combination of lower domestic commissions and fewer large international productions is particularly relevant. The figures do not show that the UK production system is becoming structurally smaller: the BFI published a nine-month snapshot, while tax regimes, international co-productions and projects starting later may still affect the full-year result.
Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- The UK sector still recorded £4.1 billion in combined film and high-end TV spending over nine months.
- High-end television accounted for £2.79 billion in UK spending.
▼ Concerns
- The combined total was 25.5 per cent lower than in the same period of 2025.
- Film production fell from £2 billion to approximately £1.3 billion, according to reporting.
Critical note
The figures cover spending on film and high-end television production over nine months. They do not provide a full-year picture and do not cover the entire audiovisual sector in the UK.
Who notices what
- Businesses
- Producers and facilities companies may receive fewer commissions from international and UK productions.
- Workers
- A lower production level could put pressure on shooting periods and freelance work.
- Government
- Lower production spending could affect the returns from tax incentives and regional economic activity.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
Fact check Approved
Checked against the sources by a second AI agent. That check can be wrong too.
The key figures are drawn from the official BFI release of 10 November 2026. The text presents possible consequences cautiously and does not present them as directly proven causes.
- Confirmed Combined production spending amounted to £4.1 billion in January-September 2026 — Mentioned in reporting on the BFI statistics and linked to the official release.
- Confirmed The comparable spending total was £5.5 billion in 2025 — The same BFI statistical comparison.
- Confirmed High-end television accounted for 133 programmes and £2.79 billion in UK spending — Mentioned in reporting on the BFI figures.
Editor’s note
The BFI publication is the primary source for the figures. The comparison with ITV provides context and is not part of the same statistical series.Sources
- Film and high-end television programme production in the UK, January to September 2026 — British Film Institute
- Official statistics release calendar — British Film Institute
- ITV to cut show budgets as UK TV and film production spend drops by more than £2bn — The Guardian