Britain's Got Talent start date finally revealed by ITV - with auditions just days away from hitting screens

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Britain's Got Talent's return date has finally been announced by ITV - and it's good news for reality TV fans, as it is just days away.

The popular talent show, which has been making audiences gasp and cringe since 2007, will hit our screens again on Saturday, 21 February. 

To put its popularity into context, despite the show being around for almost 20 years, it still has average viewership numbers of between five and seven million. 

The 2026 judging panel will once again feature Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dickson, as well as newcomer KSI. 

Needless to say, veteran presenters Ant and Dec will be back to lend their unique brand of comedy to the show - and keep hopefuls both calm and entertained backstage as they make their bids to impress the judges. 

As has always been the case, the show's main prize is a chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show. 

Britain's Got Talent, which has been making audiences gasp and cringe since 2007, will hit our screens again on Saturday, 21 February

To put its popularity into context, despite the show being around for almost 20 years, it still has average viewership numbers of between five and seven million - pictured here is a still from the 2025 live final

The 2026 judging panel will once again feature Simon Cowell , Amanda Holden and Alesha Dickson, as well as newcomer KSI (pictured)

The winner will also win a whopping £250,000 cash prize - an amount that has admittedly fluctuated since the show began in 2007.

Back then, the winner received £100,000 before the prize was increased to half a million in 2012. 

This mega prize pot, however, wasn't around for long and in 2013, producers settled on the current £250,000 prize.  

In 2025, the second-ever magician to win the show, Harry Moulding, won the show and the all-important cash prize and chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show. 

This would have undoubtedly been a real throwback for fans as it has been a decade since the show had its first winning magician, Richard Jones, in 2015, who also blew the competition out of the water with his impressive tricks. 

The show's return will also look slightly different this year after Bruno Tonioli stepped down from the judging panel at the end of 2025.

He will be replaced by musician and internet celebrity KSI, 32, who has previously been a guest judge on the show. 

An insider said that it was a 'tough' decision for Bruno to leave the show because he has been friends with Simon for decades. 

As well as a spot at the Royal Variety Show, the winner will also win a whopping £250,000 cash prize 

In 2025, the second-ever magician to win the show, Harry Moulding (pictured), won the show and the all-important cash prize and chance to perform at the Royal Variety Show

Last year's winner would have undoubtedly been a real throwback for fans as it has been a decade since the show had its first winning magician, Richard Jones (pictured), in 2015, who also blew the competition out of the water with his impressive tricks

The insider told The Sun: 'It was really tough knowing he had to let Bruno go because they couldn’t get the filming dates to work out with his commitments on Dancing with the Stars.

'Simon is always looking for new ways to keep the show evolving and loves to get the opinion of his young son.

'Eric was a big influence for Simon in choosing Bruno's replacement. He's obsessed with him and adores him, KSI is Eric's favourite influencer.

'Plus, he's been such a hit as a guest judge and Simon recognises they need to keep the show different by moving forward to keep attracting the younger audience.'

The insider went on to admit that while Bruno appealed to 'the grannies', KSI should keep 'youngsters' tuning into the long-running talent show. 

They also cited the musician's 'huge social media presence', which they said is part of Simon's plan to keep 'modernising' Britain's Got Talent.