How many seasons of First Dates are there?

First Dates has aired 25 seasons so far.

How many episodes of First Dates are there?

There are 210 episodes of First Dates across 25 seasons.

Who created First Dates?

First Dates was created by Ana de Moraes.

What is First Dates's IMDb rating?

First Dates holds an IMDb rating of 7.2/10 from 1,277 votes.

Reality

When Does First Dates Season 26 Come Out? Is It Renewed?

Name: First Dates
Genre: Reality
Rating: 7.2

First Dates Season 26 doesn't have an official release date yet. Based on the roughly 6-month gap between previous seasons, expect it around October 2026.

IMDb

7.2/10

Seasons

Episodes

210

Diagnostics

Network: Channel 4
Genres: Reality
First aired: 2013-06-20
Last aired: 2025-08-28
Runtime: 50 min
Rated: TV-14

Awards Won 1 BAFTA Award3 wins & 2 nominations total

Predictive Logic Analysis

First Dates is one of Channel 4's longest-running and most consistent reality formats. Twenty-five seasons over twelve years is a remarkable run, and Channel 4 has shown no inclination to drop it. The show has earned a BAFTA win, holds a solid 7.2 on IMDb, and continues to attract a steady audience. None of those figures suggest a format in decline.

The most telling piece of data here is the confirmed next episode date of 22 May 2026. That is not a rumour or a fan listing error; confirmed air dates on Channel 4's schedule typically reflect actual production commitments. That date, combined with a last-aired date of August 2025, puts the gap between seasons at roughly nine months, which is normal for this show. Trakt active watchers sit at 2,875 with steady momentum, and Wikipedia pageview trends are also steady, both consistent with a show that retains a loyal audience between seasons without losing ground.

There are no renewal-signal articles to cite here, which introduces some uncertainty, but the absence of cancellation coverage for a show this established is itself informative. Channel 4 tends to be transparent when it ends long-running formats. The lack of any such noise, combined with a scheduled return date, makes cancellation look unlikely. The main risk factor is that the format is mature and could eventually be wound down quietly, but nothing in the current signals points that way.

What is First Dates about?

First Dates represents a refreshingly participatory take on the dating show format, transforming the traditional spectator experience into something genuinely interactive. The core premise invites viewers not merely to watch romantic encounters unfold, but to actively insert themselves into the equation: each episode documents real first dates between strangers, and when those encounters fail to spark, unsuccessful participants are offered up to the audience for a second chance. This two-way mirror between screen and viewer creates a unique draw, blurring the line between entertainment and genuine opportunity in ways that other dating programs simply don't attempt.

The show thrives on the understated charm of its production and the reliability of its core team. Maître d' Fred Sirieix anchors the experience with warmth and authenticity, while supporting cast members provide the unglamorous but essential infrastructure of the dating process itself—bartender Merlin Griffiths and servers Cici Coleman and Sam Conrad ground the show in real hospitality rather than contrived scenarios. The tone avoids the cynicism or manufactured drama that plague many reality dating shows; instead, it leans into genuine awkwardness, unexpected chemistry, and the small, honest moments that define actual first encounters. This restraint, combined with the show's democratic invitation to viewers, gives First Dates an almost wholesome quality despite its transactional premise.

Over twelve years and twenty-five seasons, First Dates has carved out a durable space in the British television landscape. The show has maintained consistent viewership and a respectable 7.2 IMDb rating, suggesting both audience loyalty and a certain critical acceptance. Its longevity speaks to a format that works reliably without requiring constant reinvention or escalating spectacle, a relative rarity in the dating show ecosystem.

First Dates occupies a middle ground between structured dating shows like Love Island and more documentary-style relationship programming. Its cultural footprint is modest but genuine—it has become a reliable comfort watch for those seeking dating content without the performative excess. The show's central innovation, allowing viewers to participate rather than simply judge, has never quite been replicated with the same effectiveness, giving it a quiet distinctiveness within an increasingly crowded genre.

Created by Ana de Moraes

Themes

london, englanddateblind dateloveromancedatingfirst datedating show

Is First Dates renewed or cancelled?

Working toward renewal

high

Confirmed next episode air date of 22 May 2026, indicating an active production or scheduling commitment

high

25 seasons aired over 12 years with no cancellation coverage, making renewal the established default

medium

Channel 4 long-term format loyalty, consistently recommissioning First Dates without public drama

medium

BAFTA win and solid 7.2 IMDb rating reflecting durable audience and critical goodwill

medium

Steady Trakt active watcher count and steady Wikipedia pageview trend, showing no audience erosion

Working against it

medium

No renewal-signal articles available, leaving the assessment without a direct trade-publication confirmation

low

Format maturity after 25 seasons carries a modest risk of quiet wind-down

First Dates Season 26 Release Date

The confirmed next episode date of 22 May 2026 strongly implies a new season is already lined up. If that date holds, viewers can expect a new run of episodes beginning in late May 2026, consistent with Channel 4's pattern of airing First Dates in spring and summer slots.

Beyond that confirmed date, the precise episode count and season length are unknown without an official announcement. Given the show's history of producing substantial runs, a full series of eight to twelve episodes through the summer of 2026 is a reasonable expectation, but that is an estimate based on past seasons, not confirmed scheduling.