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 a genuine institution on Channel 4 — one of the longest-running and most recognisable reality formats in British television. With 25 seasons and 210 episodes across more than a decade, the show has demonstrated extraordinary longevity rarely seen in the competitive unscripted space. Channel 4 has consistently renewed it as a reliable, cost-effective performer that requires no big-name talent costs and maintains consistent audience affection. The network's pattern with this show has been near-automatic renewal, and there is nothing in the available data to suggest that pattern is about to break.

The show's metadata strongly supports an optimistic outlook. Its last episode aired in August 2025, meaning it is very much still in active production and on air — not a dormant title waiting for revival. A solid IMDb rating of 7.2, a BAFTA win, and 3 total award wins indicate both critical respect and genuine audience warmth. The absence of any cancellation chatter or behind-the-scenes turbulence in recent coverage is itself a positive signal; for a show this established, bad news travels fast. The other coverage, while entirely unrelated to the show's renewal status, does nothing to contradict the picture of a programme that remains culturally embedded in the UK dating conversation. All signs point to another season being either already greenlit or in informal development.

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

25 seasons of near-unbroken renewal on Channel 4 — one of the network's most durable formats

high

Most recent episode aired August 2025, confirming active production and on-air presence

medium

BAFTA win and overall awards recognition signal enduring critical and institutional esteem

medium

Solid IMDb rating of 7.2 reflects stable audience goodwill over a long run

medium

No cancellation or format-fatigue signals detected in recent coverage

Working against it

medium

No renewal announcement yet found in any trade or press source

low

Other coverage entirely unrelated to show renewal — provides no signal either way

First Dates Season 26 Release Date

Given that Season 25 aired as recently as August 2025, a new season would most likely follow Channel 4's established rhythm for the format. Historically, First Dates has aired in either a spring/early summer or autumn window, often with Hotel or other spin-off variants filling the gaps. Based on this pattern, Season 26 could reasonably be expected to air somewhere in the spring-to-summer 2026 window, though an autumn 2026 slot is also plausible depending on Channel 4's scheduling priorities. Without an official greenlight announcement, precise timing is speculative, but a gap of roughly 9–14 months from the last episode is consistent with the show's historical cadence.