Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust has announced BBC TV 90 at Ally Pally, a season of public events running from September to November 2026 to mark 90 years since BBC television broadcasting began at Alexandra Palace.
On November 2, 1936, presenter Leslie Mitchell introduced the world’s first regular public high-definition television service from the venue’s studios, establishing formats for news, entertainment, and live broadcasting that shaped modern media.
The commemorative season features public talks, archive screenings, and digital exhibitions exploring the pioneers and social history of early television. Historical themes include women in early broadcasting, diversity and representation, children’s television, early election coverage, and wartime technological developments.
Key events include an in-conversation event on September 20 with film historian Ian Christie exploring the work of producer Dallas Bower, accompanied by a screening of the 1937 BBC Television Demonstration Film. On September 27, Dr. Kate Murphy hosts a panel on female broadcasting pioneers, while author Stephen Bourne and Professor Marcus Collins lead a session on October 4 examining diversity, representation, and public service values in 20th-century media.
Additional programming includes a lecture on the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, a talk on children's television featuring Muffin the Mule, and original theatrical performances by the Alexandra Palace Young Actors Company and the Ally Pally Ensemble. Visitors can also view a free public display in the East Court or access special anniversary rooftop tours of the historic transmitter mast via SUMMIT Ally Pally.
The celebrations culminate on Monday, November 2, 2026—exactly 90 years since the initial broadcast—with the official unveiling of a World Origin Site plaque in the Palace's East Court, recognizing Alexandra Palace's global legacy as the birthplace of public television.
Emma Dagnes OBE, Chief Executive of Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, highlighted the season as a celebration of the venue's spirit of innovation and its central role in 20th-century cultural history. Full event schedules and booking details are available on the Alexandra Palace website.
