What is the best party in Los Angeles on Emmy weekend, and why is it BAFTA North America’s TV Tea? The annual event was once again held on the beautiful terrace of The Maybourne Beverly Hills, on Saturday, September 13, ushering in familiar faces such as The Pitt‘s Gerran Howell, Katherine LaNasa, Patrick Ball, Taylor Dearden, Supriya Ganesh and Tracy Ifeachor, The Studio‘s Ike Barinholtz and Kathryn Hahn, Nobody Wants This stars Jackie Tohn and Justine Lupe, Adolescence‘s Ashley Walters, Mark Herbert, Owen Cooper, Philip Barantini and Stephen Graham, the cast of Abbott Elementary including Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, Quinta Brunson and William Stanford Davis, Severance stars Patricia Arquette, Sarah Bock and Tramell Tillman, and the cast of Shrinking including Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie and Michael Urie.
The 77th Emmy Awards will be taking place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, September 14, so the city is currently hosting entertainment’s biggest names, all celebrating this year’s outstanding achievements in television, meaning there is no shortage of pre-parties, gifting suits, and star-studded events this weekend.
Saturday’s BAFTA TV Tea brought together industry professionals, creatives, and talent to celebrate the occasion. In addition to recognizing excellence in the field, the event also spotlighted BAFTA North America’s Learning, Inclusion, and Talent initiatives dedicated to supporting emerging artists from underrepresented backgrounds through mentorship, educational opportunities, and financial assistance.
All those in attendance got the Prêt-à-Portea experience. It was a chic afternoon tea with runway-worthy desserts inspired by legendary fashion moments, turning pastries into edible works of art. Guests enjoyed a fashionable feast of canapés and tea sandwiches, from smoked salmon with dill and lemon butter to avocado mash with tomato jam, and even mini salmon caviar burgers. Sweet treats such as cream puffs, airy pavlova, and rich baked chocolate mousse strutted onto plates like supermodels in sugar form. It was a delicious day for all the senses.
The picture-perfect end-of-summer afternoon delivered sunshine, star power, and style. The terrace was decorated with big, beautiful arrangements of red roses. Celebrities mingled while trays of elegant bites made their rounds and feel-good music floated through the air. Guests posed at playful photo ops inspired by Celebrity Weakest Link, Dancing with the Stars, and Ghosts, while the iconic champagne wall made its triumphant return—complete with white-gloved hands offering bubbly through a wall of cascading greenery.
At the bar, Johnnie Walker Black Label served up specialty cocktails like “Golden Hour,” “The Fourth Wall,” and the aptly named “Tea Party.” Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic and Delta landed in the middle of the party with Lights, Camera, Claw, giving guests a chance to take home some merchandise or even win a trip to London.
When your afternoon consists of Dolph Lundgren casually sitting beside you on a bench, chatting with Emmy winner Julianne Nicholson, watching the cast of The Pitt gather for an impromptu photo, and a conversation with Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker that makes you feel like you might actually be in an episode of Black Mirror—or at the very least, inside one of Hollywood’s hottest parties—you know you’ve stumbled into the kind of surreal, star-studded fever dream that can only mean one thing: Emmy weekend in LA is officially off its rocker.
Other guests included Justin Hartley, Rashida Jones, Noah Hawley, Bisha K. Ali, Bobby Berk, Brandee Evans, Brianne Howey, Christine Tremarco, Christopher Chung, Dewayne Perkins, Dom Hetrakul, Genevieve O’Reilly, Humphrey Ker, Jeff Hiller, Jimmy Akingbola, Leslye Headland, Luciane Buchanan, Malin Akerman, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Peter Dager, Sam Rees-Jones, and Stephanie Koenig.
Presenting partners included BBC Studios, Delta Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic. The impressive lineup of sponsors included BritBox, Bentley, Heineken, Johnnie Walker, Oddbird, The Maybourne Beverly Hills, and Threads.
BAFTA North America has a packed calendar ahead. The second annual New York Tea Party will be held on September 27, 2025, the prestigious BAFTA Honours on Sunday, November 2, 2025, and the beloved BAFTA Tea Party returning on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
BAFTA and BBC Studios brought serious star power and purpose to the BAFTA TV Tea in Los Angeles, blending celebration with cultural impact. As a leading arts charity, BAFTA champions the screen industries across film, games, and television, not only through its prestigious awards, but also by investing year-round in the next generation of talent through scholarships, mentorship, and educational programs in both the UK and North America. BBC Studios, the powerhouse behind hits like Dancing with the Stars, Ghosts, and The Weakest Link, is the creative engine driving award-winning British content across the globe—including from its major U.S. production hub in LA. Together, they make magic on screen—and unforgettable moments off-screen, too.
