The nominations for the 79th British Academy Film Awards, commonly known as the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, were announced on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in a live broadcast from BAFTA’s headquarters at 195 Piccadilly in London, streamed globally via the academy’s social channels. The awards ceremony itself is scheduled for Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank, a venue symbolic of British cultural prominence and a celebrated stage for international arts.
Recognised as one of the most prestigious honours in the global film calendar, the BAFTAs are presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the UK’s leading arts charity dedicated to celebrating excellence in film, television, and games. With roots stretching back to the inaugural ceremony in 1948, the awards have grown into a cornerstone of awards season, often shaping the conversation ahead of the Academy Awards (Oscars) and spotlighting influential works from around the world.
This year’s nominations reflect a richly diverse and cinematic year, with films spanning genres, cultures and narrative styles. At the forefront is Paul Thomas Anderson’s sweeping dark comedy-action epic One Battle After Another, which leads the field with 14 nominations, including nods for Best Film, Best Director and multiple acting categories. Close behind is Sinners, the Ryan Coogler-directed period-infused thriller celebrating music and culture, which earned 13 nominations.
The Best Film category, the ceremony’s most anticipated prize, features a quintet of standout titles: One Battle After Another, Sinners, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, and Sentimental Value. These selections highlight the range of cinema recognised this year: from sweeping historical drama to inventive genre storytelling.
Hamnet, directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao and adapted from the celebrated novel about Shakespeare’s family, secured 11 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress for Jessie Buckley, underlining BAFTA’s embrace of adaptations that meld deep emotional resonance with artistic ingenuity.
Other notable nominees include Timothée Chalamet for Best Actor in Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio for his performance in One Battle After Another, and Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. In the Supporting categories, talents such as Benicio Del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal and Wunmi Mosaku received recognition for their compelling work across films that have dominated critical and audience attention.
In addition to the main acting and directing categories, the BAFTAs also celebrate filmmaking craft across a wide range of areas including cinematography, costume design, sound, editing, and original score. Films such as Frankenstein, Train Dreams and Bugonia were acknowledged in these technical categories, underscoring the depth of skill behind the year’s most memorable cinema.
A signature part of the BAFTA tradition, the EE Rising Star Award, voted on by the public, once again highlights emerging talent poised to shape the future of film. Nominees this year include Robert Aramayo, Chase Infiniti, Miles Caton, Archie Madekwe, and Posy Sterling.
Beyond the main categories, international cinema received strong recognition with films in the Film Not in the English Language category, while documentaries such as The Perfect Neighbor and Cover-Up were celebrated in their own competitive field, demonstrating BAFTA’s commitment to global storytelling and varied cinematic voices.
As globally streamed viewership grows and awards season momentum continues, BAFTA nominations are often seen as key predictors of success at the Oscars and other major ceremonies. For British film in particular, the Outstanding British Film category offers a unique spotlight, with homegrown works like 28 Years Later and The Ballad of Wallis Island highlighting the strength of UK cinema.
The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards promise a celebration of cinematic excellence that reflects not only the artistic achievements of the past year but also the evolving landscape of global cinema, where stories transcend borders, performances resonate universally, and filmmaking remains a vital cultural force. Winners will be revealed on 22 February, in a ceremony hosted by Alan Cumming and broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and international partners.
