The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has officially unveiled the longlist for its highly anticipated 2026 Film Awards, setting the stage for the upcoming awards season. A total of 221 films were submitted for consideration this year, with the longlisted entries now progressing to the crucial nominating stage of voting.
Frontrunners and Major Contenders
The epic drama One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, has emerged as the clear frontrunner, featuring in an impressive 16 categories. These include the top prizes of Best Film, Director, Leading Actress for Chase Infiniti, and Leading Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
Hot on its heels are two films tied at 14 category appearances each: the literary adaptation Hamnet, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, and the intense drama Sinners. Other notable films with strong showings include Marty Supreme in 13 categories, Frankenstein in 12, and the musical Wicked: For Good in eight.
The Road to the BAFTA Ceremony
The next phase of voting will now commence, where academy members will whittle down these longlists to the final nominations. The official nominations are scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, 27 January 2026. The ceremony itself, a star-studded celebration of cinematic achievement, is set to take place on Sunday, 22 February 2026.
In the Outstanding British Film category, a diverse range of homegrown talent is showcased. The longlist features anticipated sequels like 28 Years Later and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, alongside critical darlings such as Hamnet and I Swear.
Key Category Highlights
The acting categories are brimming with acclaimed performances. The Leading Actress longlist sees Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Emma Stone (Bugonia), and Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love) in contention. For Leading Actor, Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Cillian Murphy (Steve), and Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) are among the recognised names.
The full 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards Longlist is as follows:
BEST FILM
The Ballad of Wallis Island, Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, I Swear, Marty Supreme, Nuremberg, One Battle After Another, Sentimental Value, Sinners.
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
28 Years Later, Ballad of a Small Player, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, The Choral, Die My Love, Goodbye June, H is for Hawk, Hamnet, I Swear, Mr Burton, Pillion, The Roses, Steve, Warfare.
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
The Ceremony, The Man in My Basement, Mother Vera, My Father’s Shadow, Pillion, Ocean With David Attenborough, The Shadow Scholars, Urchin, A Want In Her, Wasteman.
DIRECTOR
Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia), Lynne Ramsay (Die My Love), Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Kathryn Bigelow (A House of Dynamite), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Hikari (Rental Family), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Kaouther Ben Hania (The Voice of Hind Rajab).
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Blue Moon, A House of Dynamite, I Swear, Is This Thing On?, It Was Just an Accident, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Weapons.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
28 Years Later, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Nuremberg, One Battle After Another, Pillion, Train Dreams, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
LEADING ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Andrea Riseborough (Dragonfly), Emma Stone (Bugonia), Tessa Thompson (Hedda).
LEADING ACTOR
Robert Aramayo (I Swear), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Russell Crowe (Nuremberg), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Harry Melling (Pillion), Cillian Murphy (Steve), Jesse Plemons (Bugonia).
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Odessa A’zion (Marty Supreme), Brenda Blethyn (Dragonfly), Ariana Grande (Wicked: For Good), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Amy Madigan (Weapons), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), Carey Mulligan (The Ballad of Wallis Island), Gwyneth Paltrow (Marty Supreme), Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another), Emily Watson (Hamnet).
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Delroy Lindo (Sinners), Paul Mescal (Hamnet), Peter Mullan (I Swear), Sean Penn (One Battle After Another), Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly), Andrew Scott (Blue Moon), Alexander Skarsgård (Pillion), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value).
