Bafta Nominations 2026: One Battle After Another Takes Slight Lead Over Sinners
The battle for Bafta glory intensified on Tuesday as the nominations for the 2026 ceremony were unveiled. In a closely fought contest, Paul Thomas Anderson's counterculture comedy One Battle After Another secured a narrow advantage, earning 14 nominations to head the field. Its main awards season rival, Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller Sinners, followed closely with 13 nominations.
This development comes just a week after Sinners made history by becoming the first film ever to receive 16 Oscar nominations. The Bafta race, however, has tipped the scales slightly in favour of Anderson's gonzo caper, setting the stage for a fascinating duel as the awards season reaches its climax.
Strong Supporting Cast of Contenders Emerges
The competition extends well beyond the two frontrunners. Marty Supreme and Hamnet are hot on their heels, each garnering an impressive 11 nominations. Further down the list, Frankenstein and Sentimental Value have both received eight nods apiece, demonstrating the depth and quality of this year's cinematic offerings.
In a delightful surprise for British cinema, the Tourette syndrome comedy I Swear performed remarkably well, securing five nominations. These include a coveted Best Actor nomination for Robert Aramayo, who portrays pioneering Scottish campaigner John Davidson. The film is also in contention for Outstanding British Film, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actor for Peter Mullan, and Casting.
Notable Snubs and Record Equalling Performances
Shock omissions were largely absent from this year's announcement. This is partly due to Bafta's acting shortlists featuring six nominees, compared to the Oscars' five, allowing space for performers such as Paul Mescal for Hamnet. The expanded lists helped mitigate potential high-profile snubs, with the industry already braced for the exclusion of films like Wicked: For Good.
That blockbuster sequel fared slightly better than at the Oscars, where it left empty-handed, managing to secure nominations for Costume Design and Hair & Makeup. However, there was no recognition for its stars Cynthia Erivo or Ariana Grande.
Other A-list talents who missed out on nominations include:
- Jennifer Lawrence for Die My Love
- George Clooney for Jay Kelly
- Sydney Sweeney for Christy
- Dwayne Johnson for The Smashing Machine
- Julia Roberts for After the Hunt
In the Best Actor category, Leonardo DiCaprio remains the second favourite behind Marty Supreme's Timothée Chalamet. His seventh nomination in this category means he now shares an all-time Bafta record with acting legends including Michael Caine, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Laurence Olivier. Given his continued prolific output, DiCaprio appears the most likely candidate from that esteemed group to eventually break the record.
British Success Stories and Industry Reflections
The nominations brought several British success stories beyond I Swear. The musical comedy-drama The Ballad of Wallis Island and the Bromley-set BDSM biker romance Pillion each received three nominations. There were also supporting actress nods for Emily Watson and Carey Mulligan.
Bafta chair Sara Putt told the Guardian that the success of films like I Swear demonstrates public appetite for "moving and authentic stories of lived experience which really resonate." She added that the dominance of Sinners and One Battle After Another suggests audiences are seeking connection in "a fractured and confused world."
"Those two films are also a triumph for cinema," Putt continued. "What you see on the big screen today is an elevation of genre film-making to something that is instructive, moving and thought-provoking – while also being a big, popcorn-movie blast."
Diversity Progress and Continued Challenges
While this year's nominations show a slight skew towards homegrown films, diversity in the leading categories remains a work in progress. Save for Robert Aramayo, none of this year's leading acting nominees are British, and all six directors nominated for that award are non-British. Only two of these directors – Ryan Coogler and Chloé Zhao for Hamnet – are not white, with Zhao being the sole woman in the category.
Putt acknowledged this disparity, stating: "This result shows there's still a journey to go on for female directors, and demonstrates the importance of us retaining intervention at the longlist stage." Following a major overhaul in 2020, Bafta introduced measures including quotas to ensure gender parity for directors in the initial selection process.
Deputy chair of the film committee Anthony Andrews noted encouraging progress elsewhere, revealing that more than half of this year's documentary shortlisted films have female directors.
Voting Innovations and Ceremony Details
Bafta's insistence that voters watch 15 randomised films continues to influence the diversity of titles in contention, with 46 films recognised this year – an increase of four from 2025. This approach has borne fruit in ensuring a broader spread of cinematic works receives consideration.
The 2026 Oscars mark the first year introducing some similar innovations, including a new award for casting and mandatory viewing requirements for certain voting categories.
The 2026 Bafta ceremony will take place on 22 February, hosted by Alan Cumming, who takes over from David Tennant. The Oscars follow three weeks later on 15 March, with Conan O'Brien returning as host. The stage is now set for a thrilling conclusion to this year's awards season, with British cinema celebrating several notable successes amidst fierce international competition.
