BAFTA Film Awards 2026: A Star-Studded Night with a Nail-Biting Race
The British Academy Film Awards, commonly known as the BAFTAs, are set to unfold in London this Sunday, with the cinematic world eagerly watching a tightly contested battle for supremacy. The politically charged thriller "One Battle After Another" and the blues-infused epic "Sinners" are leading the nominations, setting the stage for a dramatic evening at the Royal Festival Hall.
Nomination Leaders and Dark Horse Contenders
"One Battle After Another" tops the list with an impressive 14 nominations, including Best Picture and acting nods for five of its cast members. Close behind is "Sinners" with 13 nominations, while the Shakespearean family tragedy "Hamnet" and the ping-pong odyssey "Marty Supreme" each have 11 nominations. Oddsmakers suggest that "Hamnet", directed by Chloé Zhao and based on Maggie O'Farrell's historical novel, could emerge as a surprise winner for Best Picture if British film industry voters are swayed by its emotionally rich narrative, earthy English setting, and intense performances.
Other notable films in the mix include Guillermo del Toro's reimagining of "Frankenstein" and the Norwegian family drama "Sentimental Value", each with eight nominations. The BAFTA awards, officially titled the EE BAFTA Film Awards, are often viewed as a key indicator for the upcoming Academy Awards in Hollywood, scheduled for March 15. In the Oscar nominations, "Sinners" leads with a record 16 nominations, followed by "One Battle After Another" with 13.
Star-Studded Red Carpet and Ceremony Details
A constellation of stars is expected to grace the red carpet outside London's Royal Festival Hall, including Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close, and Ethan Hawke. The black-tie ceremony will be hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming, who also hosts the U.S. version of the reality show "The Traitors". Cumming has promised to strike a "balance between celebration and mischief" during the event.
The nominees for Best Film are:
- "One Battle After Another"
- "Hamnet"
- "Marty Supreme"
- "Sinners"
- "Sentimental Value"
The BAFTAs also feature a distinctly British category for Best British Film, with 10 nominees including "The Ballad of Wallis Island", "Pillion", "I Swear", and "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy".
Key Categories and Notable Nominations
In the directing category, contenders include Paul Thomas Anderson for "One Battle", Josh Safdie for "Marty Supreme", Ryan Coogler for "Sinners", Yorgos Lanthimos for the dystopian tragicomedy "Bugonia", Joachim Trier for "Sentimental Value", and Chloé Zhao for "Hamnet". If Zhao wins, she will become the first female director to secure two BAFTAs, having previously won in 2021 for "Nomadland".
The Best Leading Actor category features bookies' favorite Timothée Chalamet for "Marty Supreme", alongside Leonardo DiCaprio for "One Battle After Another", Ethan Hawke for the Broadway biopic "Blue Moon", Michael B. Jordan for "Sinners", Jesse Plemons for "Bugonia", and Robert Aramayo for his role in the biographical drama "I Swear". In the Best Leading Actress category, Jessie Buckley is strongly favored for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in "Hamnet", competing against Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone.
Supporting performance nominations include Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn from "One Battle". Additionally, The Associated Press received recognition in the Best Documentary category for Mstyslav Chernov's harrowing Ukraine war portrait "2000 Meters to Andriivka", co-produced with Frontline PBS.
Voting and Special Honors
Most BAFTA winners are selected by 8,500 members of the U.K. academy of industry professionals. The Rising Star award, the only prize decided by public vote and known for identifying future A-listers, features nominees such as Chase Infiniti, Robert Aramayo, Miles Caton, Archie Madekwe, and Posy Sterling.
Donna Langley, the U.K.-born chairwoman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, will be honored with the British Academy's highest accolade, the BAFTA fellowship. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC in the United Kingdom starting at 1900 GMT (2 p.m. EST) and on E! in the U.S. at 2000 EST, ensuring global audiences can witness the unfolding drama and celebrations.
