BAFTA 2026 Nominations Unveiled: Political Satire Leads with Record-Breaking Recognition
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has officially announced the nominations for the prestigious 79th British Academy Film Awards, scheduled for 2026. The announcement, made on Tuesday, 27 January, has set the stage for what promises to be a highly competitive awards season, with several films emerging as frontrunners across multiple categories.
'One Battle After Another' Dominates with 14 Nominations
The action-packed political satire 'One Battle After Another' has emerged as the clear leader in this year's BAFTA race, securing an impressive 14 nominations. This remarkable tally places the film just two nominations short of the all-time BAFTA record, putting it in the esteemed company of cinematic classics such as 'All Quiet on the Western Front', 'Atonement', 'The King's Speech', and 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. The film's widespread recognition across categories underscores its critical and artistic impact.
Strong Contenders in a Competitive Field
Following closely behind is Ryan Coogler's historical horror film 'Sinners', which garnered 13 nominations. This achievement marks the highest number of nominations ever received by a film directed by a Black filmmaker in the history of the BAFTA awards, highlighting a significant milestone in diversity and representation. Other notable films making a strong showing include 'Hamnet' and 'Marty Supreme', both of which earned 11 nominations each, indicating a fiercely contested awards season.
Indian Cinema Shines with 'Boong' Nomination
In a moment of pride for Indian cinema, the Manipuri-language film 'Boong' has received a nomination in the Best Children's and Family Film category. Produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under their Excel Entertainment banner, 'Boong' is a heartfelt coming-of-age story about a young boy from Manipur who embarks on a journey to reunite his family. The film previously premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and was showcased at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, gaining international acclaim before its BAFTA recognition.
Ceremony Details and Host Announcement
The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony is set to take place on 22 February at the iconic Royal Festival Hall in London. Adding to the excitement, actor and presenter Alan Cumming has been confirmed as the host for the evening, promising an engaging and memorable event for attendees and viewers worldwide.
Complete List of BAFTA 2026 Nominations
Below is the comprehensive list of nominations across key categories, as officially released by BAFTA:
Best Film
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
Outstanding British Film
- 28 Years Later
- The Ballad of Wallis Island
- Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
- Die My Love
- H Is for Hawk
- Hamnet
- I Swear
- Mr Burton
- Pillion
- Steve
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
- The Ceremony – Jack King (director, writer), Hollie Bryan (producer), Lucy Meer (producer)
- My Father's Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr (director), Wale Davies (writer)
- Pillion – Harry Lighton (director, writer)
- A Want in Her – Myrid Carten (director)
- Wasteman – Cal McMau (director), Hunter Andrews (writer), Eoin Doran (writer)
Best Film Not in the English Language
- It Was Just an Accident
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sirāt
- The Voice of Hind Rajab
Best Documentary
- 2000 Meters to Andriivka
- Apocalypse in the Tropics
- Cover-Up
- Mr Nobody Against Putin
- The Perfect Neighbor
Best Animated Film
- Elio
- Little Amélie
- Zootropolis 2
Best Children's and Family Film
- Arco
- Boong
- Lilo & Stitch
- Zootropolis 2
Best Director
- Bugonia – Yorgos Lanthimos
- Hamnet – Chloé Zhao
- Marty Supreme – Josh Safdie
- One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
- Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier
- Sinners – Ryan Coogler
Best Original Screenplay
- I Swear – Kirk Jones
- Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
- The Secret Agent – Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Sentimental Value – Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
- Sinners – Ryan Coogler
Best Adapted Screenplay
- The Ballad of Wallis Island – Tom Basden, Tim Key
- Bugonia – Will Tracy
- Hamnet – Chloé Zhao, Maggie O'Farrell
- One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
- Pillion – Harry Lighton
Best Leading Actress
- Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
- Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
- Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
- Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
- Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
- Emma Stone – Bugonia
Best Leading Actor
- Robert Aramayo – I Swear
- Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
- Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
- Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
- Michael B Jordan – Sinners
- Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
Best Supporting Actress
- Odessa A'zion – Marty Supreme
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
- Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
- Carey Mulligan – The Ballad of Wallis Island
- Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
- Emily Watson – Hamnet
Best Supporting Actor
- Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
- Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
- Paul Mescal – Hamnet
- Peter Mullan – I Swear
- Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
- Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value
Additional Key Categories
The nominations also span technical and artistic categories, including Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Make Up & Hair, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Special Visual Effects, Best British Short Animation, Best British Short Film, and the EE Rising Star Award, which is voted for by the public.
The 2026 BAFTA Awards promise to be a celebration of cinematic excellence, with 'One Battle After Another' leading the charge and diverse stories like 'Boong' gaining well-deserved recognition on a global platform.
