Stars Shine Bright at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards
The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London was abuzz with glamour and anticipation on Sunday evening as the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards celebrated the pinnacle of contemporary cinema. A star-studded lineup graced the red carpet, marking a night dedicated to honouring the year’s most significant cinematic achievements.
Among the notable attendees was Irish actor Paul Mescal, who, despite a recent Oscar nomination snub, radiated a confident presence. He was seen cosying up to his girlfriend, singer Gracie Abrams, before striking a pose with his Hamnet co-star Jessie Buckley. The couple, who have been together since 2024, maintain a relatively private relationship, making their public appearance all the more endearing. Gracie, 26, looked stunning in a black patterned dress, her gaze fixed adoringly on Paul. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley, 36, commanded attention in a striking bright blue velvet gown. Mescal, nominated for Supporting Actor, was undoubtedly hoping for BAFTA glory on the night.
The prestigious ceremony, hosted by Alan Cumming, welcomed a constellation of talent, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Jacob Elordi, and Michael B. Jordan. The air was electric as these cinematic titans arrived, ready to celebrate the industry’s best. Magic FM presenter Neev Spencer provided the soundtrack to the red carpet arrivals with a DJ set, while Clara Amfo and Ali Plumb offered live reporting from the iconic London venue.
A distinguished roster of guest presenters added to the evening’s allure. Attendees included Aimee Lou Wood, Alicia Vikander, Cillian Murphy, Ethan Hawke, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sadie Sink, and the acclaimed British grime artist Stormzy. The stage also saw appearances from luminaries such as Kerry Washington, Minnie Driver, Monica Bellucci, Patrick Dempsey, and Regé-Jean Page, underscoring the breadth of talent recognised by the awards.
The entertainment for the evening promised a diverse and compelling showcase. A groundbreaking performance outside the United States featured the record-breaking track “Golden” from K-Pop group Demon Hunters, with the vocals delivered by JAE, AUDREYNUNA, and REI AMI, the voices behind HUNTR/X. In a poignant tribute during the In Memoriam segment, British singer Jessie Ware delivered a moving cover of a Barbara Streisand classic.
Special Accolades and Record-Breaking Nominations
Beyond the competitive categories, the EE BAFTA Film Awards also paid tribute to significant contributions to the arts. Dame Donna Langley was honoured with the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship, the highest accolade bestowed by the arts charity. As the British Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, she was celebrated for her prolific career and her status as a highly influential and respected figure within the global entertainment landscape. Additionally, Clare Binns, Creative Director of Picture House Cinemas, received the BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award, recognising her unwavering dedication to championing diverse and fiercely independent films on cinema screens across the UK.
The night was a fierce competition, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, One Battle After Another, leading the pack with an impressive fourteen nominations. However, it faced formidable opposition from the supernatural horror Sinners, which garnered thirteen nominations, and Chloé Zhao’s poignant drama Hamnet. The latter, a moving exploration of Shakespeare’s family life and the death of his son, secured eleven nominations. Notably, Hamnet, adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel, has set a new record for the most nominations for a female-directed film in BAFTA history.
Jessie Buckley’s lead role in Hamnet earned her a nomination, building on her previous accolades, including a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award, as well as nominations for the Academy Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Her co-star, Paul Mescal, also received a BAFTA nod for Supporting Actor, a significant recognition following his Oscar nomination oversight.
The evening also saw Marty Supreme and Timothée Chalamet vying for recognition, having secured eleven BAFTA nominations, including Best Film and Best Actor. Their nominations follow recent successes at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.
Other films also received substantial nominations:
* Frankenstein and Sentimental Value each earned eight nominations.
* I Swear and Bugonia received five nominations apiece.
* The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion, and F1 each garnered three nominations.
The race for the Leading Actress BAFTA was particularly competitive, featuring:
* Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
* Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue
* Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another
* Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value
* Emma Stone for Bugonia
Leonardo DiCaprio was in contention for his seventh BAFTA nomination, aiming for his second win for his Leading Actor performance in the highly acclaimed One Battle After Another.
The ceremony also welcomed a host of first-time BAFTA Film nominees, including Robert Aramayo, Odessa A’zion, Rose Byrne, Chase Infiniti, Michael B. Jordan, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Teyana Taylor.
Emma Baehr, Executive Director of Awards and Content, expressed her delight, stating, “We are delighted to welcome so many of this year’s remarkable nominees to London for the EE BAFTA Film Awards, a vibrant celebration of the creativity, craft and collaboration that goes into British and global cinema. It’s especially exciting to have such an impressive lineup of presenters joining us on the night, representing the very best of film and the wider creative industries. This year’s ceremony is set to be an unforgettable occasion for audiences at home and in the room.”
BAFTA’s enduring mission as a charity is to champion the creative and cultural significance of screen arts across film, games, and television. Through its awards ceremonies and a year-round programme of talent initiatives, including masterclasses, lectures, scholarships, bursaries, and mentoring schemes in the UK and North America, BAFTA consistently identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires, and nurtures emerging talent, and fosters learning and creative collaboration.
The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony was broadcast live at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, and at 8:00pm Eastern Time on E! in North America, with international broadcasts reaching audiences worldwide.
