One Battle After Another Tops Bafta 2026 Nominations with 14 Nods
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has unveiled its nominations for the 2026 awards, with Paul Thomas Anderson's caper One Battle After Another emerging as the frontrunner. The film secured an impressive 14 nominations, edging out the competition in a year marked by diverse cinematic achievements.
Major Contenders and Notable Snubs
Ryan Coogler's vampire blockbuster Sinners, which recently broke the all-time Oscar nominations record with 16 nods, received a respectable 13 Bafta nominations. However, it fell short of matching the Bafta record of 16 nominations, a milestone held by the film Gandhi. Following closely behind were Josh Safdie's table tennis drama Marty Supreme and Chloé Zhao's Shakespearean weepie Hamnet, each garnering 11 nominations.
All four of these films earned Best Film nominations, alongside Yorgos Lanthimos's Bugonia, which also received recognition in the Best Actress and Best Actor categories for Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. In a surprising turn, Elle Fanning, who was Academy Award-nominated for her role in Sentimental Value last week, failed to secure a Bafta nomination.
Acting Categories Showcase Blend of Veterans and Newcomers
The Best Actor category features a mix of established stars and rising talent. Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia) are joined by Robert Aramayo, nominated for his portrayal of John Davidson in the biographical drama I Swear. Aramayo, known for The Rings of Power, received acclaim for depicting a man with severe Tourette's Syndrome in the 1980s. Michael B Jordan (Sinners) and Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon) complete the category.
In the Best Actress race, Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Emma Stone (Bugonia), and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value) are contenders. They are accompanied by surprise nominee Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue) and Rose Byrne for the black comedy If I Had Legs I'd Kick You.
British Talent and Debuts Shine in Nominations
The nominations highlight a strong showing for British talent. Carey Mulligan earned a nod for the crowd-pleasing comedy drama The Ballad of Wallis Island, while Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo were recognised for their roles in Sinners. Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, congratulated the nominees, stating, "Huge congratulations to the teams behind the 46 superb films nominated today. They showcase the very best of storytelling and its ability to engage, entertain and provoke debate."
Sara Putt, Chair of Bafta, added that it was "thrilling to see British indie films and debuts in the company of blockbusters that have taken the world by storm." This includes Akinola Davies Jr's drama My Father's Shadow and Harry Lighton's BDSM romance Pillion, both nominated for Outstanding Debut by a British Director, with the latter also up for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Ceremony Details and Additional Recognitions
Other notable films in the nominations include Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and the Norwegian drama Sentimental Value, each receiving eight nominations. The Best Director category features Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, Josh Safdie, Chloé Zhao, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Joachim Trier.
The Bafta Film Awards are scheduled to take place at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 22 February. The ceremony will be hosted by Alan Cumming and broadcast on BBC One, celebrating another year of cinematic excellence across genres and geographies.
