The contenders for one of the British film industry's most coveted accolades, the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award, have been officially unveiled. The five nominees for the 2026 prize were announced at a press conference held at London's prestigious Savoy Hotel on Wednesday.
The 2026 Rising Star Nominees
The jury selected a diverse group of talented actors for the shortlist. Archie Madekwe is recognised for his role in 'Lurker', while Chase Infiniti is nominated for her performance in 'One Battle After Another'. Miles Caton earns his place for 'Sinners', Posy Sterling for the acclaimed drama 'Lollipop', and Robert Aramayo for his lead role in 'I Swear', based on the true story of Tourette's campaigner John Davidson.
The announcement event was hosted by last year's winner, Mia McKenna-Bruce, alongside film critic and radio presenter Ali Plumb. The nominees were chosen by a distinguished panel of industry experts, including actors Joe Alwyn, Sheila Atim, and Benedict Wong.
Nominees Share Their Emotional Reactions
The actors revealed the unique and personal moments when they discovered their nominations. Posy Sterling, 33, recounted receiving the life-changing call while mountaineering with friends. "My agent called me and she said, 'Where are you? What are you doing?'," she recalled. "I said, 'I'm on top of a mountain, what about you?'... She said, 'You need to go somewhere private.' So I found out, cried, and then had to not say anything."
Robert Aramayo, also 33, described the intense family celebration that followed his news. "I told my parents. There was a lot of crying and jumping, it was quite intense," he said. He added, "Today is a day I will never forget... If young Robert only knew he'd be standing here as an EE Rising Star nominee today, he'd be very proud."
Archie Madekwe, 30, star of 'Saltburn', expressed his honour at being included. "It's an incredible honour. I think as a Brit, the EE Rising Star Award has particular significance," he stated. "So many of my favourite actors have been nominated for this award, so it's completely surreal to be included this year."
For 25-year-old Chase Infiniti, the nomination marked a transformative year. "This nomination means the world to me," she said. 20-year-old Miles Caton called the recognition "truly surreal" and expressed gratitude to those championing new voices in film.
How to Vote and Key Dates
The EE Rising Star Award is the only BAFTA category decided by the British public. Voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA, via WhatsApp, and across EE's social media channels. The voting window will close on Friday, February 20, 2026.
The winner will be revealed during the EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony on Sunday, February 22, 2026, broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The full list of BAFTA nominations across all categories will be announced earlier, on January 27, 2026.
This award has a storied history of launching careers, with previous winners including David Jonsson, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Emma Mackey, Lashana Lynch, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, and Tom Hardy.
Host Mia McKenna-Bruce, who won the award in 2024, is preparing for her next major role. She will play Maureen Starkey, Sir Ringo Starr's first wife, in the upcoming series of Beatles biopics scheduled for 2028. She recently admitted to Tatler magazine that prior to her casting, her knowledge of the Fab Four was limited, a fact fellow actor Martin Freeman teased her about. "Now, I'm like, 'Oh, my God, the Beatles are underrated,'" she said. "It's music I'd sit and listen to on the train."
