BAFTA 2026 Nominations Revealed: One Battle After Another Dominates with 14 Nods
The 2026 BAFTA nominations have been officially announced, setting the stage for a highly anticipated awards ceremony. One Battle After Another leads the pack with an impressive 14 nominations, including a nod for lead star Leonardo DiCaprio. This film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, explores the story of a washed-up revolutionary searching for his missing teenage daughter, and has already garnered significant acclaim during this awards season.
Star-Studded Pre-BAFTA Dinner in London
Prior to the nominations announcement, the Dunhill pre-BAFTA Filmmakers dinner in London on Tuesday saw a glamorous gathering of celebrities. Emilia Jones, aged 23, turned heads in an elegant pale pink dress adorned with white lace detailing and a gathered bow, complemented by matching satin pink heels. Meanwhile, Marisa Abela, 29, showcased chic style in an oversized black cropped jacket and capri trousers, paired with black pointed heels. She was accompanied by her husband, Jamie Bogyo, who looked dapper in a black suit.
Other notable attendees included Haley Bennett, Jason Isaacs, Brian Cox, Aidan Turner, and Alex Hassell, all adding to the evening's star power. The nominations were revealed last month by 2025 Rising Star nominee David Jonsson and Aimee Lou Wood, building excitement for the upcoming awards.
Key Contenders and Record-Breaking Nominations
Following closely behind One Battle After Another is Sinners with 13 nominations, while Marty Supreme and Hamnet each scored 11 nods. Frankenstein and Sentimental Value earned eight nominations each, with I Swear and Bugonia receiving five, and The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion, and F1 securing three each.
The five films vying for Best Film are Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Sentimental Value. Notably, Hamnet, Chloe Zhao's adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning novel about William Shakespeare's family life, has broken the record for the most nominations for a female-directed film in BAFTA history.
Acting Categories and Notable Snubs
In the Leading Actress category, Jessie Buckley is nominated for her role in Hamnet, adding to her awards season success after already winning a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award, along with nominations for the Academy Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She competes against Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone.
For Leading Actor, Leonardo DiCaprio could earn his second BAFTA with his seventh nomination, this time for One Battle After Another. He faces competition from Timothee Chalamet, Robert Aramayo, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, and Jesse Plemons.
In the Supporting Actor field, Paul Mescal earned a BAFTA nod for Hamnet despite being snubbed at the Oscars, competing against Benicio Del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Peter Mullan, Sean Penn, and Stellan Skarsgard. The Supporting Actress category sees hopes for a British win with Nigerian-British star Wunmi Mosaku nominated for Sinners, alongside Carey Mulligan, Emily Watson, Odessa A'Zion, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Teyana Taylor.
First-Time Nominees and Directorial Achievements
Several actors received their first BAFTA Film nominations this year, including Robert Aramayo, Odessa A'zion, Rose Byrne, Chase Infiniti, Michael B. Jordan, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Teyana Taylor. In the Best Director category, two of the six directors are first-time nominees: Ryan Coogler for Sinners and Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme.
Coogler's success with Sinners at the BAFTAs follows its record-breaking 16 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Meanwhile, One Battle After Another has earned nods in all four acting categories, with double hopes in Supporting Actor thanks to Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro.
Differences from Oscar Nominations and Rising Star Award
There are notable differences between the BAFTA and Oscar nominations. For instance, Wicked: For Good received two BAFTA nominations for costume design and make-up and hair, despite being shut out at the Oscars. Conversely, The Secret Agent has two BAFTA nods, half its Oscar count. K-pop Demon Hunters was excluded from BAFTA consideration due to Netflix streaming it in the UK before cinema release, violating BAFTA rules.
The EE BAFTA Rising Star Award nominees were announced earlier this month, with Archie Madekwe, Chase Infiniti, Miles Caton, Posy Sterling, and Robert Aramayo in contention. This award is the only one voted for by the British public, with previous winners including David Jonsson, Mia, Emma Mackey, and Tom Hardy.
Ceremony Details and Industry Reactions
The winners will be announced on Sunday, February 22, at the EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Alan Cumming will host the event in London. Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, praised the nominated films, 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.'
With 221 films submitted for consideration and 82 making the longlist before being whittled down to the shortlist, this year's BAFTAs promise to be a celebration of cinematic excellence, highlighting bold storytelling and exquisite craft across a diverse range of genres and styles.
