Bafta Awards 2026: What viewers in the US and UK should know about the red carpet, ceremony and winners

If you’re tuning in from the UK or North America, bafta awards 2026 reshapes one of the busiest nights of the awards calendar into a fixed viewing plan. The ceremony’s timing, a first-time film-host slot for the presenter, and an unusually large nominations haul for a single film mean this broadcast will matter both for fashion-watchers and awards-season strategists. Expect moments that influence conversation well beyond the final trophies.

Bafta Awards 2026: viewing picture and what it means for viewers

Here’s the part that matters for audiences: the film ceremony takes place at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, February 22, with the official public broadcast window set in the evening UK hours and a separate prime-time delivery for North America. The ceremony begins earlier in the afternoon in London, but the main televised presentation is scheduled later so viewers in both territories can watch the headline moments and winners in a consolidated period. The host is Alan Cumming, taking the stage as film-ceremony presenter for the first time.

For awards-watchers tracking momentum toward later-season contests, this telecast is notable because one film leads the field with a very large nominations total and another follows closely—details that are likely to shape post-show narratives and voting chatter. What’s easy to miss is how the scheduling choices and broadcast format can compress those narratives into a few highlighted speeches and montage moments that carry extra influence.

Red carpet, performances, nominees and honours: event details

Red-carpet notes from arrival moments have already set a tone of theatricality and star presence: a veteran actor arrived in a striking embroidered black coat, a high-profile rapper opted for a classic tuxedo accented with a red rose brooch, and a prominent presenter opened the arrivals in a gradient tasselled coat that drew attention. A beloved children’s-picture character also appeared in its signature duffel coat and hat, underscoring the ceremony’s mix of serious film business and playful moments.

On the slate for the evening: a film titled One Battle After Another leads the nominations with 14, while Sinners follows with 13. Notable individual nominations include a major actor’s first Best Actor nod at these awards and a Best Actress nomination for an actress from Manchester. The programme will feature a staged performance of a song called "Golden" by a trio of pop singers associated with a recent streaming hit, and a well-known singer will perform during the In Memoriam segment. Two industry honours are scheduled: the Fellowship will be presented to Dame Donna Langley, and a leading figure in cinema exhibition will receive the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema prize.

Chase Infiniti, who is nominated in the leading actress category for One Battle After Another, made a striking red-carpet entrance in a strapless burgundy gown with a long train. Several presenters and attendees named on the list are expected to be in the room for the announcements and acceptance speeches.

• Quick broadcast schedule (subject to change):
• Ceremony location: Royal Festival Hall, London.
• Ceremony kickoff: early evening UK time; televised presentation slated for later evening UK hours.
• North American prime-time window set for late evening ET so viewers can catch winners and highlights.

It’s easy to overlook, but the way highlights are packaged for each territory will determine which speeches and clips gain traction on the following morning’s conversation cycle.

Short Q&A for viewers

Q: When and where is the ceremony happening?
A: The ceremony is at London’s Royal Festival Hall on February 22; televised presentation is scheduled for evening UK hours with a later prime-time slot for North America.

Q: Who is hosting and who tops the nominations?
A: Alan Cumming is the film-ceremony host for the first time. One Battle After Another leads with 14 nominations; Sinners has 13.

Q: Will there be performances and special honours?
A: Yes—there’s a pop performance of a song titled "Golden, " a singer will perform for In Memoriam, Dame Donna Langley will receive the Fellowship, and an exhibition leader will be honoured for outstanding contribution to British cinema.

The real question now is how the televised highlights and standout speeches will reframe support for the leading films in the weeks that follow. If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up: the nominations tally and a concentrated viewing window mean a few speeches could disproportionately shape awards-season momentum.