BAFTA Awards 2026: “One Battle After Another” dominates as Alan Cumming hosts a headline-packed night

The BAFTA Awards 2026 delivered a mix of big-swing cinema, breakout acting wins, and a clear front-runner as “One Battle After Another” walked away with the night’s top prize and a stack of major categories. Held in London on February 22, 2026 (ET), the ceremony blended prestige with momentum-building just as the wider awards season reaches its most competitive stretch.

What made the BAFTA Awards 2026 stand out wasn’t only the tally of trophies—it was the shape of the wins: a best-film juggernaut, a pair of acting surprises, and a technical field that celebrated craft-heavy filmmaking.

BAFTA Awards 2026 winners: Best Film, Best Director, and the night’s biggest sweep

The biggest story at the BAFTA Awards 2026 was the six-award run for “One Battle After Another.” The film won Best Film and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, and it piled on further wins that signaled broad support across the academy’s voting blocs.

“One Battle After Another” won these major BAFTA Awards 2026 categories:

• Best Film

• Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson)

• Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn)

• Adapted Screenplay

• Cinematography

• Editing

The sweep mattered because it wasn’t limited to one lane—acting, writing, and technical branches all rewarded the same title, the clearest possible signal of a consensus favorite.

BAFTA Awards 2026 acting prizes: Robert Aramayo and Jessie Buckley lead the surprises

If “One Battle After Another” supplied the certainty, the acting races supplied the curveballs.

Robert Aramayo won Best Actor for “I Swear,” an outcome that instantly became one of the most talked-about results of the BAFTA Awards 2026. Aramayo also secured the Rising Star honor, doubling up on the night and turning his run into a defining career moment.

On the actress side, Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for “Hamnet,” anchoring a night where performance-driven storytelling held its own against flashier contenders. Buckley’s win also boosted “Hamnet” overall, as it claimed a major home-field prize as well.

Major acting wins at the BAFTA Awards 2026

BAFTA Awards 2026 British spotlight: “Hamnet” takes Best British Film

The BAFTA Awards 2026 always carry a distinct pride in British filmmaking, and this year’s headline in that category was “Hamnet” winning Best British Film. Combined with Jessie Buckley’s Best Actress win, “Hamnet” emerged as the night’s emotional counterweight to the “One Battle After Another” sweep—less about dominance, more about resonance.

The win also reinforced a recurring BAFTA pattern: the Best British Film prize often elevates a title that blends literary or historical texture with modern dramatic urgency, rewarding storytelling that feels rooted and exportable at the same time.

BAFTA Awards 2026 craft wins: “Frankenstein” and “Sinners” shine beyond the top prize

While the top categories clustered around the evening’s main winner, the BAFTA Awards 2026 craft and below-the-line honors spread the spotlight.

“Frankenstein” proved to be a technical force, taking multiple design-driven awards:

• Production Design

• Costume Design

• Makeup and Hair

Meanwhile, “Sinners” collected three notable wins that highlighted writing, performance, and music:

• Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler)

• Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku)

• Musical Score

These results gave the night a satisfying balance: one film owned the summit, but other titles still left with meaningful validation—and serious bragging rights.

BAFTA Awards 2026 global and feature categories: animation, documentary, and international winners

The BAFTA Awards 2026 also delivered a strong spread across global and feature categories, with several wins that feel tailor-made for audience discovery and future streaming watchlists.

Key BAFTA Awards 2026 results outside the headline races:

• Best Film Not in the English Language: Sentimental Value

• Best Animated Film: Zootropolis 2

• Best Documentary: Mr. Nobody Against Putin

• Outstanding Debut: Akinola and Wale Davies for My Father’s Shadow

• BAFTA Fellowship: Donna Langley

In a year where viewers bounce between theaters and at-home releases, these categories often function like a curated map—pointing audiences to titles they might have missed during the noise of the season.

What the BAFTA Awards 2026 results mean next for awards season

The immediate takeaway from the BAFTA Awards 2026 is momentum: “One Battle After Another” exits London looking like a film that can win with both prestige voters and craft branches, a combination that tends to translate well across awards bodies. Meanwhile, the acting wins for Robert Aramayo and Jessie Buckley reshape expectations and put fresh pressure on the remaining ballots of the season.

The BAFTA Awards 2026 didn’t just hand out trophies—they clarified narratives: a dominant best-film contender, a British success story, and a set of category wins that will influence what people watch next.