British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) 2026 took place at the Royal Festival Hall, London, on February 22, with the events run by the hands of Scottish actor and TV personality Alan Cumming. The 2021 award ceremony was broadcast on BBC One and on demand via iPlayer, and the best in world cinema was honored alongside the annual obligatory share of memorable moments, when it was clear who won and who lost, when the winner is prepared to speak feelingly, and when political commentators interfere and make remarks about the culture.
An Evening of Large Winners and Chatter
The ceremony was dramatic and distinguished from the moment the guests were on the red carpet. Top of the list of awards was the politically charged thriller One Battle After Another, the film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which won six big BAFTAs, including Best Film, Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn) and Cinematography. This no-go area of the film emphasizes the artistic success of the movie, as well as the acceptance of BAFTA of provocative, socially expressive narratives.
British talent was also at its finest in the acting categories. Robert Aramayo emerged as the winner of the Best Leading Actor category in his role as a Tourette syndrome advocate in I Swear – a win that comes as a surprise to most people who think there are more serious competitors, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan. Another success of the emerging performers was the EE Rising Star Award, which was decided by the audience and won by Aramayo.
Another of the most emotional moments of the night saw Jessie Buckley win Best Leading Actress in her turn in Hamnet and devote the honor to the women of the past and the present who inspired her work and to her little daughter.
Other prominent winners were Wunmi Mosaku as the Best Supporting Actress in Sinners, and Hamnet itself was the winner in the category of Outstanding British Film. Movies of all types were awarded, including animation (Zootopia 2) and documentary (Mr. Nobody Against Putin), which further support the BAFTA idea in a comprehensive celebration of cinematic excellence.
Internally Room: Cheers, Shock and Real Conversations
What made this year’s ceremony special was not only the trophies but the feel inside the room; all full of excitement, provocation and unconditional cultural experiences. John Davidson of I Swear, who was the Tourette syndrome proponent that Aramayo brought to the screen, was in the crowd early in the night. Involuntary vocal outbursts by Davidson, such as the use of strong language, punctuated the initial stages of the show. Here was something that Cumming discussed off-stage, clarifying what Tourette was and how sorry he was to cause offense, but reminding the audience that a human was behind the person being filmed.
In the meantime, Akinola Davies Jr., who won the Outstanding Debut, vociferously shouted Free Palestine when accepting his award, a phrase later edited out, but was met with a standing ovation in the hall.
These scenes accentuated the ways in which cinema and culture merge into larger social and political trends. Although it was essentially an awards show, the BAFTAs have continued to be a venue where creators and audiences are able to mirror the dynamics of the world in general.
Universal Recognition, Honorary Moments
In addition to personal film and performance nominations, the BAFTA Fellowship, the lifetime achievement award of the academy, was made to Donna Langley, Chair of Universal Pictures. The accolade was in the form of Langley being presented by one of her greatest leaders, Prince William, as a recognition of her impact on the industry’s history and dedication to inclusion. In her acceptance, she also stressed the timelessness of storytelling to cut across cultures and lives.
During the lighter scenes, a costumed Paddington Bear, as an embodiment of Paddington the Musical, entertained the audience, introducing the award of Best Children/Family Film to Boong and making the audience laugh and be delighted.
The Full List of 2026 BAFTA Winners
Here’s a comprehensive list of winners from the 79th BAFTA Film Awards:
- Best Film: One Battle After Another
- Director: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Leading Actress: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
- Leading Actor: Robert Aramayo – I Swear
- Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
- Supporting Actor: Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
- Outstanding British Film: Hamnet
- Outstanding Debut: Akinola Davies Jr. – My Father’s Shadow
- Film Not in the English Language: Sentimental Value
- Documentary: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
- Animated Film: Zootopia 2
- Adapted Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler – Sinners
- Original Score: Ludwig Göransson – Sinners
- Costume Design: Kate Hawley – Frankenstein
- Production Design: Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau – Frankenstein
- Special Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash team
- Makeup & Hair: Frankenstein team
- Editing: Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another
- Cinematography: Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another
- Casting: Lauren Evans – I Swear
- Sound: F1 sound team
- British Short Animation: Two Black Boys in Paradise
- British Short Film: This Is Endometriosis
- EE Rising Star Award: Robert Aramayo
Culminating Reflections: An Intensive Celebration
Being a veteran entertainment editor, what is remarkable about the BAFTA Awards of this year, is not the name of the victors but how the show itself was a milestone of how cinema is turning into a more participatory element of the cultural discourse. Awards nights tend to get gaga quite easily; this year’s performance, with its charismatic delivery by Alan Cumming, slowly balanced its entertainment against introspection. The sensitive moments handled with grace by Cumming coupled with the strong and even political stories being recognized in the scenery of the movie reminded the viewers that it is not only the entertainment factor that makes movies so appealing, but also the challenging, educating and unifying aspects of films.
The BAFTAs was a night of togetherness in a fractured media industry where movies all over the world big and small received their due in terms of their art and influence. And with the identification of both long-established and the emerging talents, the ceremony featured a bright future of the world film community.