The biggest night in British film always brings madcap musical performances (Take That! Sophie Ellis-Bextor! Ariana DeBose’s viral rap!), surprising wins, highly emotional speeches, and a reorienting of the awards race in the run-up to the Oscars. (Last year, for instance, Mikey Madison’s surprise best-actress win over Demi Moore was a clue that she’d go on to repeat that feat at the Academy Awards.) Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 British Academy Film Awards.
When are the 2026 BAFTAs?
The 2026 BAFTAs will be held on Sunday, February 22.
Where will the 2026 BAFTAs take place?
After six years at the Royal Albert Hall, the BAFTAs moved to a new home in 2023—London’s Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall—and that’s where it’ll remain for this latest edition.
Who will host the 2026 BAFTAs?
David Tennant has done a stellar job of helming the show for the past two years, but the 79th ceremony will be hosted by another national treasure: Alan Cumming, most recently back in the spotlight as the host of The Traitors USA. An excellent choice, if you ask me.
Who will perform at the 2026 BAFTAs?
KPop Demon Hunters stars EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami will belt out their smash-hit “Golden” at the 2026 BAFTA ceremony, marking their first ever live performance together outside the US. Wonderful—but also slightly weird, considering that the Oscar-nominated sensation has zero BAFTA nominations. (It was deemed ineligible for not playing in theaters for long enough.) They’ll be joined by Jessie Ware, who will perform during the In Memoriam segment.
Who will present at the 2026 BAFTAs?
Presenters will include Glenn Close, Stormzy, Kate Hudson, Monica Bellucci, Cillian Murphy, Little Simz, Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, Miles Caton, Alicia Vikander, Riz Ahmed, Sadie Sink, Alia Bhatt, Aimee Lou Wood, Kerry Washington, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Olivia Cooke, Gillian Anderson, Ethan Hawke, Patrick Dempsey, and Regé-Jean Page.
How can I watch the 2026 BAFTAs from the US?
Unlike in past years, when viewers stateside could stream the ceremony live on BritBox, in 2026 both the red carpet and the BAFTAs themselves will air on E! from 8:00 p.m. ET. In the UK, the show airs on BBC One and iPlayer from 7:00 p.m. local time.
When were the 2026 BAFTAs nominations announced?
The longlist for the 2026 BAFTAs was released on January 9, and the nominations for the EE Rising Star award on January 14, followed by the full nominations list on January 27.
Who is nominated for a BAFTA in 2026?
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another leads the tally with 14 nominations, followed by Ryan Coogler’s Sinners with 13, and Hamnet and Marty Supreme in joint third place with 11. See the full list of nominations here.
Who will win at the 2026 BAFTAs?
Given the British Academy’s preference for homegrown talent, Hamnet could have an advantage in both best film and best British film, while Jessie Buckley’s best actress win feels basically guaranteed. Meanwhile, in best actor, Marty Supreme’s Timothée Chalamet has the edge, as does One Battle After Another’s Teyana Taylor in best supporting actress. In supporting actor, however, it’s a tight race between Sentimental Value’s Stellan Skarsgård, Frankenstein’s Jacob Elordi, and One Battle After Another’s Benicio del Toro, though it’d be wise not to count out Hamnet’s Paul Mescal either.