Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller leads the night with six wins, while surprise victories and historic milestones shake up the BAFTA race.

The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards delivered a night of expected dominance, genuine surprises, and meaningful milestones, as Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ emerged as the evening’s biggest winner while Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ and the underdog crowd-pleaser ‘I Swear’ provided the ceremony’s most memorable moments.

Hosted by Alan Cumming at London’s Royal Festival Hall, the British Academy’s annual celebration of cinema struck its familiar balance between prestige coronations and unpredictable upsets. But even by BAFTA standards, this year’s ceremony carried an unusually dynamic energy, reflecting a film year defined by bold auteurs, strong performances, and shifting industry narratives.

At the top of the leaderboard was Anderson’s ambitious political thriller, which converted its field-leading nomination haul into six major wins. ‘One Battle After Another’ took home Best Film, Best Director for Anderson, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Supporting Actor for Sean Penn — a sweeping performance that firmly cements the film as a major force in the ongoing awards season conversation.

The scale of the film’s success was not entirely unexpected given its strong showing during nominations, where it narrowly edged out ‘Sinners’ for the most mentions. Still, winning across both above-the-line and craft categories signals broad industry support that could carry meaningful momentum into the final stretch of the awards race.

If Anderson’s victory lap represented the night’s most dominant narrative, Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ delivered the evening’s historic headline. The vampire horror drama secured three BAFTA wins, setting a new record for the most honors awarded to a film from a Black filmmaker in BAFTA history. The film claimed Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku, Best Original Screenplay for Coogler, and Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson.

Coogler’s screenplay win was particularly notable, marking the first time a Black filmmaker has taken home the BAFTA for Original Screenplay. In a season already defined by the film’s strong critical and audience response, the BAFTA recognition further strengthens ‘Sinners’ as one of the year’s most culturally significant genre achievements.

Yet the ceremony’s most electric moment belonged to ‘I Swear,’ the Tourette Syndrome-centered dramedy that stunned the Royal Festival Hall audience. Star Robert Aramayo delivered one of the night’s biggest shocks by winning both Leading Actor and the publicly voted EE Rising Star Award, prompting audible gasps from the crowd. The film also picked up Best Casting, giving the project a remarkable three-award haul.

Aramayo’s double win instantly reframes him as one of the season’s most compelling breakthrough stories. In a Leading Actor field stacked with heavyweights including Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Michael B. Jordan, his victory signaled strong industry enthusiasm for both the performance and the film’s emotional resonance.

Elsewhere, Chloé Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’ maintained its strong awards presence with two significant wins, including Outstanding British Film and Leading Actress for Jessie Buckley. Buckley’s victory continues what has been a quietly powerful awards run for the performer, whose work in the Shakespearean drama has consistently resonated with voting bodies.

Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ also made a notable craft showing, taking three technical awards for Production Design, Costume Design, and Make-up & Hair. While the film did not break into the top categories, its below-the-line strength reinforces its reputation as one of the year’s most visually accomplished productions — a narrative that has been building steadily throughout the season.

The ceremony itself carried its usual blend of British wit and pointed political commentary. BAFTA chair Sara Putt opened the evening by praising nominees for offering audiences “windows into other worlds,” notably emphasizing creative excellence “with no algorithms involved,” a line that drew knowing laughs from the industry crowd.

Alan Cumming speaks on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026 in London **(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)**

Host Alan Cumming leaned into the year’s heavier thematic slate during his monologue, joking about the exhaustion of awards-season subject matter before inviting the audience into a collective primal scream about world events. The tone reflected a film year deeply engaged with real-world anxieties, a throughline echoed in several acceptance speeches.

Documentary winner David Borenstein used his moment to reference global political tensions, while ‘My Father’s Shadow’ filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. concluded his Outstanding Debut speech with a call of “Free Palestine,” underscoring the increasingly outspoken nature of international awards stages.

Beyond the competitive categories, the ceremony also honored key industry figures. Picturehouse’s Clare Binns received the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award, using her speech to champion the importance of neighborhood theaters and risk-taking in distribution. NBCUniversal Entertainment chair Donna Langley was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship, the organization’s highest honor, and emphasized the importance of leadership grounded in integrity, telling the audience that “decency is a superpower.”

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By the evening’s end, however, the narrative was clear. ‘One Battle After Another’ left London as the night’s undisputed heavyweight, but the broader story of the 2026 BAFTAs was one of range: a prestige political thriller dominating the board, a genre film making history, and a heartfelt dramedy delivering the night’s biggest emotional surprise.

As the awards season continues its march toward its final destinations, the BAFTAs have once again reshuffled the conversation — and potentially the momentum — in ways that will be closely watched across the industry.

Check out the full 2026 BAFTA honors below:

Best Film
HAMNET Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes
MARTY SUPREME Timothée Chalamet, Anthony Katagas, Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Adam Somner, Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson
SENTIMENTAL VALUE Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar
SINNERS Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ryan Coogler

Leading Actress
JESSIE BUCKLEY Hamnet
ROSE BYRNE If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
KATE HUDSON Song Sung Blue
CHASE INFINITI One Battle After Another
RENATE REINSVE Sentimental Value
EMMA STONE Bugonia

Leading Actor
ROBERT ARAMAYO I Swear
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET Marty Supreme
LEONARDO DICAPRIO One Battle After Another
ETHAN HAWKE Blue Moon
MICHAEL B. JORDAN Sinners
JESSE PLEMONS Bugonia

Supporting Actor
BENICIO DEL TORO One Battle After Another
JACOB ELORDI Frankenstein
PAUL MESCAL Hamnet
PETER MULLAN I Swear
SEAN PENN One Battle After Another
STELLAN SKARSGÅRD Sentimental Value

Supporting Actress
ODESSA A’ZION Marty Supreme
INGA IBSDOTTER LILLEAAS Sentimental Value
WUNMI MOSAKU Sinners
CAREY MULLIGAN The Ballad of Wallis Island
TEYANA TAYLOR One Battle After Another
EMILY WATSON Hamnet

Director
BUGONIA Yorgos Lanthimos
HAMNET Chloé Zhao
MARTY SUPREME Josh Safdie
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Paul Thomas Anderson
SENTIMENTAL VALUE Joachim Trier
SINNERS Ryan Coogler

EE Rising Star Award (voted for by the public)
Robert Aramayo
Miles Caton
Chase Infiniti
Archie Madekwe
Posy Sterling

Outstanding British Film
28 YEARS LATER Danny Boyle, Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, Bernard Bellew, Alex Garland
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND James Griffiths, Rupert Majendie, Tom Basden, Tim Key
BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY Michael Morris, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jo Wallett, Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer, Abi Morgan
DIE MY LOVE Lynne Ramsay, Martin Scorsese, Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Cirrocchi, Andrea Calderwood, Enda Walsh, Alice Birch
H IS FOR HAWK Philippa Lowthorpe, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Emma Donoghue
HAMNET Chloé Zhao, Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Speilberg, Sam Mendes, Maggie O’Farrell
I SWEAR Kirk Jones, Georgia Bayliff, Piers Tempest
MR BURTON Marc Evans, Ed Talfan, Josh Hyams, Hannah Thomas, Trevor Matthews, Tom Bullough
PILLION Harry Lighton, Emma Norton, Lee Groombridge, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe
STEVE Tim Mielants, Alan Moloney, Cillian Murphy, Max Porter

Film Not in the English Language
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT Jafar Panahi, Philippe Martin
THE SECRET AGENT Kleber Mendonça Filho, Emilie Lesclaux
SENTIMENTAL VALUE Joachim Trier, Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar
SIRĀT Oliver Laxe, Domingo Corral
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB Kaouther Ben Hania, Nadim Cheikhrouha

Costume Design
FRANKENSTEIN Kate Hawley
HAMNET Malgosia Turzanska
MARTY SUPREME Miyako Bellizzi
SINNERS Ruth E. Carter
WICKED: FOR GOOD Paul Tazewell

Adapted Screenplay
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND Tom Basden, Tim Key
BUGONIA Will Tracy
HAMNET Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Paul Thomas Anderson
PILLION Harry Lighton

Original Score
BUGONIA Jerskin Fendrix
FRANKENSTEIN Alexandre Desplat
HAMNET Max Richter
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Jonny Greenwood
SINNERS Ludwig Göransson

Sound
F1 Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta
FRANKENSTEIN Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitallie, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoem
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor
SINNERS Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco
WARFARE Glenn Freemantle, Mitch Low, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner

Cinematography
FRANKENSTEIN Dan Laustsen
MARTY SUPREME Darius Khondji
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Michael Bauman
SINNERS Autumn Durald Arkapaw
TRAIN DREAMS Adolpho Veloso

Animated Film
ELIO Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina, Mary Alice Drumm
LITTLE AMÉLIE Mailys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, Nidia Santiago, Edwina Liard, Claire Le Combe, Henri Magalon
ZOOTROPOLIS 2 Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino

Editing
F1 Stephen Mirrione
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE Kirk Baxter
MARTY SUPREME Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Andy Jurgensen
SINNERS Michael P. Shawver

Casting
I SWEAR Lauren Evans
MARTY SUPREME Jennifer Venditti
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Cassandra Kulukundis
SENTIMENTAL VALUE Yngvill Kolset Haga, Avy Kaufman
SINNERS Francine Maisler

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
THE CEREMONY Jack King (Director, Writer), Hollie Bryan (Producer), Lucy Meer (Producer)
MY FATHER’S SHADOW Akinola Davies Jr. (Director), Wale Davies (Writer)
PILLION Harry Lighton (Director, Writer)
A WANT IN HER Myrid Carten (Director)
WASTEMAN Cal McMau (Director), Hunter Andrews (Writer), Eoin Doran (Writer)

Original Screenplay
I SWEAR Kirk Jones
MARTY SUPREME Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
THE SECRET AGENT Kleber Mendonça Filho
SENTIMENTAL VALUE Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
SINNERS Ryan Coogler

British Short Animation
CARDBOARD J.P. Vine, Michaela Manas Malina
SOLSTICE Luke Angus
TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE Baz Sells, Dean Atta, Ben Jackson

British Short Film
MAGID / ZAFAR Luis Hindman, Sufiyaan Salam, Aidan Robert Brooks
NOSTALGIE Kathryn Ferguson, Stacey Gregg, Marc Robinson, Kath Mattock
TERENCE Edem Kelman, Noah Reich
THIS IS ENDOMETRIOSIS Georgie Wileman, Matt Houghton, Harriette Wright
WELCOME HOME FRECKLES Huiju Park, Nathan Hendren

Documentary
2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, Raney Aronson-Rath
APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS Petra Costa, Alessandra Orofino
COVER-UP Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus, Olivia Streisand, Yoni Golijev
MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN David Borenstein, Helle Faber, Radovan Síbrt, Alžběta Karásková
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR Geeta Gandbhir, Alisa Payne, Nikon Kwantu, Sam Bisbee

Make-up & Hair
FRANKENSTEIN Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Mike Hill, Megan Many
HAMNET Nicole Stafford
MARTY SUPREME Kyra Panchenko, Kay Georgiou, Mike Fontaine
SINNERS Siân Richards, Shunika Terry, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine
WICKED: FOR GOOD Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, Mark Coulier, Sarah Nuth

Production Design
FRANKENSTEIN Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau
HAMNET Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton
MARTY SUPREME Jack Fisk, Adam Willis
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino
SINNERS Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne

Children’s & Family Film
ARCO Ugo Bienvenu, Félix De Givry, Sophie Mas, Natalie Portman
BOONG Lakshmipriya Devi, Ritesh Sidhwani
LILO & STITCH Dean Fleischer Camp, Jonathan Eirich
ZOOTROPOLIS 2 Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino

Special Visual Effects
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon
F1 Ryan Tudhope, Keith Alfred Dawson, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington
FRANKENSTEIN Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Christian Mänz, Francois Lambert, Glen McIntosh, Terry Palmer
THE LOST BUS Charlie Noble, Brandon K. McLaughlin, David Zaretti