Hold onto your seats, movie buffs, because the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards are shaping up to be a nail-biting showdown! Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller One Battle After Another has narrowly edged out Ryan Coogler’s vampire flick Sinners by just one nomination, setting the stage for a thrilling race. But here’s where it gets controversial: while Sinners dominated the Oscars with a record-breaking 16 nominations, it’s now playing second fiddle at the BAFTAs. What does this say about the differing tastes of these prestigious awards? And this is the part most people miss: Wicked: For Good, snubbed at the Oscars, is still in the running for BAFTA craft awards—but will it be enough to redeem its awards season? Let’s dive into the details.
The BAFTA nominations, unveiled in London, have sparked excitement with One Battle After Another leading the pack with 14 nods, closely followed by Sinners with 13. Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet and Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme aren’t far behind, each earning 11 nominations. Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein secured eight nods each, while Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia and Kirk Jones’ I Swear received five apiece. In the Best Film category, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sentimental Value, and Sinners will go head-to-head.
The Outstanding British Film category is equally competitive, featuring 28 Years Later, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Die My Love, H Is for Hawk, Hamnet, I Swear, Mr Burton, Pillion, and Steve. Notably, Ryan Coogler (Sinners) and Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme) are first-time BAFTA nominees in the Best Director category, joining veterans like Lanthimos, Zhao, Anderson, and Trier.
First-time nominees in the performance categories include Robert Aramayo, Odessa A’zion, Rose Byrne, Chase Infiniti, Michael B. Jordan, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Teyana Taylor. Byrne and Infiniti are up for Leading Actress, alongside Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone (Bugonia). In the Leading Actor race, Aramayo (I Swear) and Jordan (Sinners) compete against Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia).
The Supporting Actress category features newcomers A’zion (Marty Supreme), Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), and Taylor (One Battle After Another), alongside Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), Carey Mulligan (The Ballad of Wallis Island), and Emily Watson (Hamnet). Skarsgård (Sentimental Value) joins a star-studded Supporting Actor lineup, including Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Paul Mescal (Hamnet), Peter Mullan (I Swear), and Sean Penn (One Battle After Another).
Wicked: For Good, despite its Oscar snub, is in contention for Costume Design and Make Up & Hair BAFTAs. Meanwhile, films like Jay Kelly, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, The Testament of Ann Lee, and No Other Choice were shut out entirely.
Joseph Kosinski’s F1, a surprise Oscar nominee, earned three BAFTA nods for editing, sound, and special visual effects. Earlier this month, the longlists hinted at One Battle After Another’s strong showing, with 16 mentions, followed by Hamnet and Sinners with 14 each.
BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip celebrated the nominees, highlighting the power of storytelling to engage and provoke debate. Chair Sara Putt praised the inclusion of British indie films alongside global blockbusters, calling it an exceptional year for bold storytelling.
The 79th BAFTA Film Awards will take place on February 22 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, hosted by Alan Cumming. Who will take home the top honors? The race is wide open, and the debates are just beginning. What do you think—did the BAFTAs get it right, or are there snubs that deserve more attention? Share your thoughts in the comments!
