As we look toward the February ceremony, the race for the mask is officially on.
(Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for P&O Cruises)
The wait is over for film fans across the pond. This morning, Tuesday, January 27, 2026, actors Aimee Lou Wood and David Jonsson took to the stage in London to unveil the nominations for the 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards. While last week’s Oscar nominations saw Ryan Coogler’s Sinners make history with 16 nods, the British Academy has shifted the narrative, placing Paul Thomas Anderson’s black comedy One Battle After Another at the top of the leader board with 14 nominations. A total of 46 films were recognized this year, showcasing a “bold and uncompromising” year for cinema that spans from the gritty streets of Manchester to the surreal heights of the multiverse.
The Frontrunners: A Tight Race at the Top
The 2026 nominations are dominated by four major titles that have consistently defined this awards season. However, the order of dominance at the BAFTAs suggests a slightly different critical leaning than their American counterparts:
IMDb
14 Nominations: One Battle After Another — Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling action-thriller dominated the technical and acting categories alike.
13 Nominations: Sinners — Ryan Coogler’s blues-infused vampire drama continues its powerhouse run, though it fell one shy of the top spot today.
11 Nominations: Hamnet and Marty Supreme — Chloé Zhao’s Shakespearean family drama and Josh Safdie’s ping-pong odyssey both secured double-digit nods, proving their status as “prestige” locks.
Key Category Highlights
- Best Film:
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Hamnet
- Leading Actor:
- Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)
- Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another)
- Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)
- Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
- Robert Aramayo (I Swear)
- Jesse Plemons (Bugonia)
- Leading Actress:
- Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)
- Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue)
- Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
- Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another)
- Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value)
- Emma Stone (Bugonia)
- Best Director:
- Chloé Zhao (Hamnet)
- Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)
- Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia)
- Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
- Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value)
- Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
BAFTA Redemption: Surprises and Snubs
As is tradition, the BAFTAs provided “redemption” for several performers overlooked by the Academy Awards last week:
- Paul Mescal (Hamnet) and Odessa A’Zion (Marty Supreme) both secured nominations today after being surprisingly shut out of the Oscar shortlists.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked: For Good (2025) // IMDb
- Wicked: For Good found more love in London than in L.A., picking up nods for Costume Design and Makeup & Hair, though stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were once again left out of the acting categories.
- British Gems: Homegrown films like the BDSM biker romance Pillion and the musical drama The Ballad of Wallis Island both earned three nominations each, proving the Academy’s dedication to supporting independent UK cinema.
The winners will be revealed on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at London’s Royal Festival Hall. The ceremony will be hosted by Alan Cumming, promising a night of wit and Scottish charm.
