BAFTA 2026 Nominations Unveiled: Leonardo DiCaprio's Political Thriller Leads the Race
The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 2026 nominations have been announced, with Leonardo DiCaprio's politically charged action thriller One Battle After Another emerging as the frontrunner. The film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, has secured an impressive 14 nominations, setting the stage for a highly competitive awards season.
Top Contenders and Key Categories
In the race for the prestigious awards, One Battle After Another faces stiff competition from other notable films. Ryan Coogler's blues-steeped vampire epic Sinners follows closely with 13 nominations, while Chloé Zhao's Shakespearean family tragedy Hamnet and Josh Safdie's ping-pong odyssey Marty Supreme each have 11 nominations.
The nominees for Best Film are:
- One Battle After Another
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- Sinners
- Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value
Acting Categories: Star-Studded Lineup
The acting categories feature a remarkable array of talent. In the Best Leading Actor category, Leonardo DiCaprio is nominated for his role in One Battle After Another, competing against:
- Robert Aramayo for I Swear
- Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme
- Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon
- Michael B. Jordan for Sinners
- Jesse Plemons for Bugonia
The Best Leading Actress race sees favorite Jessie Buckley nominated for Hamnet, alongside:
- Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
- Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue
- Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another
- Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value
- Emma Stone for Bugonia
Supporting Performances and British Film Focus
One Battle After Another actors Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn have all received nominations for supporting performances, highlighting the film's ensemble strength. The BAFTAs also maintain their distinct British focus with a separate category for Best British Film. The 10 nominees in this category include:
- The Ballad of Wallis Island
- Pillion
- I Swear
- Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Awards Ceremony and Oscar Predictions
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on February 22, hosted by actor Alan Cumming. The EE BAFTA Film Awards are closely watched as they often provide clues about potential winners at Hollywood's Academy Awards, which are scheduled for March 15 this year.
Interestingly, this year saw Oscar nominations announced first, with Sinners securing a record 16 Oscar nominations, followed by 13 for One Battle After Another. The British academy has recognized several performers overlooked by the Oscars, including supporting actor nominees Paul Mescal for Hamnet and Odessa A'zion for Marty Supreme.
Diversity Initiatives and Voting Process
In recent years, Britain's film academy has implemented changes to increase diversity. Following criticism in 2020 when no women were nominated for Best Director for the seventh consecutive year and all acting nominees were white, the voting process was revised to include a longlist round before final nominee selection.
This year, Chloé Zhao stands as the only female nominee in the Best Director category, alongside Paul Thomas Anderson, Josh Safdie, Ryan Coogler, Yorgos Lanthimos for Bugonia, and Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value. Across all categories, including documentaries and shorts, 25% of directing nominees are women, marking progress in representation.
Rising Star Award and Public Participation
Most BAFTA winners are chosen by 8,500 members of the U.K. academy of industry professionals. However, the EE Rising Star Award is selected by public vote from a shortlist of nominees. This year's contenders include:
- Chase Infiniti
- Robert Aramayo
- Miles Caton from Sinners
- British actors Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling
The BAFTA 2026 nominations reflect a dynamic and diverse cinematic landscape, with One Battle After Another positioned as the film to beat. As the awards season progresses, all eyes will be on London's ceremony to see which films and performances will triumph before the Oscars in March.
