BAFTA Awards 2026: Full Winners List, Major Surprises and Defining Moments
One Battle After Another wins Best Film as Hamnet, Sinners and Zootropolis 2 shine at the EE BAFTAs
February 23, 2026
The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards delivered exactly what great award nights should — surprises, emotional wins, breakout stars, and a reminder that cinema continues to evolve in exciting and unpredictable ways.
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Held in London and presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, this year’s ceremony proved once again that the BAFTAs don’t always follow the awards-season script. While many expected a tight race between Sinners and Hamnet, it was One Battle After Another that walked away with the night’s biggest prize: Best Film.
And that was only the beginning.
Best Film: A Major Statement Win
In one of the evening’s most talked-about categories, One Battle After Another triumphed over strong competition including Hamnet, Sinners, Marty Supreme, and Sentimental Value.
Photo by Tristan Fewings/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
The victory immediately positioned the film as a serious awards-season contender beyond the UK. Director Paul Thomas Anderson also won Best Director, reinforcing the film’s dominance and making it one of the defining projects of the year.
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The double win — Best Film and Best Director — sent a clear message: the British Academy saw this as bold, confident filmmaking at its highest level.
Outstanding British Film: Hamnet Takes Home a Powerful Win
While One Battle After Another claimed the top prize, Hamnet delivered a strong showing in the British categories.
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The film won Outstanding British Film, a meaningful recognition for a homegrown production competing against titles like 28 Years Later, The Ballad of Wallis Island, and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
Actress Jessie Buckley further elevated the film’s night by winning Leading Actress for her performance in Hamnet. Her portrayal was widely praised for its emotional intensity and depth, and the BAFTA recognition confirmed the impact of her performance.
Acting Categories: Surprises and Standout Performances
The acting races brought some of the evening’s most unexpected results.
Robert Aramayo won Leading Actor for I Swear, defeating a strong lineup that included Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Aramayo’s win also capped off an impressive night for him, as he later received the EE Rising Star Award, solidifying his breakout status.
Timothée Chalamet (left) and Kylie Jenner (right) at the 2026 BAFTAs. Credit : Carlo Paloni/BAFTA via Getty
In the Supporting categories:
Wunmi Mosaku won Supporting Actress for Sinners, bringing emotional weight and quiet strength to the role.
Sean Penn took home Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, adding another accolade to his decorated career.
These wins reflected the BAFTAs’ willingness to reward powerful performances over predictable favorites.
Screenwriting Wins: Sinners and One Battle After Another
Screenwriting categories revealed another split in recognition.
Sinners won Original Screenplay, acknowledging its bold narrative and distinctive voice.
Meanwhile, One Battle After Another continued its winning streak with Adapted Screenplay, reinforcing how strongly the film resonated with BAFTA voters across multiple crafts.
Together, these wins highlight how storytelling — whether original or adapted — remains central to BAFTA’s identity.
Animation Spotlight: Zootropolis 2 Triumphs
In the Best Animated Film category, Zootropolis 2 emerged victorious over Elio and Little Amelie.
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The sequel’s win demonstrates how animated storytelling continues to compete seriously in major award spaces. Its success was balanced by Boong, which won Children’s & Family Film, showcasing the Academy’s recognition of diverse family-focused narratives.
If one film defined the technical categories, it was Frankenstein.
The film won:
Costume Design
Make-up & Hair
Production Design
Its detailed world-building and visual artistry clearly impressed voters.
Meanwhile, One Battle After Another added wins in Cinematography and Editing, while F1 captured Sound, and Avatar: Fire and Ash secured Special Visual Effects.
These categories often receive less public attention, but they reflect the collaborative nature of filmmaking — where visual, sonic, and design elements elevate storytelling.
International Recognition and Documentary Wins
In Film Not in the English Language, Sentimental Value won, underscoring BAFTA’s continued support of global cinema.
In the Documentary category, Mr. Nobody Against Putin earned the award, highlighting powerful real-world storytelling.
Meanwhile, Two Black Boys in Paradise won British Short Animation, and This Is Endometriosis claimed British Short Film, giving space to impactful short-form narratives.
Emerging Talent and British Debut
My Father’s Shadow won Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, an important category that often signals the future voices of British cinema.
The EE Rising Star Award, voted on by the public, went to Robert Aramayo — making him one of the evening’s biggest individual winners.
A Night That Reflected BAFTA’s Identity
What made the 2026 BAFTA Awards particularly compelling was their unpredictability.
Rather than simply echoing global awards trends, the British Academy honored a mix of:
International blockbusters
Bold independent storytelling
British productions
Emerging talent
Technical craft excellence
The result was a ceremony that felt balanced and genuinely reflective of the year in film.
Final Thoughts: A Defining Year for Film
The BAFTA Awards 2026 weren’t dominated by a single sweeping winner — but they were defined by strong creative voices.
One Battle After Another led the night with major wins in Best Film, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, and Supporting Actor.
Hamnet secured emotional victories in Outstanding British Film and Leading Actress.
Sinners took home Original Screenplay and Supporting Actress.
And Zootropolis 2 reminded audiences that animation remains a vital part of cinematic storytelling.
More than anything, the 2026 BAFTAs felt like a celebration of craft — of risk-taking, artistry, and performances that resonated deeply.
And if the ceremony proved anything, it’s this:
The British Academy continues to chart its own path — and the film world is watching closely.
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Daniel Moore is an entertainment writer at Trendora Magazine, covering Hollywood news, celebrity culture, and trending pop culture stories. He focuses on timely updates and clear storytelling that keeps readers informed and engaged.
