Hollywood’s awards season is in full swing, and this year, the spotlight is burning especially bright on both sides of the Atlantic. On February 22, 2026, London’s Royal Festival Hall will host the 2026 BAFTA Awards, an event that has become not just a celebration of cinematic achievement in the United Kingdom, but a pivotal moment in the global film calendar. Meanwhile, across the internet, movie fans are casting their votes for the 24th Annual Golden Schmoes, the longest-running online fan-choice movie awards. With both ceremonies showcasing a dazzling array of talent and some fierce competition among the season’s most talked-about films, the stage is set for a memorable week in movie history.
The BAFTA Awards, long considered a crucial bellwether for the Oscars, have only grown in significance as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continues to expand its international reach. According to Deadline, this year’s ceremony will be hosted by the ever-charismatic Alan Cumming, bringing his signature wit to the proceedings. The event promises a star-studded evening, with presenters including the likes of Bryan Cranston, Cillian Murphy, Emily Watson, Ethan Hawke, Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Kate Hudson, Michael B. Jordan, Riz Ahmed, Stellan Skarsgård, and even Paddington Bear, who will present the award for Best Children's and Family Film. The guest list reads like a who’s who of contemporary cinema: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Timothée Chalamet, Jacob Elordi, Emma Stone, Paul Mescal, and many more are expected to walk the red carpet.
For viewers in the United States, the ceremony will be broadcast on E! at 8 p.m. ET/PT and streamed on BritBox, available both via its app and through Prime Video. The event is sure to attract not only film aficionados but also those eager to spot their favorite stars and witness the first performance outside the U.S. of "Golden," the record-breaking track from KPop Demon Hunters, performed by Jae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—the voices behind Huntr/X. In a poignant moment, Jessie Ware will take the stage for an "In Memoriam" tribute, delivering a moving cover of a Barbra Streisand classic, ensuring that the night is as emotional as it is glamorous.
Leading the BAFTA nominations this year is One Battle After Another with 14 nods, hotly pursued by Sinners with 13. As reported by Variety, both films are expected to be the evening’s heavyweights, and their performance at BAFTA could very well shape the narrative heading into the Oscars. Donna Langley, chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment, will receive the BAFTA Fellowship, the organization’s highest honor, making her the first British leader of a Hollywood studio to be so recognized. In her words, "It is an incredible honour to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the BAFTA Fellowship. As a Brit, to be recognized by my home country, by my peers and fellow colleagues in the industry, is an absolute privilege. I wouldn’t be receiving this award without the indelible vision of the creative partners who have defined my career."
But the BAFTAs aren’t the only awards stirring up excitement. On February 20, 2026, the nominees for the 24th Annual Golden Schmoes were announced, giving movie fans everywhere a chance to make their voices heard. The Golden Schmoes, which have weathered more than two decades of changing tastes and cinematic trends, remain a unique fixture in the awards landscape—one where the audience, not the critics or industry insiders, chooses the winners. Voting runs through February 28, with the winners revealed on March 2.
This year’s Golden Schmoes ballot is packed with both expected favorites and some delightful surprises. One Battle After Another leads the pack with a whopping 17 nominations, while Sinners follows closely with 15, Weapons with 10, Marty Supreme with 9, and Superman with 7. The categories run the gamut from the traditional—Favorite Movie, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress—to the delightfully irreverent, including Most Overrated Movie, Trippiest Movie, and Best Line of the Year. Jennifer Lawrence snags a Best Actress nomination for Die My Love, and Eva Victor earns a Breakthrough Performance nod for the under-the-radar Sorry Baby.
The Golden Schmoes reflect the passions and quirks of the global moviegoing public. For instance, in the Best Actor race, Michael B. Jordan is recognized for Sinners, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, and Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme. The Best Actress field features Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Emma Stone for Begonia, and Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another. The awards also shine a light on genre films, with categories for Best Horror, Best Animated, and Best Sci-Fi Flick, ensuring that blockbusters and indies alike get their moment in the sun.
What sets the Golden Schmoes apart, however, is their embrace of fan culture. Categories like Coolest Character, Best Music, Favorite Poster, and Best Trailer celebrate not just the films themselves, but the broader experience of being a movie lover. This year’s nominees include memorable moments and lines—from the pulse-pounding car chase in One Battle After Another to the unforgettable quip, “You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s going to follow you home,” from Sinners. It’s a reminder that movies are about more than just awards—they’re about the moments that stick with us long after the credits roll.
Of course, the awards season isn’t without its share of drama. According to Deadline, BAFTA organizers are on high alert for politically charged speeches, a response to last year’s controversy when the BBC faced backlash over its coverage of the Glastonbury Festival. With so many stars and filmmakers in attendance, and the world watching, any statement from the stage could quickly become headline news. But that’s part of what makes awards season so compelling—the unpredictability, the emotion, and the sense that anything can happen.
For those who can’t get enough of the glitz, the Golden Schmoes offer a second chance to celebrate (or commiserate) over the year’s biggest hits and misses. With voting open until February 28, fans have the power to crown their favorites, from the best performances to the most memorable scenes. And with the winners announced on March 2, the conversation is sure to continue well into the spring.
As Hollywood’s brightest stars gather in London for the BAFTAs, and movie fans around the world cast their votes in the Golden Schmoes, one thing is clear: this is a season defined by both tradition and innovation, by the power of both industry insiders and passionate audiences. Whether you’re rooting for the critical darlings or the fan favorites, there’s never been a better time to be a movie lover.