London’s Royal Festival Hall sparkled with anticipation on the evening of February 22, 2026, as film’s brightest stars gathered for the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards. Hosted by the ever-charismatic Alan Cumming, the ceremony was a whirlwind of emotion, surprise, and celebration, with the year’s most acclaimed filmmakers and actors taking home the industry’s most coveted British honors. If anyone thought the awards season had already settled into predictability after the Golden Globes and with the Oscars just around the corner, the BAFTAs proved otherwise—delivering unexpected victories, heartfelt speeches, and a few historic firsts that had the audience buzzing.
The night’s undisputed champion was Paul Thomas Anderson’s gripping epic, One Battle After Another. The film, which centers on a washed-up revolutionary searching for his missing daughter, swept six categories from its 14 nominations—including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Accepting the top prize, Anderson’s exuberance was on full display: “Anybody who says that movies aren’t good any more can piss right off because this is a great f****** year.” He continued, invoking a line from Nina Simone used in his film: “I know what freedom is, it’s no fear. Let’s keep making things without fear, it’s a good idea. See you at the bar.” According to Evening Standard, Anderson’s comments perfectly captured the evening’s spirit—one of creative courage and communal pride.
Anderson’s film also saw Sean Penn take home Best Supporting Actor, a win that surprised some but delighted many. Meanwhile, the competition was fierce with Sinners and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein both nipping at its heels, each collecting three awards. Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, not only earned Best Original Screenplay—making Coogler the first Black filmmaker to ever win that prize—but also saw Wunmi Mosaku win Best Supporting Actress and the film itself collect Best Score. Mosaku, reflecting on her role in the acclaimed vampire film, told the audience, “I found a part of myself in Annie, a part of my hopes, my ancestral power and connection, parts I thought I had lost or tried to dim as an immigrant trying to fit in.” She added, addressing Coogler, “I felt the presence of the ancestors’ pride and joy daily on your set.” The emotional resonance of her words was felt throughout the hall, as reported by Evening Standard.
Coogler’s own acceptance speech was a moment for the history books. His Best Original Screenplay win broke new ground for the BAFTAs, and his film’s recognition in multiple categories signaled a growing appreciation for diverse voices in British and international cinema. The night’s results showed that the race for awards glory was anything but predictable, with even the most-nominated film, Marty Supreme, leaving empty-handed—a reminder that critical acclaim doesn’t always translate to trophies.
But perhaps the most heartwarming story of the evening belonged to Robert Aramayo. The British actor stunned the crowd with his Best Actor win for his transformative performance in I Swear, a biopic about a man living with Tourette syndrome in 1980s Scotland. Aramayo’s victory was all the more remarkable considering the formidable competition: Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, and Ethan Hawke were all in the running. In his acceptance speech, Aramayo paid tribute to his peers and mentors, recalling, “When I was in school, Ethan Hawke came in to speak to us at Juilliard and he gave an amazing talk on longevity as an actor, about protecting your instrument and avoiding self-destructive behaviours, and it had a great impact on everyone in the room. So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you Ethan.”
Aramayo’s night didn’t end there. He also received the EE Rising Star award, joining a prestigious list of past winners and cementing his place as one of Britain’s most exciting talents. I Swear also picked up the award for Best Casting, further highlighting the film’s impact. Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley was recognized for her emotionally charged portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in Hamnet. Buckley, who also saw the film named Outstanding British Film, delivered a moving speech: “As a little girl, I never in a million years thought I would get to make a film. This really does belong to the women past, present and future who taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently.” She dedicated her win to her daughter, sharing, “It’s the best role of my life being your mum and I promise to continue to be disobedient so you can belong to a world in all your complete wildness as a young woman.”
Technical excellence was recognized as well, with Frankenstein scooping up awards for Costume Design, Production Design, and Make-Up and Hair. Avatar: Fire And Ash claimed Best Visual Effects, while F1: The Movie took home the award for Best Sound—a nod to the enduring importance of craftsmanship in filmmaking. The in memoriam segment, always a poignant part of the ceremony, honored the passing of legends such as Diane Keaton, Terence Stamp, Catherine O’Hara, Rob Reiner, Robert Duvall, Sir Tom Stoppard, Brigitte Bardot, and Robert Redford. Jessie Ware’s performance of “The Way We Were” underscored the emotional weight of the tributes.
Other notable victories included Sentimental Value for Best Film Not In The English Language and Zootropolis 2 as Best Animated Film. In the children’s and family category, the competition was fierce, but the BAFTA jury’s choices reflected the breadth of storytelling on offer this year.
Recognition for industry contributions was also front and center. Clare Binns, creative director of Picturehouse Cinemas and Picturehouse Entertainment, received the Outstanding Contribution To British Cinema honor, while Universal Pictures chair Dame Donna Langley-Shamshiri was awarded the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship. The Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Princess of Wales, presented Langley-Shamshiri with the Fellowship—an acknowledgment of her transformative impact on global cinema.
Host Alan Cumming, never one to shy away from a bit of cheek, commented on the emotional intensity of this year’s nominees: “Watching films this year was like taking part in a collective nervous breakdown. It’s almost like there are events in the real world that are influencing filmmakers.” He even suggested, only half-joking, “It would be a good idea if we had one big collective primal scream.” Cumming’s humor provided a welcome counterpoint to the evening’s more serious moments, reminding everyone that, at its heart, film is about connection and catharsis.
As the curtain fell on the 2026 BAFTAs, one thing was clear: British and international cinema are alive with bold new voices, unexpected twists, and a spirit of fearless creativity. With the Oscars just weeks away, the conversation is far from over—but for one night in London, the magic of movies was celebrated in all its unpredictable glory.