One Battle After Another Dominates 2026 BAFTA Nominations

On January 27, 2026, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) unveiled the nominations for its 2026 Film Awards, igniting excitement and debate across the global film community. The announcement, covered extensively by Deadline, BBC News, and other industry outlets, revealed a fiercely competitive field led by Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, both of which have dominated the awards season thus far.

One Battle After Another emerged as the frontrunner with a staggering 14 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, and Adapted Screenplay. According to Deadline, the film had already made history with 16 longlist mentions—more than any other film in BAFTA’s history. Its 14 official nominations now place it second only to Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi, which earned 16 back in 1983. This marks a significant achievement for Anderson and his team, as no film has come this close to breaking a decades-old record.

Hot on its heels is Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror that has also been making waves on the awards circuit. With 13 BAFTA nominations, including Best Director and Original Screenplay for Coogler, the film has achieved the highest nomination count for any film by a Black director in BAFTA history. As reported by BBC News, Sinners also led the Oscar nominations the previous week, cementing its status as a major contender this season.

Among the acting categories, the BAFTA nominations brought both new faces and seasoned veterans into the spotlight. Michael B. Jordan received his first BAFTA nomination for Best Actor for his role in Sinners, while Manchester native Wunmi Mosaku was recognized with a Best Actress nod for the same film. One Battle After Another also saw its cast celebrated, with Leonardo DiCaprio earning his seventh career BAFTA nomination in the Leading Actor category—a milestone that ties him with legendary actors like Michael Caine, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Laurence Olivier, as highlighted by BBC News. Chase Infiniti, a rising star, was nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Anderson’s film and also made the shortlist for the EE Rising Star Award, which is voted for by the public.

The nominations list featured eight first-time nominees in the performance categories, including Robert Aramayo (I Swear), Odessa A’zion (Marty Supreme), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value), Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), and Michael B. Jordan (Sinners). This influx of new talent signals a generational shift in the British and international film landscape, with BAFTA providing a platform for both established icons and emerging artists.

The 2026 nominations also made history for female filmmakers. Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Hamnet garnered 11 nominations, making it the most nominated film by a female director in BAFTA history. However, as BBC News noted, Zhao was the only woman to make the shortlist for Best Director this year, despite five female directors being on the longlist. This fact has sparked renewed conversations about gender representation in the industry, even as Zhao’s achievement is celebrated as a breakthrough.

Hamnet and Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme both tied with 11 nominations, further underscoring the diversity and strength of this year’s field. Other films that made a strong showing include Frankenstein and Sentimental Value with eight nominations each, and Bugonia and I Swear with five apiece. British productions like The Ballad of Wallis Island and Pillion were also recognized, each securing three nominations and representing the best of homegrown cinema. The Ballad of Wallis Island, in particular, was praised by BBC’s culture editor Katie Razzall as “richly deserved,” with fans like Richard Curtis calling it “one of the greatest British films of all time.”

The Best Director category featured two first-time nominees: Ryan Coogler for Sinners and Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme. Their inclusion alongside established names like Anderson and Zhao reflects a dynamic mix of experience and fresh vision in this year’s competition. The nominations also highlighted some surprises and snubs, as reported by industry observers. Notably, Oscar-nominated talents such as Amy Madigan (Weapons) and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) did not receive BAFTA nods, while Jesse Plemons and Yorgos Lanthimos were recognized for Bugonia.

In addition to the headline categories, the BAFTA nominations spanned a wide array of technical and artistic achievements. Films were recognized for excellence in cinematography, costume design, editing, production design, sound, visual effects, and original score. The list also included categories for documentaries, animated films, children’s and family films, and short films, reflecting the breadth of contemporary filmmaking talent.

As for the international dimension, the Best Film Not in the English Language category mirrored this year’s Oscar nominations for Best International Feature Film. Titles such as The Secret Agent, It Was Just An Accident, Sentimental Value, Sirāt, and The Voice of Hind Rajab were all selected, showcasing the global scope of the BAFTA Awards.

The EE Rising Star Award, which is decided by public vote, featured a compelling mix of newcomers: Robert Aramayo (I Swear), Miles Caton (Sinners), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Archie Madekwe (Lurker), and Posy Sterling (Lollipop). This award, often seen as a predictor of future stardom, is closely watched by both industry insiders and fans.

The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards ceremony is set to take place on February 22 at London’s Royal Festival Hall. As the final major stop before the Oscars, the BAFTAs are expected to influence the remaining trajectory of awards season, with One Battle After Another and Sinners locked in a high-stakes race. With history-making nominations, fresh faces, and a nod to both tradition and innovation, this year’s BAFTA lineup promises a ceremony full of anticipation and, no doubt, a few surprises still to come.

With the spotlight shining on both established legends and emerging talents, the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards look set to capture the imagination of film lovers everywhere.