Stunning 79th BAFTA Awards 2026: 7 Biggest Surprises, Winners and Full Results

Introduction: A Night London Will Not Forget

London put on its best outfit on February 22, 2026 and the world of cinema answered the call. The 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 one of the most anticipated film events on the global calendar played out in spectacular fashion at the Royal Festival Hall on the banks of the Thames. And just like always, the evening delivered drama, emotion, laughter and more than a few jaw dropping surprises.

If you were tuning in hoping to see a clean sweep by the frontrunners, think again. This was a night that reminded everyone why we love film awards season. No algorithm predicted all of these results. No pundit had every winner figured out. And that is exactly what made the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 so thrilling to watch.

The evening was hosted by Scottish actor and The Traitors US presenter Alan Cumming, who stepped into the role made famous by David Tennant in recent years. Cumming brought sharp wit, breezy charm and an irresistible warmth to proceedings including a hilarious bit where he handed out British snacks to none other than Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner sitting in the front rows. It was the kind of light, self aware moment that set the perfect tone for what was to come.

This article covers everything you need to know about the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 from the biggest winners and shocking upsets to the red carpet glamour, the emotional In Memoriam tribute and what it all means for the upcoming Academy Awards.

What Are the BAFTA Awards? A Quick Overview

Before we dive into the results, let us give a little context. BAFTA stands for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Founded back in 1947, it is one of the most respected film and arts organisations in the world. Every year, the BAFTA Film Awards celebrate the best in international and British cinema from the previous year.

The ceremony is often seen as a key indicator or bellwether of what might happen at the Oscars a few weeks later. While BAFTA and the Academy do not always agree, there is a strong correlation between the two, which makes BAFTA results closely watched by film fans and industry insiders alike.

The 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 honoured the best films screened in British cinemas throughout 2025. It was broadcast live on BBC One and streamed on iPlayer in the United Kingdom. For the first time, US viewers could watch it on the E! network as a pre recorded special. Australian viewers had access through HBO Max.

The Venue: Royal Festival Hall, London

The Royal Festival Hall, nestled in the heart of London’s Southbank Centre, once again served as the breathtaking backdrop for the evening. This stunning venue a beacon of arts and culture since 1951 provided the perfect stage for cinema’s finest.

Stars descended on the South Bank from around the world. The red carpet buzzed with energy as cameras flashed and fans cheered. Leonardo DiCaprio, Gillian Anderson and Kate Hudson were among the many high profile arrivals. The atmosphere was electric from the very beginning.

BAFTA chair Sara Putt opened the evening by reflecting on what had been a remarkable year for film, saying the industry had enjoyed a “glorious” range of pictures. She praised the filmmakers, actors and crew members who had given audiences “windows into other worlds.”

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The Host: Alan Cumming Takes the Stage

Alan Cumming was a revelation as host. He stepped in following David Tennant’s back to back appearances in 2024 and 2025 and many wondered if the Traitors host could match that energy. Spoiler: he absolutely did.

Cumming opened the show with a punchy monologue running through the themes of this year’s biggest films. He noted how heavy and emotionally draining modern cinema can be, quipping, “Whatever happened to escapism? I’m exhausted.” The room erupted.

The pre show sketch that opened the entertainment portion was also a highlight featuring Cumming on a video call with a stellar cast that included Brian Cox, Warwick Davis, Ken Jeong, Hannah Waddingham and even a muted, video less Leonardo DiCaprio. Oh and Paddington Bear. Because why not?

His playful jabs at Paul Mescal caught on camera looking at his phone in the crowd also went viral almost instantly. Cumming proved himself a warm, witty and thoroughly entertaining host from start to finish.

79th BAFTA Awards 2026: Full Winners Table

Here is the complete breakdown of winners at the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 in a clear, easy to read format:

The Big Story: One Battle After Another Dominates

Let us be honest nobody dominates a night like Paul Thomas Anderson at his best. The director’s political thriller One Battle After Another, loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, was the story of the night at the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026. It entered the ceremony with a staggering 14 nominations the most of any film and walked away with six BAFTAs.

Think about that for a second. Six. Best Film. Best Director. Best Adapted Screenplay. Best Supporting Actor. Best Cinematography. Best Editing. That is an extraordinary haul that firmly establishes the film as the frontrunner heading into the Academy Awards just weeks later.

At the end of the night, when Anderson took to the stage for Best Film, he received a standing ovation. His message to the naysayers? “You can p*** right off!” a defiant, funny and entirely human moment that the crowd adored.

The film had been the most longlisted feature in BAFTA history earlier in the process, which set the tone for a dominant awards campaign. When an industry body is that enthusiastic about a piece of work this early, it usually means something.

Shocking Upset: Robert Aramayo Beats Timothée Chalamet

Now here is where things got really interesting. The Best Actor category at the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 was stacked to the rafters. The nominees included Oscar frontrunners Timothée Chalamet (for Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Michael B. Jordan. Any of them would have been entirely deserving of the prize.

And yet, the BAFTA went to someone that many people in that room were not expecting at all. Robert Aramayo, star of the British indie drama I Swear, won Best Actor to audible gasps from the audience. It was one of those genuine, once in a ceremony moments where you could feel the collective surprise ripple through the Royal Festival Hall.

I Swear is a film about Tourette’s syndrome advocate John Davidson a deeply personal and emotionally powerful story made on a fraction of the budget of its Best Actor competitors. Aramayo’s performance had been praised by British critics throughout the year but few had predicted he would beat Chalamet on the night.

Remarkably, Aramayo did not just win one award. He won two. Earlier in the evening, he had already claimed the EE Rising Star Award, the only BAFTA prize voted for by the general public. To go home with both the Rising Star prize and the Best Actor BAFTA in the same evening is an extraordinary achievement for any performer.

It is worth noting that Aramayo is not eligible for the Oscars this cycle so his BAFTA triumph will not directly shift the Academy race. But it serves as a powerful reminder that BAFTA voters march to their own drum and sometimes that drum beats louder than Hollywood’s.

The I Swear film also won Best Casting, bringing its total to three awards on the night. Not bad for a film that was definitely the underdog of the evening.

Jessie Buckley: A Worthy Champion

If Robert Aramayo was the shocking winner of the night, Jessie Buckley was the triumphant one. The Irish actress based in the UK took home Best Actress for her lead role in Chloé Zhao’s beautiful and deeply moving Hamnet.

Her speech was everything you could want from a BAFTA winner. She was funny, she was warm, she was real. In classic Buckley fashion, she managed to forget a few of her fellow nominees mid speech before spotting nominee Kate Hudson in the crowd and calling out, “Kate! Kate! There you are!” She also admitted, laughing at herself, “Oh God, I should have brought my thing up here” a reference to her missing her notes.

Buckley’s win also helped Hamnet finish with two BAFTAs overall, the other being Outstanding British Film for director Chloé Zhao. This was particularly notable because Hamnet had made history before the ceremony even began. Chloé Zhao’s film had received 11 nominations, setting a new record for the most nominations ever received by a female directed film in BAFTA history.

Buckley is now firmly in the conversation for the Oscars Best Actress race. She is talented, she is beloved and she brings something completely genuine to everything she does. Many observers believe her BAFTA win makes her the one to beat on March 15.

Sinners Makes History

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners a vampire horror drama set in 1930s Mississippi had a brilliant night at the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026, picking up three awards. But it was the significance of how those awards were won that made the headlines.

When Coogler won Best Original Screenplay, he became the first Black filmmaker ever to win that category at the BAFTA Film Awards. That is a historic achievement and a reminder that despite the progress the industry has made, meaningful firsts are still being recorded.

Wunmi Mosaku, the Manchester born Nigerian British actress, won Best Supporting Actress for Sinners to one of the biggest cheers of the entire evening. Speaking emotionally at the winner’s press conference, the visibly pregnant actress reflected on what Ryan Coogler means to those who work with him: “He lets everyone know on the set they are so important and we can’t do it without them.” It was a beautiful, generous tribute.

Ludwig Göransson completed the trio by winning Best Original Score for Sinners. Between these three wins, Sinners also made history by becoming the most decorated BAFTA film ever from a Black filmmaker a record that will stand until someone even more talented comes along.

Sean Penn’s Surprise Return

Not many people had Sean Penn circled as the Best Supporting Actor winner going into the evening. The veteran Hollywood star playing the chilling Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw in One Battle After Another beat out stiff competition including Paul Mescal (Hamnet) and Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein).

Penn was not at the ceremony to collect his award. Presenter Gillian Anderson accepted it on his behalf. It was a quiet but significant moment his first ever BAFTA win, recognising what critics had called one of the greatest villainous performances in recent cinematic history.

Frankenstein Cleans Up in Craft Categories

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein may not have claimed any of the main acting or story driven awards but it absolutely dominated the craft categories. The film took home Costume Design, Make Up & Hair and Production Design a trio of wins that underscores the extraordinary visual ambition of the project.

This kind of category sweep tells a real story. Del Toro and his team created a world from scratch, pouring immense artistry into every frame. Even when a film doesn’t win Best Picture, wins like these represent a genuine celebration of the craftsmanship that goes into great cinema.

Brad Pitt’s F1 Wins Best Sound

Brad Pitt did not win a personal BAFTA on the night but his blockbuster racing film F1 claimed the Best Sound prize, beating out heavy competition including Frankenstein and Sinners. The award was presented by rapper Riz Ahmed and filmmaker Little Simz.

The win for F1 was not entirely unexpected the film had been praised widely for its immersive, technically astounding sound design that placed audiences right in the middle of a Formula 1 race. Sometimes films that are not Oscar contenders deliver the most technically impressive work and that was certainly the case here.

The BAFTA Fellowship: Dame Donna Langley

The BAFTA Fellowship the organisation’s highest honour was presented by BAFTA’s President, HRH The Prince of Wales, to Dame Donna Langley. This accolade is given to recognise an individual’s outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or television over the course of their career.

Langley, a titan of the Hollywood studio system, was recognised for her transformative leadership, her sustained commitment to inclusion and her pipeline building that has created pathways for new voices in cinema. Her relationships with creative partners have helped bring some of the most celebrated films of the modern era to audiences worldwide.

The EE Rising Star Award: A Public Vote with Big Results

The EE Rising Star Award is unique at the BAFTAs it is the only prize voted for entirely by the public. This year, Robert Aramayo won, which made his subsequent Best Actor triumph all the more remarkable. It is exceptionally rare for the Rising Star winner and the Best Actor winner to be the same person on the same night.

Previous Rising Star recipients have gone on to extraordinary careers and there is every reason to believe that Aramayo with his raw talent and compelling screen presence is about to break through to a whole new level of global recognition.

Timothée Chalamet: A Night of What Might Have Been

Timothée Chalamet arrived at the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 as a genuine contender. His performance in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme had been acclaimed by critics and awards bodies alike. He was also one of the producers on the film. The movie had received 11 nominations going into the evening.

And yet, Marty Supreme left the ceremony with nothing. Zero wins from 11 nominations. According to BAFTA records, that ties for the most losses in the organisation’s history a tough statistic for anyone associated with the project. Chalamet himself took it in good spirits, being photographed laughing and enjoying the British snacks that host Alan Cumming brought to the front rows.

The Oscar race, however, remains wide open for Chalamet. BAFTA voters and Oscar voters are different groups and there are plenty of examples throughout history where BAFTA disappointment was followed by Oscar glory.

The In Memoriam: Honouring Those We Lost

One of the most emotional moments of any awards ceremony is always the In Memoriam segment and the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 was no exception. British singer songwriter Jessie Ware delivered a beautiful and moving performance covering Barbra Streisand’s classic “The Way We Were” as the industry remembered those it had lost over the past year.

The segment included tributes to legendary figures including Diane Keaton, Terence Stamp, Catherine O’Hara, Rob Reiner and Robert Duvall, as well as playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, the iconic Brigitte Bardot and Robert Redford. It was a poignant reminder of the rich legacy of film and the talent that has shaped this art form over generations.

It is always a privilege to see the industry pause together to remember. On a night of celebration, the In Memoriam section grounds everything in the reality of human lives lived fully and creatively.

KPop Demon Hunters Bring Surprise Performance

In one of the most unexpected and delightful moments of the evening, the singing voices of animated musical group Huntrix from the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters performed their hit song “Golden” live. Performers EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami delivered the first live performance outside the United States, drawing warm applause from the audience.

BAFTA’s Executive Director of Awards & Content, Emma Baehr, praised the film’s “phenomenal impact on the hearts and minds of audiences of all ages around the world.” It was a celebration of the global reach of cinema and a reminder that some of the most joyful, vibrant storytelling comes from unexpected places.

Historical Records Broken at the 79th BAFTAs

The 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 was a night of records, both old and new:

Records like these are not just trivia. They tell the story of how cinema and the industry’s recognition of cinema evolves over time.

What Does This Mean for the Oscars?

The BAFTA Film Awards are one of the most reliable precursors to the Academy Awards. When a film wins big at the BAFTAs, it almost always carries momentum into the Oscars. Based on the results at the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026, here is what we can reasonably expect:

One Battle After Another is now the clear frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars. Six BAFTA wins including Best Film and Best Director gives Paul Thomas Anderson’s film extraordinary momentum heading into final Oscar voting. History suggests that films with this level of BAFTA dominance tend to perform very well at the Academy Awards.

Jessie Buckley is now the woman to beat in the Best Actress race. Her BAFTA win for Hamnet brings her into the conversation in a major way. She is beloved by actors and industry members, which matters enormously when it comes to Academy voting.

The Best Actor Oscar race is more complicated. Robert Aramayo’s BAFTA win is not directly transferable he is not eligible for the Oscars this year. This could actually reset the race and gives Chalamet, DiCaprio or one of the other nominees a clearer path to the Academy prize.

Sean Penn’s surprising BAFTA win in Supporting Actor may give him a boost with Academy voters, though his absence from the ceremony made less of a splash than a personal appearance might have.

The British Representation Question

One of the talking points around the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 was the relative lack of British representation in the top acting categories. Only one British actor Robert Aramayo appeared in the Leading Actor category (for I Swear). In the Leading Actress category, there were no British nominees at all, though the UK based Irish actress Jessie Buckley was included.

Some British fans and critics expressed frustration with this, seeing it as a missed opportunity for BAFTA to champion homegrown talent. Others argued that the quality of international cinema this year was simply exceptional and that the nominations reflected the best performances regardless of nationality.

In the end, of course, it was Aramayo a British actor who won the top prize. And Jessie Buckley celebrated by British audiences as one of their own took home Best Actress. So while the complaints were understandable, the results told a more complex and ultimately heartening story.

Stars Who Lit Up the Red Carpet

The red carpet at the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 was as glamorous as ever. Among those who made an impression:

Timothée Chalamet arrived looking effortlessly stylish, as expected. Despite going home empty handed, he remained the evening’s most photographed arrival. Accompanying him was his partner Kylie Jenner, who turned heads on the carpet in a stunning gown.

Jessie Buckley looked radiant ahead of what would become a triumphant evening. Kate Hudson nominated for Best Actress brought Hollywood glamour to London’s South Bank. Leonardo DiCaprio, ever private, appeared briefly and was the subject of a running joke during the evening’s pre show sketch.

Wunmi Mosaku, visibly pregnant and glowing, was one of the standout figures on the red carpet and inside the hall. Her warmth and genuine emotion during and after her win was one of the most endearing moments of the entire ceremony.

A Nod to the Independent Spirit: Boong Wins Family Film

Not every headline at the BAFTAs belongs to the blockbusters. One of the most heartwarming moments of the evening came when Boong, directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, won the BAFTA for Children’s and Family Film.

The prize was presented by none other than Paddington Bear because of course it was. Boong was described as an underdog title and its win was greeted with genuine warmth and surprise. It was a reminder that the BAFTA Film Awards celebrate cinema in all its forms, from the biggest Hollywood productions to the most intimate independent stories.

Similarly, Sentimental Value the Norwegian film that became the first from Norway ever to win a BAFTA making the Film Not in the English Language category genuinely exciting this year.

Documentary Film Wins: Mr. Nobody Against Putin

The Best Documentary prize went to Mr. Nobody Against Putin, a timely and important film that speaks to the struggles of ordinary people standing up to power. Documentary filmmaking has never been more vital than it is today and this win felt like a recognition of that importance.

BAFTA Fellowship and Outstanding Contribution Honoured

Alongside the main awards, two special honours were presented:

The BAFTA Fellowship went to Dame Donna Langley, presented by HRH The Prince of Wales. As the head of one of Hollywood’s most important studios, Langley has championed both blockbuster entertainment and important, socially meaningful stories throughout her career.

The Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award went to Clare Binns, Creative Director of Picturehouse Cinemas. Binns has spent decades championing diverse, independent and challenging cinema in British multiplexes. Her work has made art house film accessible to audiences who might never have discovered it otherwise. The award was presented by Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgård.

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Personal Takeaway: Why the 79th BAFTAs Matter

As someone who has followed the awards season for years, the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 felt genuinely exciting and alive in a way that ceremonies do not always manage. There were real surprises. There were emotional moments. There was laughter and there was meaning.

What struck me most was the narrative of I Swear and Robert Aramayo. Here is a relatively small British film about a man with Tourette’s syndrome, made with a fraction of the budgets of its competitors that walked away with three BAFTAs including Best Actor. In a world where the biggest, loudest films get all the attention, there is something deeply satisfying about that.

It also speaks well of BAFTA voters that they were willing to ignore the noise and vote for what they genuinely believed in. That is what awards should be about. Not politics, not campaigns, not social media buzz but the honest recognition of extraordinary work.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another deserved every award it won. But the moments that will linger longest are the ones nobody saw coming. Aramayo gasping on stage. Buckley forgetting her notes and laughing about it. Mosaku tearfully praising Ryan Coogler while heavily pregnant. These human moments are what cinema and the celebration of cinema is really all about.

The Oscars are just weeks away. If the 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 is anything to go by, it is going to be quite a night.

The 79th BAFTA Awards 2026 was a reminder that great storytelling in all its forms will always find its audience. Whether it is a six BAFTA juggernaut or a quiet indie about a man with Tourette’s syndrome, cinema continues to move, surprise and inspire us. Roll on, Oscar night.

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