Bafta Nominations 2026: A Tight Contest Between Awards Season Rivals
In a closely fought battle for recognition, the 2026 Bafta nominations have seen Paul Thomas Anderson's counterculture comedy, One Battle After Another, take a slight lead over its main competitor. The film secured 14 nominations, narrowly outpacing Ryan Coogler's vampire thriller, Sinners, which received 13 nods. This development comes just a week after Sinners made history by becoming the first film ever to earn 16 Oscar nominations, setting the stage for an intense awards season showdown.
Strong Contenders and Surprise Inclusions
The full roster of nominations reveals a competitive field, with Marty Supreme and Hamnet each garnering 11 nominations, while Frankenstein and Sentimental Value followed closely with eight apiece. Among the notable surprises was the British Tourette syndrome comedy, I Swear, which earned five nominations, including a best actor nod for Robert Aramayo. The film, which tells the story of pioneering campaigner John Davidson, also received recognition in categories such as outstanding British film, original screenplay, and supporting actor for Peter Mullan.
Further British representation came from The Ballad of Wallis Island, a musical comedy-drama, and Pillion, a Bromley-set BDSM biker romance, both of which secured three nominations each. The announcement was largely free of shock snubs, partly due to Bafta's expanded acting shortlists, which include six names compared to the Oscars' five, allowing for inclusions like Paul Mescal for Hamnet.
Notable Omissions and Record Ties
Despite the inclusive approach, several high-profile names failed to make the cut. Jennifer Lawrence for Die My Love, George Clooney for Jay Kelly, and Sydney Sweeney for Christy were among the A-listers overlooked. Additionally, Dwayne Johnson for The Smashing Machine and Julia Roberts for After the Hunt did not receive nominations. The blockbuster sequel Wicked: For Good, which was shut out at the Oscars, managed to secure nods for costume design and hair and makeup, but its stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were not recognised.
In the best actor category, Leonardo DiCaprio remains a strong contender, currently second favourite behind Timothée Chalamet of Marty Supreme. DiCaprio's seventh nomination in this category ties him with legends such as Michael Caine and Daniel Day-Lewis for an all-time Bafta record. Given his ongoing career, he is well-positioned to potentially break this record in the future.
Diversity and Representation Concerns
While this year's nominations show a slight favour towards homegrown films, with nods for British talents like Emily Watson and Carey Mulligan in supporting actress categories, concerns about diversity persist. Bafta chair Sara Putt highlighted that, aside from Robert Aramayo, none of the leading acting nominees are British, and all six directors in contention are not from the UK. Only two of these directors—Ryan Coogler and Chloé Zhao—are not white, with Zhao being the sole woman in the category.
Putt emphasised that this outcome "shows there's still a journey to go on for female directors" and underscores the importance of interventions like quotas introduced in 2020 to ensure gender parity at the longlist stage. These measures have contributed to a broader spread of films in contention, with 46 titles in the running for 2026, up from 42 in 2025.
Looking Ahead to the Ceremonies
The 2026 Bafta awards ceremony is scheduled for 22 February, hosted by Alan Cumming, who takes over from David Tennent. This will be followed by the Oscars on 15 March, hosted by returning emcee Conan O'Brien. As the awards season progresses, the focus remains on how these nominations will translate into wins and what they signify for the future of film industry representation.
Anthony Andrews, deputy chair of the film committee, noted encouraging signs, such as more than half of the documentary shortlisted films having female directors. However, the overall picture suggests that while progress is being made, there is still work to be done to achieve true diversity and inclusion in the awards landscape.
