BAFTAs 2026: British and Irish Talent Shine as 'One Battle After Another' Dominates
The 79th BAFTA Film Awards celebrated a year of outstanding cinema, with Paul Thomas Anderson's counterculture epic One Battle After Another emerging as the night's biggest winner with six awards, while British actor Robert Aramayo made history and Irish actress Jessie Buckley delivered one of the most celebrated performances of the awards season.
The ceremony, held on 22 February 2026 at London's Royal Festival Hall and hosted by Alan Cumming, saw One Battle After Another take home Best Film, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing — cementing its status as the frontrunner heading into the Academy Awards. The film, described as a "dynamic politically-charged thriller" inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, tells the story of a group of revolutionaries in chaotic conflict with the state. In his acceptance speech, Anderson paid tribute to the film's late producer Adam Somner, who passed away during production in 2024, and quoted Nina Simone in encouraging filmmakers to "keep making things without fear."
Background
The BAFTAs are widely regarded as one of the most reliable predictors of Oscar success, and the strong showing for One Battle After Another was closely watched by Academy voters. The film had been nominated for 14 awards, converting six into wins — a remarkable strike rate that reflected both the breadth of its technical achievement and the strength of Anderson's vision. Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, was the other major winner of the night, claiming Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson, and Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku — making her the first British winner in that category in four years.
The ceremony also attracted attention for an off-script moment when the BBC, which broadcast the event, aired an unedited racial slur — the result of an involuntary tic from John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome campaigner whose life story inspired I Swear. Davidson has Coprolalia, a form of Tourette's that causes involuntary outbursts. Host Alan Cumming addressed the audience to explain Davidson's condition and advocate for understanding. The incident sparked considerable media attention and debate about how live broadcasts handle such moments.
Key Developments
It was a historic night for British talent. Actor Robert Aramayo made BAFTA history by becoming the first person to win both the Best Leading Actor award and the public-voted EE Rising Star Award in the same year. His victory in the Leading Actor category for his role in I Swear — a low-budget British biopic in which he portrays John Davidson, the real-life Tourette syndrome campaigner — was considered a major upset, as he triumphed over established names including Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet. Aramayo, who hails from Hull, expressed profound shock in his acceptance speeches and described Davidson as "the most remarkable man I have ever met." His dual win was met with a standing ovation from the audience.
Irish actress Jessie Buckley delivered what many critics described as the performance of the year, winning Best Leading Actress for her portrayal of Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet, the adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novel exploring the grief and love of William Shakespeare's wife. Her win made her the first Irish actress to win the top Leading Actress honour at the main BAFTA Film Awards. Hamnet was also named Outstanding British Film, a double triumph that underscored the strength of British and Irish storytelling on the world stage. Buckley's BAFTA win was a key part of a triumphant awards season that also saw her win the Academy Award for Best Actress for the same role.
Why It Matters
The 2026 BAFTAs reinforced the global standing of British and Irish filmmaking talent at a time when the industry is navigating significant economic and structural challenges. With Jessie Buckley's historic win and the success of Hamnet, Irish literature and performance are once again at the forefront of international cinema. The ceremony also highlighted the diversity of British talent, with Wunmi Mosaku's win and the recognition of debut filmmakers Akinola Davies Jr. and Wale Davies for My Father's Shadow demonstrating the breadth of excellence across the industry. The BAFTA Fellowship was awarded to Dame Donna Langley, Chair of NBCUniversal Entertainment, while Clare Binns, creative director of Picturehouse Cinemas, received the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award.
Local Impact
For audiences in Belfast and across Northern Ireland, the 2026 BAFTAs offered particular cause for celebration. Jessie Buckley, who hails from Killarney in County Kerry, has long been a source of pride for Irish audiences, and her historic win as the first Irish actress to claim the top BAFTA Leading Actress honour was widely celebrated on both sides of the border. Hamnet, based on Maggie O'Farrell's novel — O'Farrell herself was born in Coleraine — resonated deeply with Northern Irish audiences, and its success at the BAFTAs and Oscars has brought renewed attention to the richness of Irish literary and cultural life. The film's themes of grief, love, and resilience spoke to something universal, but its Irish roots gave it a particular resonance here.
What's Next
The Academy Awards followed the BAFTAs, with One Battle After Another widely expected to dominate the nominations. Jessie Buckley's subsequent Oscar win for Best Actress confirmed the awards season trajectory signalled at the BAFTAs. For the full list of 2026 BAFTA winners, see BAFTA's official announcement and BBC News.
