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As the countdown to the 2026 Oscars enters its final stretch, another significant awards ceremony is set to take the spotlight. The BAFTA Film Awards, an annual celebration orchestrated by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, is poised to honor the standout films that graced British cinemas from January 1 to December 31, 2025. Much like previous years, a number of the films recognized by BAFTA are also in contention for accolades at American award shows, underscoring the global resonance of cinema.
This year, the film One Battle After Another has emerged as a frontrunner, securing a remarkable 14 nominations. Among these are key categories such as Best Picture, Direction, and four performance categories, highlighting its broad appeal and artistic achievement. Hot on its heels is Hamnet, which has garnered 13 nominations. Directed by Chloé Zhao, this film has etched its name in BAFTA history as the most-nominated work by a female director. Additionally, Sinners has made its mark with 11 nominations, setting a new benchmark as the most-nominated film by a Black director in the history of the BAFTAs.
The ceremony promises not only to celebrate cinematic excellence but also to entertain with live performances. Viewers will be treated to a musical rendition of “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, known collectively as HUNTR/X. Adding to the evening’s emotional depth, a British singer-songwriter will deliver a poignant cover of a Barbra Streisand classic during the In Memoriam segment, honoring those the industry has lost.
For American audiences eager to witness the BAFTAs unfold, there is good news. Tuning in from the other side of the Atlantic is both simple and free, ensuring that fans everywhere can join in celebrating the finest in film.
Americans looking to tune in to the BAFTAs from across the pond have an easy and free way to do so; keep reading to find out how.
BAFTA Awards 2026 Date and Time
The 2026 BAFTA Awards will air in the United States on Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. ET, but the ceremony will take place earlier in the day.
How to Watch the BAFTAs for Free
The BAFTA Awards are airing on television in the United States this year, so you’ll be able to stream the BAFTAs on E! Network.
The only way to watch the BAFTAs on E! without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. Our favorite is DIRECTV, which comes with a five-day free trial before payment begins.
DIRECTV offers a number of flexible subscription options, including Genre Packs, so you can best choose which streaming plans fit your needs and budget. Plans start at $49.99/month.
Who is Hosting the 2026 BAFTA Awards?
Scottish actor Alan Cumming is hosting the 2026 BAFTAs. It marks The Traitors host’s first time emceeing the BAFTA Film Awards, but he has hosted the BAFTA Television Awards in the past.
2026 BAFTA Award Nominations
For a list of full nominations, check out the BAFTA site, but scroll below for the nominees in the top six categories.
Best Motion Picture
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
Best Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Ryan Coogler – Sinners
- Yorgos Lanthimos – Bugonia
- Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
- Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
- Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Robert Aramayo – I Swear as John Davidson
- Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme as Marty Mauser
- Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another as Bob Ferguson
- Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon as Lorenz Hart
- Michael B. Jordan – Sinners as Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore
- Jesse Plemons – Bugonia as Teddy Gatz
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Jessie Buckley – Hamnet as Agnes Shakespeare
- Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You as Linda
- Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue as Claire Sardina
- Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another as Willa Ferguson
- Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value as Nora Borg
- Emma Stone – Bugonia as Michelle Fuller
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another as Sensei Sergio St. Carlos
- Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein as The Creature
- Paul Mescal – Hamnet as William Shakespeare
- Peter Mullan – I Swear as Tommy Trotter
- Sean Penn – One Battle After Another as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw
- Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value as Gustav Borg
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Odessa A’zion – Marty Supreme as Rachel Mizler
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value as Agnes Borg Pettersen
- Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners as Annie
- Carey Mulligan – The Ballad of Wallis Island as Nell Mortimer
- Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another as Perfidia Beverly Hills
- Emily Watson – Hamnet as Mary Shakespeare
Who is Presenting at the 2026 BAFTA Awards?
This year’s star-studded list of presenters includes Aimee Lou Wood, Bryan Cranston, Cillian Murphy, David Jonsson, Delroy Lindo, Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Olivia Cooke, Patrick Dempsey, Aaron Pierre, Alicia Vikander, Alia Bhatt, Erin Doherty, Hannah Waddingham, Kathryn Hahn, Karen Gillan, Kerry Washington, Little Simz, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Milly Alcock, Minnie Driver, Noah Jupe, Regé-Jean Page, Riz Ahmed, Sadie Sink, Stormzy, Paddington Bear and Warwick Davis, alongside 2026 BAFTA nominees Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Kate Hudson, Emily Watson, and Stellan Skarsgård.
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