BAFTA 2026 Nominations Unveiled: ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Sinners’ Take the Lead

Ben Thompson, Culture Editor
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⏱️ 3 min read

The anticipation surrounding the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards has reached a fever pitch with the announcement of this year’s nominations. Leading the charge are the films *One Battle After Another* and *Sinners*, which have garnered a staggering number of nominations, setting the stage for an exciting awards season.

A Stellar Line-Up

At a press event held at BAFTA’s headquarters on Tuesday, January 27, actors David Jonsson and Aimee Lou Wood revealed that *One Battle After Another* topped the nominations list with an impressive 14 nods, closely followed by *Sinners*, which received 13. Both films have generated significant buzz, with *Marty Supreme* and *Hamnet* also making a strong showing, each securing 11 nominations. Other noteworthy mentions include *Frankenstein*, with eight nominations, and *I Swear*, a poignant biographical drama about John Davidson, a Scottish man living with severe Tourette’s syndrome, which has earned five nods.

This announcement comes hot on the heels of the recent Oscar nominations, where *Sinners* made history by surpassing the previous record for the most nominations, now standing at 16, a feat that eclipses classics like *All About Eve* and *Titanic*.

Key Categories and Contenders

The competition for the prestigious Best Film award features a robust selection, including:

– *Hamnet*

– *Marty Supreme*

– *One Battle After Another*

– *Sentimental Value*

– *Sinners*

In the Best Director category, Paul Thomas Anderson is a frontrunner for his work on *One Battle After Another*, while Ryan Coogler’s direction in *Sinners* is generating considerable acclaim.

Acting Nominations

The Best Actress category showcases an exciting mix of talent, featuring:

– Jessie Buckley for *Hamnet*

– Rose Byrne in *If I Had Legs I’d Kick You*

– Kate Hudson for *Song Sung Blue*

– Chase Infiniti in *One Battle After Another*

– Renate Reinsve for *Sentimental Value*

– Emma Stone in *Bugonia*

On the male front, leading nominees for Best Actor include:

– Robert Aramayo for *I Swear*

– Timothée Chalamet in *Marty Supreme*

– Leonardo DiCaprio for *One Battle After Another*

– Ethan Hawke in *Blue Moon*

– Michael B. Jordan for *Sinners*

– Jesse Plemons in *Bugonia*

Supporting Roles Shine

Supporting performances also stand out this year, with nominees in the Best Supporting Actress category including:

– Odessa A’zion for *Marty Supreme*

– Wunmi Mosaku in *Sinners*

– Teyana Taylor for *One Battle After Another*

– Carey Mulligan in *The Ballad of Wallis Island*

For Best Supporting Actor, the line-up features:

– Benicio Del Toro in *One Battle After Another*

– Jacob Elordi for *Frankenstein*

– Paul Mescal in *Hamnet*

– Sean Penn for *One Battle After Another*

Commemorating British Cinema

The Outstanding British Film category continues to spotlight homegrown talent, with nominees such as:

– *28 Years Later*

– *The Ballad of Wallis Island*

– *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy*

– *Die My Love*

– *H is for Hawk*

– *Hamnet*

– *I Swear*

– *Mr. Burton*

– *Pillion*

– *Steve*

This year’s selections reflect a diverse range of stories and styles, demonstrating the vibrancy of British cinema.

Why it Matters

The BAFTA nominations are not merely an accolade; they reflect broader trends in the film industry, highlighting the increasing importance of narratives that resonate with contemporary audiences. As the film landscape evolves, these nominations spotlight the films and performances that are shaping conversations about culture and society. The recognition afforded to both mainstream and independent productions underscores the significance of storytelling in our times, making the BAFTA Awards an essential event in the cinematic calendar.

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Ben Thompson is a cultural commentator and arts journalist who has written extensively on film, television, music, and the creative industries. With a background in film studies from Bristol University, he spent five years as a culture writer at The Guardian before joining The Update Desk. He hosts a popular podcast exploring the intersection of art and society.
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