The 79th BAFTA Film Awards — officially one of the most thrilling ceremonies in recent memory — went down on February 22, 2026, at London’s Royal Festival Hall, with host Alan Cumming keeping the energy electric all night. Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller One Battle After Another walked in as the favourite with 14 nominations and walked out the undisputed champion. But Ryan Coogler’s Sinners made history, Robert Aramayo caused audible gasps, and Jessie Buckley had the audience in stitches. Here’s the full breakdown.
Table of Contents
2026 BAFTA Winners — Key Categories at a Glance
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Film | One Battle After Another |
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Best Leading Actor | Robert Aramayo – I Swear |
| Best Leading Actress | Jessie Buckley – Hamnet |
| Best Supporting Actor | Sean Penn – One Battle After Another |
| Best Supporting Actress | Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners |
| Outstanding British Film | Hamnet |
| Original Screenplay | Ryan Coogler – Sinners |
| Adapted Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another |
| EE Rising Star Award | Robert Aramayo |
| Best Film Not in English | Sentimental Value |
| Best Costume Design | Frankenstein |
| Outstanding Debut | My Father’s Shadow |
The Big Stories of the Night
One Battle After Another — 6 Wins, Night’s Biggest Winner
Paul Thomas Anderson’s political drama absolutely swept the board, claiming Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn), Adapted Screenplay, and more across six total wins. With 14 nominations, it came agonizingly close to Gandhi’s all-time BAFTA nomination record of 16 — and proved Anderson is operating at the very peak of his powers. Sean Penn’s win for Supporting Actor was an early signal that this was going to be One Battle’s night. Catch our full Paul Thomas Anderson retrospective on TechnoSports.
Sinners — 3 Wins & Historic Night for Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror drama Sinners arrived with 13 nominations and left with three wins — making it the most awarded film ever from a Black director at the BAFTAs, a record that drew huge applause in the room. Coogler won Original Screenplay — also becoming the first Black winner in that category — while Wunmi Mosaku took Best Supporting Actress and Ludwig Göransson claimed Best Original Score. Coogler’s acceptance speech was instantly iconic: he urged writers everywhere to channel love and empathy when staring at a blank page.
Robert Aramayo — The Shock of the Night
Nobody expected I Swear — the small-budget Scottish biopic about Tourette’s advocate John Davidson — to turn into a double-winner. But Robert Aramayo pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in recent BAFTA history, beating Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, and Jesse Plemons for Best Leading Actor. The audience’s audible gasps said everything. He also claimed the EE Rising Star Award earlier in the evening, making him a two-trophy winner on the night. For more on I Swear heading to Netflix, check our dedicated streaming guide on TechnoSports.
Hamnet — Best British Film & Jessie Buckley’s Brilliant Win
Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, the historical drama exploring Shakespeare’s family, took home Outstanding British Film and Best Leading Actress for Jessie Buckley, who charmed the entire room with a hilariously honest speech — accidentally forgetting to name Kate Hudson before catching herself.
Frankenstein — Craft Categories King (3 Wins)
Mary Shelley’s classic reimagined earned three wins across the technical and craft categories — Costume Design, Makeup & Hair, and Production Design — making it the night’s craft frontrunner despite missing out on the bigger prizes.
Other Notable Winners
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Documentary | Cover-Up |
| Outstanding Debut | My Father’s Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr. |
| Children’s & Family Film | Lilo & Stitch |
| Special Visual Effects | Avatar: Fire and Ash |
| Film Not in English | Sentimental Value |
FAQs
Q: Which film won the most awards at the 2026 BAFTAs?
A: One Battle After Another by Paul Thomas Anderson dominated with six wins, including Best Film and Best Director — the most of any film on the night.
Q: Did Sinners make history at the 2026 BAFTAs?
A: Yes — with three wins, Sinners became the most decorated film from a Black director in BAFTA history, with Ryan Coogler also becoming the first Black winner of the Best Original Screenplay award.
