BAFTAs 2026: One Battle After Another Dominates, Robert Aramayo Best Actor

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The British film industry’s biggest night of the year saw major surprises and runaway winners at the 79th British Academy Film Awards in London on Sunday, as One Battle After Another dominated the ceremony and British actor Robert Aramayo secured a stunning Best Actor victory for his work in I Swear. The picture led all contenders with six wins, including Best Film and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, narrowly defeating fellow front‑runners Hamnet and Sinners in many of the night’s top categories.

From the Royal Festival Hall in London, hosted by Alan Cumming, the awards recognised excellence across cinema with One Battle After Another emerging as the clear critical favourite. The politically charged film – inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland – picked up Best Film, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn. Director Paul Thomas Anderson paid tribute to the movie’s late producer in his acceptance speeches, underlining the creative intensity behind the saga that captivated audiences and critics alike.

The evening’s standout surprise was Aramayo’s emotional win for Best Actor for I Swear, a biographical drama about British campaigner John Davidson. In one of the more competitive fields of the awards season, Aramayo beat heavyweights including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet and Ethan Hawke for the top acting prize, leaving the crowd visibly moved as he collected the award and the publicly decided Rising Star trophy as well.

Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley made history with a memorable win as Best Leading Actress for her role in Hamnet, which also earned the Outstanding British Film award. Buckley’s heartfelt portrayal of a grieving mother drew widespread acclaim and marked a crowning moment in a year rich with award‑worthy performances.

Ryan Coogler’s thriller Sinners also enjoyed success, claiming three significant wins including Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku, and Best Original Score, showcasing the diversity of stories celebrated at the ceremony. Films across genres shone in both major and technical categories, from animated hits such as Zootropolis 2 to international storytelling recognised with Sentimental Value’s Best Film Not in the English Language.

Other honours included Best Documentary for Mr Nobody Against Putin and Outstanding British Debut for My Father’s Shadow, another indicator of the depth of new talent acknowledged at this year’s BAFTAs. With its mix of established talents and rising stars, the 2026 awards marked a night of celebration, recognition and unexpected victories that will reverberate into the upcoming Oscars season.

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