2026 BAFTA Awards: Robert Aramayo, ‘Hamnet,’ and the Complete Winners List
The BAFTA Awards 2026 brought the brightest stars of Hollywood and British cinema together at London’s Royal Festival Hall for a night of historic upsets and emotional triumphs. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the 79th BAFTA Film Awards highlighted the incredible transatlantic synergy between the UK and the USA film industries, while also celebrating groundbreaking global cinema.
If you are catching up on the weekend’s biggest entertainment news, here is your comprehensive guide to the BAFTA winners, the standout moments that dominated social media, and a complete breakdown of why these films took home the gold.
Robert Aramayo Makes History with I Swear
The defining moment of the 2026 BAFTAs belonged to British actor Robert Aramayo, who captured the hearts of audiences on both sides of the pond. Aramayo achieved an unprecedented milestone: becoming the first person to win both Best Leading Actor and the publicly voted EE Rising Star Award in a single night.
His victory was anchored by his transformative performance in the I Swear movie, a moving 2025 British biographical drama directed by Kirk Jones.
- The Story: I Swear chronicles the true story of John Davidson, a Scottish teenager diagnosed with severe Tourette’s syndrome in the 1980s.
- The US/UK Impact: Aramayo—already a familiar face to global audiences from major US streaming hits like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power—delivered a performance that critics are calling a masterclass in empathy. His tearful acceptance speech, where he thanked fellow nominee Ethan Hawke for inspiring him during a guest lecture at Juilliard in New York, beautifully highlighted the interconnectedness of the US and UK acting communities.
Hamnet Rules the British Categories
For lovers of historical drama and literary adaptations, the Hamnet movie was the undisputed champion. Directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) and based on Maggie O’Farrell’s massive international bestseller, the film explores the devastating loss of William Shakespeare’s young son.
- Best Leading Actress: Jessie Buckley secured the win for her raw, devastating portrayal of Agnes Hathaway, outshining a fiercely competitive category.
- Outstanding British Film: By winning this coveted prize, Hamnet cemented its status as a monumental achievement, blending American directorial vision with a fundamentally British story.
Hollywood Heavyweights Sweep Craft and Directing
While British talent shone in the acting categories, American productions dominated the technical and directing awards. Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling epic One Battle After Another was the quantitative winner of the night, taking home six masks, including Best Film and Best Director. Meanwhile, Ryan Coogler made history as the first Black winner of the Best Original Screenplay award for his Southern Gothic vampire thriller, Sinners.
The Complete 2026 BAFTA Film Awards Winner List
Here is the complete list of winners, including their country of origin and the critical consensus on why they were selected by the British Academy:
| Category | Winner (Film/Person) | Country | Reason for Selection |
| Best Film | One Battle After Another | USA | Rewarded for its ambitious scale, complex narrative, and masterful depiction of revolutionary conflict. |
| Outstanding British Film | Hamnet | UK | A visually stunning, emotionally resonant adaptation that redefines the Shakespearean mythos for modern audiences. |
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle…) | USA | Praised for his fearless, sprawling direction and commitment to politically charged cinematic storytelling. |
| Best Leading Actor | Robert Aramayo (I Swear) | UK | Selected for his deeply empathetic, heavily researched, and authentic portrayal of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson. |
| Best Leading Actress | Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) | UK/Ireland | Delivered a raw, devastating masterclass in portraying maternal grief. |
| Best Supporting Actor | Sean Penn (One Battle After Another) | USA | Honored for a scene-stealing, volatile performance that anchored the film’s chaotic energy. |
| Best Supporting Actress | Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners) | UK/USA | Universally praised for bringing a grounding, powerful, and terrifying presence to Coogler’s vampire epic. |
| EE Rising Star Award | Robert Aramayo | UK | Voted by the British public, recognizing his undeniable emergence as a major, versatile leading man. |
| Best Original Screenplay | Ryan Coogler (Sinners) | USA | A historic win recognizing a highly original, blues-infused narrative that re-energized the horror genre. |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle…) | USA | Seamlessly translated a massive, complex historical narrative into a gripping, cohesive script. |
| Best Film Not in the English Language | Sentimental Value | Norway | Celebrated as a remarkably strong, emotionally intelligent European entry with universal themes. |
| Best Documentary | Mr. Nobody Against Putin | Int’l | A daring, timely, and gripping piece of high-stakes investigative filmmaking. |
| Best Animated Film | Zootropolis 2 (Zootopia 2) | USA | Awarded for pushing the boundaries of 3D animation while delivering sharp, family-friendly social commentary. |
| Best Children’s & Family Film | Boong | India | Selected for its beautiful, resilient depiction of family and hope amidst regional hardships in Manipur, beating massive studio budgets. |
| Best Cinematography | Michael Bauman (One Battle…) | USA | Captured the gritty, chaotic realism of the film’s setting with breathtaking 70mm photography. |
| Best Original Score | Ludwig Göransson (Sinners) | USA | Created a highly unique, blues-steeped sonic landscape that perfectly elevated the film’s gothic tension. |
| Best Production Design | Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau (Frankenstein) | USA/CAN | Rewarded for faithfully and intricately bringing Guillermo del Toro’s dark, gothic vision to life. |
