Australian Stars Shine Bright at the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026
The glitz and glamour of the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 descended upon London’s Royal Festival Hall, and Australian talent was certainly in the spotlight. Among the dazzling arrivals was leading actress nominee Rose Byrne, who made a spectacular entrance on Sunday evening.
The 46-year-old star, recognised for her role in the film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, looked absolutely sensational on the red carpet. She was accompanied by her equally striking partner, Bobby Cannavale, 55. Byrne captivated onlookers in a breathtaking yellow and silver bejewelled gown, featuring elegant strap detailing, and complemented her ensemble with a pair of eye-catching statement earrings. Cannavale, ever the dapper gentleman, sported a classic black suit and a smart bow tie, demonstrating his unwavering support for his long-term partner. The couple, together since 2012, are parents to two sons, born in February 2016 and November 2017.
The prestigious ceremony, hosted by Alan Cumming, was set to honour the year’s most significant cinematic achievements. A galaxy of stars was expected to grace the event, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Jacob Elordi, and Michael B. Jordan, all eager to celebrate the best of cinema.
Red carpet attendees were treated to a vibrant DJ set by Magic FM presenter Neev Spencer, while Clara Amfo and Ali Plumb provided live coverage from outside the iconic London venue. The lineup of celebrity guest presenters was equally impressive, featuring a host of acclaimed actors and artists such as Aimee Lou Wood, Alicia Vikander, Cillian Murphy, Ethan Hawke, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sadie Sink, and the renowned British grime artist, Stormzy.
The Royal Festival Hall stage was also graced by the presence of luminaries like Kerry Washington, Minnie Driver, Monica Bellucci, Patrick Dempsey, and Regé-Jean Page, among many others.
The night’s entertainment promised a diverse and captivating showcase. Audiences were treated to a special performance of the record-breaking track “Golden” by KPop sensation Demon Hunters, sung by JAE, AUDREYNUNA & REI AMI, the vocalists behind HUNTR/X. This marked a significant moment, being their first performance outside of the United States. In a poignant tribute during the In Memoriam segment, British singer Jessie Ware delivered a moving rendition of a Barbara Streisand classic.
Honouring Excellence in the Arts
This year’s EE BAFTA Film Awards also celebrated outstanding contributions to the arts. Dame Donna Langley was bestowed with the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship, the highest honour awarded by the arts charity. As the British Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, she was recognised for her prolific career and her standing as one of the most influential and respected figures in the global entertainment industry.
Furthermore, Clare Binns, the Creative Director of Picture House Cinemas, received the BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award. This accolade acknowledges her pivotal role in championing diverse and fiercely independent films on cinema screens across the United Kingdom, significantly enriching the cinematic landscape.
A Night of Fierce Competition
The competition for this year’s awards was particularly intense, with several films leading the nominations. Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest production, One Battle After Another, was a strong contender, having secured a remarkable fourteen nominations. However, it faced formidable opposition from the supernatural horror Sinners, which garnered thirteen nominations, and Chloé Zhao’s poignant drama Hamnet.
Hamnet, an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel detailing the life of Shakespeare’s family and the death of his son, made history by receiving the most nominations for a female-directed film in BAFTA history. Irish star Jessie Buckley earned a nomination for her lead role in Hamnet, building on her previous accolades, including a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award, as well as nominations for the Academy Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Co-star Paul Mescal, who was notably overlooked for an Oscar nomination, was also a strong contender, having received a Supporting Actor BAFTA nod.
Marty Supreme and Timothée Chalamet were also hoping for success, aiming for their third BAFTA win after securing eleven nominations, including those for Best Film and Best Actor. Their previous triumphs at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards had already cemented their status.
Other films vying for awards included Frankenstein and Sentimental Value, each with eight nominations, while I Swear and Bugonia received five nominations. The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion, and F1 each earned three nominations.
The nominees for Leading Actress showcased a stellar lineup: Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You; Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue; Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another; Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value; and Emma Stone for Bugonia. Leonardo DiCaprio had the chance to secure his second BAFTA award, marking his seventh nomination, for his Leading Actor performance in the highly decorated film One Battle After Another.
This year also saw a host of first-time BAFTA Film nominees, including Robert Aramayo, Odessa A’zion, Rose Byrne, Chase Infiniti, Michael B. Jordan, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Teyana Taylor.
Emma Baehr, Executive Director of Awards and Content, expressed her delight at welcoming the nominees to London. “We are delighted to welcome so many of this year’s remarkable nominees to London for the EE BAFTA Film Awards, a vibrant celebration of the creativity, craft and collaboration that goes into British and global cinema,” she stated. “It’s especially exciting to have such an impressive lineup of presenters joining us on the night, representing the very best of film and the wider creative industries. This year’s ceremony is set to be an unforgettable occasion for audiences at home and in the room.”
BAFTA’s Enduring Mission
Beyond the annual awards ceremony, BAFTA’s core mission as a charity is to champion the creative and cultural significance of screen arts across film, games, and television. Through its awards programmes and a year-round schedule of talent development initiatives, including masterclasses, lectures, scholarships, bursaries, and mentoring schemes in both the UK and North America, BAFTA actively identifies and celebrates excellence. The organisation is dedicated to discovering, inspiring, and nurturing emerging screen talent, fostering learning, and enabling creative collaboration within the industry.
Viewers in the UK could tune into the ceremony live on BBC One and iPlayer at 7pm, while audiences in North America could catch the broadcast on E! at 8:00pm Eastern Time. The awards were also made available through a network of international broadcasters.
