Sunday, 22 February 2026 marks the 79th EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony at Royal Festival Hall on London's Southbank. Alan Cumming takes hosting duties for the first time, a choice that signals BAFTA's ongoing evolution whilst celebrating Britain's central role in world cinema.
Whether you're tracking the awards race or planning your trip to London for the ceremony, this guide covers what matters: the final nominees (not just the longlists), key changes to the 2026 awards process, and practical advice on chauffeur services and airport transfers if you're flying in for the event.
Leading Films in the 2026 BAFTA Race
Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another dominates this year's nominations. Fourteen in total, just two shy of the all-time BAFTA record set by Gandhi back in 1983. The film actually broke a different record in January when it secured 16 longlist mentions, more than any other film in BAFTA's history.
Ryan Coogler's Sinners follows closely with 13 nominations. This makes history as the highest count for any film by a Black director at the BAFTAs, a milestone worth noting given the academy's ongoing efforts to recognise diverse voices in cinema.
Chloé Zhao's Hamnet and Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme each secured 11 nominations. Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value rounds out the conversation with 8 nods (and gives 74-year-old Stellan Skarsgård his very first BAFTA nomination, remarkably).
Best Film – Final Nominees
- Hamnet – Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes
- Marty Supreme – Timothée Chalamet, Anthony Katagas, Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
- One Battle After Another – Adam Somner, Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson
- Sentimental Value – Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar
- Sinners – Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ryan Coogler
Acting Categories: Performances to Watch
BAFTA's acting categories run six nominees deep in the leading roles, one more than the Oscars, which tends to throw up some interesting inclusions. This year's no different.
First-time nominees worth watching include Robert Aramayo for I Swear, Michael B. Jordan in Sinners (his debut BAFTA nod), Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, and Chase Infiniti in One Battle After Another, the latter snubbed by the Oscars but welcomed here. And then there's Stellan Skarsgård receiving his first-ever BAFTA nomination at 74 for Sentimental Value. Better late than never.
What Changed for the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards
BAFTA's tweaked its process this year. Nothing radical, but worth understanding if you're following the awards closely.
The biggest change centres on how longlists work. They've been expanded and refined so more films get considered before the final nominations stage. This matters particularly for international co-productions and films with non-traditional release patterns, projects that might previously have slipped through the cracks.
Eligibility criteria have been adjusted too, making room for diverse production models whilst keeping standards high. The voting process now involves BAFTA's 8,300 members more actively at earlier stages, which means longlists aren't just ceremonial, they actually influence the conversation.
It's all part of BAFTA's ongoing effort to stay relevant without abandoning the rigour that's defined the awards since 1947. Small adjustments, significant impact.
Why the BAFTA Film Awards Attract International Guests to London
Unlike film festivals that focus on premieres and discovery, the EE BAFTA Film Awards sit right in the middle of awards season, which makes them strategically important for anyone tracking the Oscar race or making business decisions in cinema.
The timing's crucial. BAFTA happens after the Oscar nominations but before the Academy Awards ceremony, so it often acts as a bellwether. If your film's gaining momentum at BAFTA, that can translate to Oscar gold. Industry professionals know this, which is why you'll find producers, directors, distributors, and studio executives flying into London specifically for the week.
Beyond the ceremony itself, London becomes a temporary industry hub during BAFTA week. Private screenings, business meetings, industry parties, it's all happening simultaneously. Most international visitors plan multi-day stays to make the most of it.
Transport for BAFTA Awards Attendees in London
Royal Festival Hall sits right on the Southbank, about 10 minutes' walk from Waterloo if you're coming by Tube. Straightforward enough during the day, but ceremony nights (particularly between 6pm and 8pm) see the area get properly busy, red carpet arrivals, media, crowds, the lot.
For international guests, the transport options boil down to: private chauffeur (45–90 minutes from Heathrow depending on traffic), black cab, or the Underground. Each has its advantages. Chauffeur services make sense if you're coordinating tight schedules, have evening formal wear to manage, or simply prefer not dealing with London transport after a long flight. It's practical more than indulgent, especially during award season when timing matters.
London Airport Transfers – Your Award Season Transport Partner
London Airport Transfers has been handling airport runs and executive transport in London for over 11 years now. We've completed more than 6,600 bookings, with a fair few during award season and major events at venues like Royal Festival Hall. All our drivers hold PCO licences (the Private Hire Vehicle licence required for London operations), so you're dealing with properly qualified professionals who know the city.
What we actually do:
- Flight tracking and meet-and-greet – We monitor your flight in real-time and meet you in arrivals. No standing around wondering where your driver is.
- Mercedes-Benz fleet – S-Class, E-Class, and V-Class vehicles. All come with WiFi and privacy glass, useful if you need to prep for meetings or calls en route.
- Fixed pricing, no surge charges – Heathrow to central London runs from £120 (E-Class) or £185 (S-Class/V-Class). That includes parking, tolls, everything. What you're quoted is what you pay, even during award season when demand peaks.
- 30 minutes complimentary wait time – Flight delayed? Customs taking longer than expected? No stress, no extra charges for the first half hour.
- Experience with London events – Our drivers know Royal Festival Hall, understand ceremony timings, and can navigate Southbank traffic during major events. It's not their first BAFTA week.
- 24/7 booking – Available round the clock for international guests working across time zones.
If you're flying into London for the BAFTA Film Awards and want reliable transport sorted ahead of time, we can help. Advance booking recommended for ceremony weekend.
Contact London Airport Transfers:
Phone: +44 7592 188 368 Email: info@247london-airport-transfers.co.uk Visit: 247london-airport-transfers.co.uk/ for instant booking
