The 2026 BAFTA Awards just dropped a bombshell on the awards season, setting the stage for an epic Oscars showdown that no one saw coming. Hosted by the charismatic Alan Cumming on February 22nd, this UK ceremony wasn't just another precursor—it was a seismic event that reshaped the entire race to the Academy Awards, mere days after Oscar nominations were unveiled.

In a stunning sweep, One Battle After Another bulldozed its way to victory, snagging six wins out of 14 nominations, including the coveted Best Film, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn. This powerhouse performance cements it as the frontrunner to beat at the Oscars, but the real story is the underdog that refused to back down.

Despite being overshadowed by One Battle After Another, Sinners made history with Ryan Coogler's groundbreaking win for Best Original Screenplay, making him the first Black filmmaker ever to triumph in that category at the BAFTAs. With Wunmi Mosaku also clinching Best Supporting Actress, this film's three wins prove it's a dark horse that could upend the Oscars.

Smoke (Michael B. Jordan) and Sammie (Miles Caton) in 'Sinners'. Warner Bros.

Robert Aramayo stole the spotlight with a jaw-dropping double win—Best Actor for I Swear and the fan-voted EE Rising Star Award—while Jessie Buckley's Best Actress victory for Hamnet, which also nabbed Outstanding British Film, adds another layer of intrigue to the Oscars puzzle.

Why does this matter? The BAFTAs are the ultimate Oscars crystal ball, with last year's acting categories mirroring the Academy's picks perfectly. This year's results signal a high-stakes battle between a dominant favorite and a history-making challenger—get ready for an awards season like no other.

Dive into the full list of winners from the 2026 BAFTA Awards and see who's poised to take home Oscar gold.

Hamnet
Marty Supreme
WINNER: One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners

Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia
Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler, Sinners

WINNER: Robert Aramayo, I Swear
Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Jesse Plemons, Bugonia

WINNER: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Emma Stone, Bugonia

Paul Mescal, Hamnet
Peter Mullan, I Swear
WINNER: Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value
Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein

Teyana Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'One Battle After Another'. Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Odessa A'zion, Marty Supreme
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
WINNER: Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Carey Mulligan, The Ballad of Wallis Island
Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Emily Watson, Hamnet