Peter Bradshaw’s Baftas 2026 predictions – who’ll get the gongs, who’ll be the goners?
NEWS | 22 February 2026
Best film Will win One Battle After Another Should win Hamnet Shoulda been a contender The Secret Agent Best director Will win Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another) Should win Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another) Shoulda been a contender Kleber Mendonça Filho (The Secret Agent) Outstanding British debut Will win Pillion Should win My Father’s Shadow Shoulda been a contender Brides Best British film Will win The Ballad of Wallis Island Should win The Ballad of Wallis Island Shoulda been a contender The Choral Best film not in the English language Will win Sentimental Value Should win The Secret Agent Shoulda been a contender The Ice Tower View image in fullscreen Small wonder … Little Amélie Best animated film Will win Little Amélie Should win Little Amélie Shoulda been a contender Savages Best original screenplay Will win I Swear Should win The Secret Agent Shoulda been a contender Santosh Best adapted screenplay Will win One Battle After Another Should win One Battle After Another Shoulda been a contender Don’t Let’s Go to The Dogs Tonight Best leading actor Will win Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) Should win Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon) Shoulda been a contender Josh O’Connor (The Mastermind; Wake Up Dead Man) View image in fullscreen Star delivery … Jessie Buckley in Hamnet. Photograph: Landmark Media/Alamy Best leading actress Will win Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) Should win Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) Shoulda been a contender Emma Thompson (Dead of Winter) Best supporting actor Will win Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value) Should win Peter Mullan (I Swear) Shoulda been a contender Delroy Lindo (Sinners) Best supporting actress Will win Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) Should win Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) Shoulda been a contender Sunita Rajwar (Santosh) or Fiona Shaw (Hot Milk; Park Avenue) View image in fullscreen Cruising to victory … Sinners. Photograph: Collection Christophel/Alamy Best original score Will win Sinners Should win Sinners Shoulda been a contender The Ballad of Wallis Island Best cinematography Will win Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners) Should win Adolpho Veloso (Train Dreams) Shoulda been a contender Charlotte Bruus Christensen (H Is for Hawk) Best documentary Will win 2000 Meters to Adriivka Should win 2000 Meters to Adriivka Shoulda been a contender Colossal Wreck Rising star award Will win Miles Caton Should win Miles Caton Shoulda been a contender Tut Nyuot
Author: Peter Bradshaw.
Source