The 79th British Academy Film Awards, popularly known as the BAFTAs, are set to take place on February 22, 2026, celebrating excellence in global cinema. Organised annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the ceremony honours the best feature films and documentaries screened in British cinemas during 2025.
This year’s event will be held at the Royal Festival Hall in London and promises a star-studded evening. Viewers in India will be able to watch the ceremony live via streaming on SonyLIV as well as on BAFTA’s official YouTube channel.
As the ceremony begins at 7 pm GMT in London, audiences in India can tune in during the early hours of Monday, February 23, at approximately 12:30 am IST.
The 2026 edition will be hosted by Scottish actor Alan Cumming, who takes over the role for the first time. He succeeds David Tennant, who hosted the ceremony in 2024 and 2025.
A notable highlight for Indian audiences is the presence of Alia Bhatt as a presenter. She becomes the third Indian celebrity to take on presenting duties at the BAFTAs, following Deepika Padukone in 2024 and Priyanka Chopra in 2021.
It’s that time of the year again! ✨
The 79th BAFTA nominations are in, celebrating the very best in cinema. Kudos to all the nominees! 🏆
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.#BAFTAAwards #BritishAcademyFilmAwards #79BAFTA #Nominations #BAFTANominations pic.twitter.com/xq39mJ0XJL— P V R C i n e m a s (@_PVRCinemas) January 27, 2026
The ceremony will feature a diverse lineup of international presenters, including Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Patrick Dempsey, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Hudson, Stellan Skarsgård, Alicia Vikander, Hannah Waddingham, Kerry Washington, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Regé-Jean Page, Riz Ahmed, and Warwick Davis, among others.
The nominations for BAFTA 2026 were announced on January 27 by David Jonsson and Aimee Lou Wood.
Leading this year’s nominations is One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, with 14 nods. Close behind is Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, which has earned 13 nominations.
Other strong contenders include Marty Supreme by Josh Safdie and Hamnet by Chloé Zhao, each receiving 11 nominations.
With global talent and Indian representation, BAFTA 2026 promises to be an event worth watching.
