BAFTA Awards 2026 Record Breakers and History Making Contenders

The 2026 BAFTA Awards nominations place several long-standing Academy records within reach. In major categories such as Best Director, Best Actress and Best Cinematography, nominees could secure first-time milestones or rare repeat victories if they win on the night.

This year’s leading films are distributed across multiple categories rather than dominated by a single title. One Battle After Another leads with 14 nominations, followed by Sinners and Hamnet. The current record for most BAFTA wins by a single film in one ceremony is nine, giving several titles numerical scope to challenge the benchmark. Across craft and performance categories, wins could mark firsts in nationality, gender or repeat recognition.

Chloe Zhao – Instagram

In the Best Director category, Chloé Zhao is in contention for a second BAFTA win. A victory would make her the first woman to win the Academy’s directing prize twice.

The Best Actress race features several breakthrough possibilities. Jessie Buckley could become one of the few Irish performers to claim the lead actress award. Renate Reinsve would be the first Norwegian winner in the category if successful, while Chase Infiniti could become the first non-white woman to take the prize.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Instagram

Behind the camera, Autumn Durald Arkapaw represents another potential milestone. A win would make her the first woman to receive the BAFTA Best Cinematography award.

The outcomes of the 2026 ceremony will therefore be measured not only by individual performances but also by whether long-standing Academy benchmarks remain unbroken.