How to watch BAFTAs 2026 for *FREE* — stream 79th British Academy Film Awards from anywhere

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal at the 2026 Golden Globes
(Image credit: Christopher Polk/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images)

The British Academy Film Awards are the British equivalent of the Oscars, and so Hollywood heavy-hitters Benicio Del Toro, Emma Stone, Ethan Hawke, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Timothee Chalamet and Stellan Skarsgard have confirmed that they will be there in the flesh. It's Hamnet's Irish duo of Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, however, who could end up stealing the show at London's Royal Festival Hall this Sunday.

You can watch BAFTAs 2026 online from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for free.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Premiere: Sun, Feb 22 at 7pm GMT

WATCH FREE: BBC iPlayer (UK)

Try NordVPN risk-free & watch iPlayer when abroad

Love it or loathe it, Paul Thomas Anderson's subtle-as-a-brick action thriller One Battle After Another has top billing with nominations across 14 categories, including Best Fil, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role (DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson) and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Chase Infiniti as Willa Ferguson).

Ryan Coogler's allegorical supernatural horror Sinners is one down with 13 nods, while Shakespeare drama Hamnet and sports drama Marty Supreme are tied with 11 nominations apiece.

And with Alan Cumming hosting, Riz Ahmed, Sadie Sink, Cillian Murphy and Gillian Anderson amongst the presenters, and KPop Demon Hunters’ Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami (the voices behind HUNTR/X members Rumi, Mira and Zoey) set to perform, the staging is set to rival the main event.

Read on as we explain how to watch BAFTAs from anywhere. Scroll down for the full list of nominees, voting instructions and more.

Watch BAFTAs 2026 for FREE

FREE of charge BBC iPlayer
Free Stream

Yes. Viewers in the UK can watch the 2026 BAFTAs FREE of charge on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Outside the UK right now? Use NordVPN to unlock the free BAFTAs coverage.

How to watch BAFTAs 2026 from anywhere

If you're keen to watch the British Academy Film Awards but you're away from home and access to the ceremony is geo-blocked, you can always use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a 74% discount and Amazon Gift Card thrown in on some plans.

Use one of the best VPNs to watch BAFTAs 2026 from anywhere:

NordVPN – get the world's best VPNNordVPN is our #1 choice. ✅ 74% Off Today✅ Free Amazon Gift Card up to $50✅ Unlocks BBC iPlayer
Exclusive deal

🟩 NordVPN – get the world's best VPN

Not having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.

TechRadar regularly reviews all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice.

✅ 74% Off Today
✅ Free Amazon Gift Card up to $50
✅ Unlocks BBC iPlayer

Get NordVPN now and watch BAFTAs 2026 from anywhere.

How to watch BAFTAs 2026 in the US

US flag

In the US, the 2026 BAFTAs will air on E! on tape-delay, at 8pm ET/PT on Sunday evening.

With the ceremony actually taking place at 2pm ET / 11am PT, that means you'll need to be on high alert for spoilers.

If you don't have the channel on cable, E! is part of the Sling TV Blue plan, which starts at $45.99 per month, and also carries USA Network, FX and FS1, as well as ABC, FOX and NBC in select cities. New customers can get 50% off their first month.

Brits away from home can use a VPN to watch the BAFTAs on BBC iPlayer from abroad.

Can I watch BAFTAs 2026 in Canada?

Canada flag

The British Academy Film Awards don't have a home in Canada.

If you're a Brit across the pond, however, a VPN will help you tune in for free. NordVPN is our recommended provider, and you can find out why with our in-depth NordVPN review.

How to watch BAFTAs 2026 in the UK

UK flag

(Image credit: Future)

Movie buffs in the UK can watch the 2026 BAFTAs for FREE on BBC One and via the BBC iPlayer streaming service.

The two-hour ceremony airs at 7pm GMT on Sunday, February 22.

All you need is an account, a TV license and a UK postcode (e.g.HA9 0WS). Sign up here!

The Red Carpet Show, hosted by Clara Amfo and Ali Plumb, is being live streamed on the BAFTA YouTube channel from 2.30pm GMT.

Outside the UK? Use a VPN to gain access to all the content you'd normally stream at home.

How to watch BAFTAs 2026 in Australia

Australia flag

(Image credit: free)

In Australia, the 2026 BAFTAs are being shown on HBO Max.

The service is live streaming the ceremony from 6am AEDT on Monday morning, as well as the Red Carpet Show from 1.30am.

A subscription starts at AU$11.99 per month or $119.99 per year.

Outside Australia at the moment? Use NordVPN to access your usual coverage.

BAFTAs 2026 – Need to Know

Who are the BAFTAs 2026 Best Film nominees?

Hamnet – Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes

Marty Supreme – Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Anthony Katagas, Timothee Chalamet

One Battle After Another – Adam Somner (posthumous), Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson

Sentimental Value – Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar

Sinners – Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ryan Coogler

Who are the 2026 BAFTA Best Actor nominees?

Robert Aramayo – I Swear as John Davidson

Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme as Marty Mauser

Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another as Bob Ferguson

Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon as Lorenz Hart

Michael B. Jordan – Sinners as Elijah "Smoke" Moore / Elias "Stack" Moore

Jesse Plemons – Bugonia as Teddy Gatz

Who are the 2026 BAFTA Best Actress nominees?

Jessie Buckley – Hamnet as Agnes Shakespeare

Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I'd Kick You as Linda

Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue as Claire Sardina

Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another as Willa Ferguson

Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value as Nora Borg

Emma Stone – Bugonia as Michelle Fuller

Who are the 2026 BAFTA Best Supporting Actor nominees?

Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another as Sensei Sergio St. Carlos

Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein as The Creature

Paul Mescal – Hamnet as William Shakespeare

Peter Mullan – I Swear as Tommy Trotter

Sean Penn – One Battle After Another as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw

Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value as Gustav Borg

Who are the 2026 BAFTA Best Supporting Actress nominees?

Odessa A'zion – Marty Supreme as Rachel Mizler

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value as Agnes Borg Pettersen

Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners as Annie

Carey Mulligan – The Ballad of Wallis Island as Nell Mortimer

Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another as Perfidia Beverly Hills

Emily Watson – Hamnet as Mary Shakespeare

How does 2026 BAFTAs voting work?

The 221 films that were submitted for consideration are being whittled down to nominees and winners by up to 8,300 BAFTA members worldwide.

Although they're strongly encouraged to watch the entries in theaters, they're all also available to stream on BAFTA View, the organization's own restricted platform.

However, the Rising Star Award winner is decided by the public, who can cast their votes on the BAFTA website.

Who are the 2026 BAFTA Rising Star Award nominees?

Robert Aramayo

Miles Caton

Chase Infiniti

Archie Madekwe

Posy Sterling

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Aatif Sulleyman

Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.