Here’s a look at the BAFTA Film Award nominations for 2026, announced Tuesday, January 27, ahead of the February 22 ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall. There’s relief for LGBTQ film fans this year as “Thank Goodness” Wicked: For Good finally earns recognition, alongside the gay BDSM rom-com Pillion. This comes after disappointment at the Oscars, where Wicked: For Good received no nominations. At the BAFTAs, Wicked: For Good secured two nods — Costume Design and Make-up and Hair — though Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were again overlooked.
Some experts suggest sequels often struggle for awards attention, and that the musical’s second act may not match the first. Leading the field overall is One Battle After Another with 14 nominations, followed closely by Sinners with 13. There’s strong queer representation elsewhere. Pillion, starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, picked up nominations including Outstanding British Film and Adapted Screenplay. If won, awards would go to out-gay director Harry Lighton.
Queer filmmaker Adrian Molina’s Pixar film Elio is nominated for Animated Film, despite its lead being described as “queer-coded” but later “sanded down”. All told, the BAFTA nominations may ease criticism of Hollywood as “Oscars so straight.”
