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THE 79th BRITISH Academy Film Awards – or the Baftas, as they’re more commonly known – are on tonight, and there is plenty of Irish interest at this year’s ceremony.
All eyes will be on whether Jessie Buckley scoops the Leading Actress award for her performance in Hamnet.
The Kerry woman has already taken home the Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe awards this season, and with less than a month to go until the Academy Awards, another win tonight would only add to her chances of bagging the Oscar.
Hamnet, adapted from Irish author Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel, tells the story of the family of William Shakespeare and his wife and the death of their young son.
Paul Mescal is also up for the Supporting Actor Bafta for his role in the film, while another film produced by Cillian Murphy is also nominated in the Outstanding British Film category.
Here’s everything you need to know before tuning in later.
This year’s Baftas are being held at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London.
They will be hosted by Scottish actor and director Alan Cumming.
Jessie Buckley is the one to beat in the Leading Actress category for her role as Agnes in Hamnet. If anyone is going to come close, it will likely be Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.
While Paul Mescal is nominated for Supporting Actor for his turn as William Shakespeare in Hamnet, critics say he’s unlikely to take home the Bafta.
The award is tipped to go to either Benicio del Toro for One Battle After Another or Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value.
Meanwhile, Dublin and London-based production company Element Pictures could take home a number of gongs. They’re behind films Bugonia, Pillion and My Father’s Shadow, which have a total of nine nominations between them.
Cillian Murphy could also take home an award - albeit not for his acting skills. His film Steve, which he starred in and produced, is among the nominees in the Outstanding British Film category. The drama is a British-Irish co-production.
Belfast-born director Kathryn Ferguson’s short film Nostalgie is nominated in the British Short Film category, while Donegal moving image artist Myrid Carten’s feature directorial debut A Want in Her is up for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
Finally, two-time Oscar winning visual effects supervisor Richard Baneham, who is from Dublin, could take home the Bafta for Visual Effects for his work on Avatar: Fire and Ash.
One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson’s film about a washed-up revolutionary searching for his missing teenage daughter, leads the nominations with 14 nods, including Best Film, Best Director and Leading Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
Who are we getting ready to welcome to the #EEBAFTAs this Sunday? 👀
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 17, 2026
Make sure you tune in this Sunday 22 February on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and on E! in the US. pic.twitter.com/TIiSi0XY5R
Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s historical crime drama turned horror, is the second-most nominated film with 13 nods. Starring Michael B Jordan as twins, it made history as the first film to have 16 Oscar nominations.
Hamnet is nominated for 11 Baftas – including Best Film, Outstanding British Film and Best Director for Chloé Zhao.
Marty Supreme, starring Timothee Chalamet as an ambitious table tennis player, is tied with Hamnet with 11 nominations, including Leading Actor, Best Film and Best Director for Josh Safdie.
A star-studded list of names have been announced to present the Baftas themselves, including Cillian Murphy.
Other famous faces set to hand out accolades include Bryan Cranston, Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Michael B. Jordan, Monica Bellucci, Patrick Dempsey and Stormzy.
The most eye-catching name on the list though? The actual Paddington Bear.
Please look after this bear ❤️
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 19, 2026
We're stocking up on marmalade sandwiches for the one and only Paddington Bear, who will be joining us to present an award at Sunday's #EEBAFTAs! pic.twitter.com/bOmtcdSGrU
Despite the film not being nominated, the singing stars of KPop Demon Hunters - EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – will be taking to the stage to perform the very catchy Golden from the soundtrack.
Singer Jessie Ware will also perform a special tribute during the ceremony’s In Memoriam tribute to those in film who have died in the last year.
Coverage of the ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One from 7pm to 9pm this evening.
However, the ceremony actually starts earlier in the afternoon – so if you’re planning to watch it, it’s probably best to steer clear of social media in case of spoilers.
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