Feb 19, 2026 6:23pm IST
BAFTA 2026: When and Where to Watch the ‘British Oscars’ in India
The countdown for the 79th British Academy Film Awards, aka BAFTA 2026, has begun, with the ceremony all set to stream in the early hours of February 23, in India. Popularly dubbed as the ‘British Oscars,' it will honor the best feature-length films and documentaries of any nationality that were screened at British cinemas in 2025.
BAFTA stands tall among the elite award events and enjoys a humongous global viewership. As a viewer in India, here's what you need to know to get a front-seat view of the event.
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The event is set to take place on February 22, 2026, at London's Royal Festival Hall, and will mark the presence of several global stars. It will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7 p.m. GMT.
Indian viewers can watch the award show live via live streaming on Lionsgate Play and through BAFTA's official YouTube channel. It is expected to start around 12:30 a.m. IST in the early hours of Feb. 23, due to the time difference.
Scottish actor Alan Cumming will be seen hosting the ceremony, marking his first time as the BAFTA host. He will be replacing David Tennant, who hosted the ceremony in 2024 and 2025.
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Talking about the nominations, “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “Sentimental Value” and “Sinners” will compete for Best Film. On the other hand, “28 Years Later,” “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” “Die My Love,” “Mr Burton” and “Steve,” among others, will compete in the Outstanding British Film category.
Regarding the acting category, the nominations are Timothée Chalamet for “Marty Supreme,” Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another” and Michael B. Jordan for “Sinners.” The Leading Actress lineup features Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Emma Stone (“Bugonia”) and Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”).
Maverick filmmakers, including Chloé Zhao, Yorgos Lanthimos, Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler will be racing in the direction category.
Cillian Murphy, Michael B. Jordan, Bryan Cranston, Alicia Vikander, Gillian Anderson and Riz Ahmed will be the presenters at the ceremony, with Alia Bhatt representing India at the event.
NBCUniversal chief content officer Donna Langley will be honored with the BAFTA Fellowship for her outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry.
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