Bafta 2026 longlists show mixed progress on diversity

Bafta revealed its 2026 film awards longlists on Friday, and the selections appear to have headed off further criticism over the academy’s long-running diversity crisis. Bafta overhauled its voting system in 2020 after claims of “systemic racism”, and outrage re-emerged in 2023 when no people of colour won awards.

The longlists, an intermediate stage toward final nominations determined by mixes of membership voting and jury selection, suggest some progress is being made. The directors longlist, which Bafta mandated must include 50% women, includes Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Katherine Bigelow (A House of Dynamite), Lynne Ramsay (Die My Love), Hikari (Rental Family) and Kaouther Ben Hania (The Voice of Hind Rajab).

Ryan Coogler (Sinners) is also listed; the directors list contains four people of colour, although Bafta does not appear to have targets for this. Sinners has performed strongly overall, securing 14 longlist entries and sitting in joint second place. The acting longlists are less diverse, with seven people of colour among 40 longlistees.

Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another) and Tessa Thompson (Hedda) appear on the best actress longlist, while Michael B Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo (all from Sinners) and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) are included elsewhere.

Key Topics

Culture, Bafta, Longlist, Sinners, Hamnet, Cynthia Erivo