BAFTAs 2026: The Best and Worst Moments

"One Battle After Another" won best film at the BAFTAs, but the night offered many other memorable moments: host Alan Cumming handed out British snacks, a surprise acting winner upended expectations, Prince William sat in the audience days after his uncle’s arrest, there were involuntary curse-word interruptions, and a West End Paddington Bear presented an award.

Paddington took the stage to hand out the best children’s and family film prize, joking about marmalade and struggling to open an envelope “with paws,” then stood listening as Lakshmipriya Devi gave a serious speech about ethnic conflict in India. Jessie Buckley, winning best actress for "Hamnet," arrived without notes and delivered a laughing, tearful speech, calling the moment “nuts” and dedicating the award to “the women past, present and future” who taught her to “do it differently.” "I Swear," about John Davidson and Tourette’s syndrome, was one of the evening’s big winners, and Davidson’s involuntary shouts — including a racial slur during a presentation by Michael B.

United Kingdom, London

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