EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026: Voting Schedule and New Updates Revealed
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The EE British Academy Film Awards are gearing up for their 2026 ceremony, with a detailed voting schedule and several key updates announced for the upcoming season. The awards process,involving over 8,300 global voting members and film industry practitioners,unfolds in three distinct rounds: Longlisting,Nominations,and Winners.
A Multi-Stage Voting Process
The Longlisting round, now in it’s fifth year, aims to broaden the initial visibility of films considered for awards. This stage allows for a more inclusive showcase of cinematic achievements early in the process. To ensure fairness and equal opportunity, all film voting members are assigned a selection of 15 films to review before participating in Round One voting.
BAFTA actively encourages voters to experience films in a theatrical setting, while also providing access to all qualifying films via BAFTA View, the organization’s online viewing platform. According to a BAFTA release,this dual approach aims to maximize engagement and informed decision-making.
Before casting ballots in Round Two, voters are required to confirm thay have viewed the films included in the longlist. This measure underscores BAFTA’s commitment to a thorough and considered evaluation process.
Round-by-Round Breakdown & Key Dates
Voting in Round One, encompassing all members, concluded on January 5, 2026, after opening on December 5, 2025. Round Two voting commenced today, January 9, 2026, and will remain open until January 20, 2026.The final round of voting, Round Three, will begin on January 28, 2026, and conclude on february 17, 2026, ultimately determining the winners. The winners will be revealed at the EE BAFTA film awards ceremony on February 22, 2026.
Specialized Expertise & Diverse Perspectives
The voting process leverages the expertise of BAFTA members through two key structures: Chapters and Juries. Chapters are comprised of members possessing specialized knowledge within specific crafts, and are also open to those wishing to join opt-in categories. Juries, conversely, are designed to incorporate a wider range of industry experience, backgrounds, gender, location, and age groups, ensuring a diverse and representative evaluation.
Public Participation & Rising Star Award
The EE Rising Star Award remains the sole award resolute by public vote. The 21st anniversary of this award will see EE unveil the nominees on January 14, 2026, with the winner announced during the ceremony.
Why are these changes happening? BAFTA is refining its voting process to enhance inclusivity and ensure a more representative evaluation of films. The shift to direct voting for the British Short Film and British Short Animation categories aims to give full voting members greater agency in recognizing emerging talent.
Who is involved? The changes impact all 8,300+ BAFTA voting members, film industry practitioners, and the public who participate in the EE Rising Star Award vote. BAFTA itself is driving these updates.
What is changing? The most notable change is that full voting members will now directly decide the winners of the British Short Film and British Short Animation categories. Additionally, the voting schedule has been clearly outlined with specific dates for each round.
How will this work? The direct voting for the short film categories will likely involve a final round of voting where members rank their preferences. The three-round process – Longlisting, Nominations, and Winners – remains the core structure, with BAFTA View providing access
