2026 BAFTA Rising Star Award Nominees: Recognizing Emerging Talent in the Film Industry
The British Academy has revealed the nominees for the 2026 Rising Star award, which recognizes emerging talent in the film industry. The winner will be chosen by the public during the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony. This year's nominees include Chase Infiniti, Miles Caton, Archie Madekwe, Robert Aramayo, and Posy Sterling, who have all received recognition for their performances. Infiniti and Aramayo have also been longlisted in lead performance categories by BAFTA, with Aramayo winning best leading actor at the British Independent Film Awards. The Rising Star Award has predominantly been won by British actors since its inception in 2005, with only three non-British winners to date.
Past winners of the Rising Star award include Tom Holland, Daniel Kaluuya, Emma Mackey, Will Poulter, and Kristen Stewart. Jack O'Connell, Mia McKenna-Bruce, and David Jonsson, who won in previous years, have continued to excel in their careers. Notable past nominees who did not win the award include Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Hiddleston, Lupita Nyong'o, Margot Robbie, Timotheé Chalamet, and Jessie Buckley. Chalamet and Buckley are expected to be contenders for top performance awards at the Oscars and BAFTAs this year.
The full list of BAFTA Film Award nominations will be announced on January 27, with the winners being revealed at the ceremony on February 22 at London's Royal Festival Hall. The Rising Star award is a prestigious accolade that highlights promising talent in the film industry and has been a launching pad for many successful careers.