The British Academy has announced the nominees for its 2026 Rising Star Award, which recognizes emerging talent in the world of film, once again choosing a combination of Brits and Americans.
The winner will be announced during the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony and is the only honor chosen by public vote.
This year’s five-strong lineup includes Chase Infinity (One Battle After Another) and Myles Caton (Sinners), who have already been nominated for multiple awards and won for their breakout roles. On home soil, the list includes Archie Madekwe (Lurker), Robert Aramayo (I Swear) and Posey Sterling (Lollipop).
Awards experts may point out that Infinity and Aramayo are the only films shortlisted for the BAFTA Best Performance category. Aramayo, known on the small screen for his starring role in Amazon’s “Ring of Power,” also won best actor at the British Independent Film Awards in December, while Stirling took home the breakthrough acting honor. Infinity and Cayton may be the most talked about names on awards season lists, but it’s also worth noting that the Rising Star Award has left the UK only three times since its creation in 2005 (James McAvoy took home the inaugural statuette), and has been won by a British actor every year since 2010.
Previous recipients of the award include a combination of some of the brightest lights working today, including Tom Holland, Daniel Kaluuya, Emma Mackey, Will Poulter and Kristen Stewart (the last American to win this honor in 2009). Jack O’Connell, who won the award in 2014, is currently receiving rave reviews for his wild turn in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and co-stars with Cayton in Sinners, while 2024 winner Mia McKenna-Bruce stars in the murder mystery series The Seven Dials of Agatha Christie, which starts streaming tomorrow on Netflix. David Johnson, who won last year, recently starred in and produced Cal McMaw’s prison thriller The Wasteman (which is nominated for a BAFTA as an excellent debut feature for a British writer, director and producer), as well as receiving critical acclaim for The Long Walk.
Previous nominees have also missed out on the award, with the lineup including Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt (both in 2006), Michael Fassbender (2008), Nicholas Hoult (2009), Tom Hiddleston (2011), Lupita Nyong’o (2013), Margot Robbie (2014) and Timothée Chalamet. (2017) and Jesse Buckley (2018). Chalamet and Buckley are highly expected to compete for best acting at both the Oscars and BAFTAs this year.
The full line-up of nominees for the BAFTA Film Awards will be announced on January 27th, and all winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall on February 22nd.
