The nominees for the 2026 Bafta Rising Star Award have been announced. The five names were revealed on Wednesday (January 14) during a press conference at The Savoy Hotel in London.
The event was opened with the first official screening of Setting Sail, a short film resulting from the Set the Stage project, a programme which gave 16 young people the opportunity to explore their passion for film with hands-on access to the creative industries and mentorship. The film is now available to watch on EE’s YouTube channel.
With the press conference introduced by BAFTA chief executive, Jane Millichip, along with communications director at sponsor EE and Plusnet, Kelly Engstrom, actor and 2024 EE Rising Star Award winner, Mia McKenna-Bruce, and film critic and radio host, Ali Plumb, went on to reveal the highly anticipated 2026 nominees.
The five actors each demonstrated their “remarkable talent” in film over the past year, having captured the imagination of both the public and film industry alike. Take a look through the gallery to see each of the nominations and what you might have seen them in.
1. Chase Infiniti attends the premiere of One Battle After Another, at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, central London. Picture date: Tuesday September 16, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
A Golden Globe nominated actress, 25-year-old Chase Infiniti has been earning acclaim for her star-making lead in One Battle After Another. The Paul Thomas Anderson film has seen her receive NBR’s 2025 Breakthrough Performance award and nominations for the Critics’ Choice, and Gotham awards. Infiniti’s breakout role was in Apple TV+’s 2024 hit Presumed Innocent, and she will next be seen on screen leading Hulu’s The Testaments. She has also recently wrapped N. Byrne’s film The Julia Set. | Ian West/PA Wire
2. Robert Aramayo 14th January 2026, The Savoy, London: Robert Aramayo is announced as one of the five nominees for the EE Rising Star Award ahead of the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards. Voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA, via WhatsApp, and across EE socials.
British actor Robert Aramayo, 33, can be seen in this year’s I, Swear. The Kirk Jones’ film, inspired by Tourette Syndrome advocate J. Davidson, premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival and saw him receive the BIFA for Best Lead Performance. Aramayo, who is originally from Hull and graduated from The Juilliard School, also appears in Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36 – shortlisted for Best International Film for the 98th Academy Awards. And he is known for his work including playing Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. | Tom Dymond Photo: Tom Dymond
3. Posy Sterling 14th January 2026, The Savoy, London: Posy Sterling is announced as one of the five nominees for the EE Rising Star Award ahead of the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards. Voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA, via WhatsApp, and across EE socials.
British stage, TV and film actress Posy Sterling, 34, is a BIFA Breakthrough winner and Screen Star of Tomorrow who has been earning acclaim for BBC film Lollipop. Sterling’s recent screen work includes multi-BAFTA-nominated The Outrun and World on Fire. While on stage she spent seven weeks in New York performing The Cherry Orchard at St. Ann’s Warehouse after starring in the Donmar Warehouse production, and the National Theatre’s Dixon and Daughters and Faith, Hope & Charity. Her upcoming roles will be in Trigger Point and Channel 4’s Dirty Business. | Tom Dymond Photo: Tom Dymond
4. Miles Caton arriving for the European premiere of Sinners at Cineworld Leicester Square in London. Picture date: Monday April 14, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
New York-born actor and musician 20-year-old Miles Caton’s breakout role was Sammie in this year’s hit Sinners. The Ryan Coogler film has seen him earn global acclaim and a Critics Choice Award for Best Young Actor. Mastering the guitar in just two months to embody the character of Sammie, Caton has been building a dynamic music career alongside his acting. Caton first went viral in 2017 and has since co-written “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” for Sinners as well as releasing debut single “Somethin’” in 2025. | Ian West/PA Wire Photo: Ian West/PA Wire