BAFTA Awards 2026: Date, How to Watch & the Craft Behind the Masks

The British Academy Film Awards, widely known as the BAFTAs, are set to take place this Sunday, February 22nd, in London. The ceremony, considered a key precursor to the Academy Awards, will be held at the Royal Festival Hall within the Southbank Centre and hosted by actor Alan Cumming.

Several films are emerging as frontrunners, mirroring those expected to contend for Oscars. Among the leading nominees are “One Battle After Another,” “Hamnet,” and “Marty Supreme.” These films, along with their cast and crew, are poised to potentially receive one of the bronze, mask-shaped awards.

The Artisanal Craft Behind the BAFTA Awards

The BAFTA trophies are crafted from bronze phosphorus, meticulously polished to a mirror finish, allowing recipients to see their reflection within the mask’s form. The creation of these awards is entrusted to the skilled artisans at the AATI foundry, located in Braintree, approximately 80 kilometers northeast of London.

The foundry employs a sand casting technique to produce around 350 trophies annually for the film, television and video game awards ceremonies held throughout the year.

How the Iconic BAFTA Masks Are Made

The process begins with the creation of a detailed pattern, often made of wood or through 3D printing, by the foundry’s mechanical team. This pattern is then used to create two concave impressions in sand, one for each side of the mask. These impressions are then closed, ready to receive molten bronze heated to temperatures reaching 1200 degrees Celsius. The metal requires three to four hours to cool before the sand is removed.

Initially, the masks have a rough, opaque surface. However, they undergo further refinement. “There’s a lot of metal in it,” explained foundry director Hugh Bisset, “but each mask also has a lot of time and love invested in it.”

Artisans take particular care to ensure the finished masks are brilliant but free of any residual polish that could damage the garments of the award recipients – a concern frequently voiced by those involved in the production process.

The trophies are created in batches, with each award taking approximately one week to complete.

BAFTA Awards 2026: Viewing Information

Viewers in Spain can watch the BAFTA Film Awards 2026 on the TCM channel, available through pay-television platforms such as Movistar plus and Orange. The special broadcast, hosted by journalists Pepa Blanes and María Guerra, is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM Spanish peninsular time.

Remaining Film Award Calendar in 2026