In a night packed with glamour, anticipation, and high stakes, the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards delivered one of its biggest upsets in recent memory. Fans and critics alike had widely expected Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet to battle it out for the coveted Best Leading Actor award. Instead, it was British actor Robert Aramayo who walked away with the trophy, leaving the star duo “snubbed” in one of the most talked-about moments of the ceremony.
DiCaprio arrived at the BAFTAs as a frontrunner for his powerful performance in “One Battle After Another,” a film that dominated nominations and positioned him as the man to beat. His role had been praised for its emotional depth and intensity, with many predicting that this would finally be the year he conquered the BAFTA stage in the leading actor category. The buzz around his performance made his loss even more surprising to audiences who were almost ready to celebrate his win.
"One Battle After Another" star Leonardo DiCaprio arrives at the #BAFTAFilmAwards.
— Variety (@Variety) February 22, 2026
He is nominated for Best Leading Actor.
View the full gallery: https://t.co/RrDv85dObI pic.twitter.com/XsezMYzafY
On the other side, Timothée Chalamet lit up the awards season with his turn in “Marty Supreme,” a critically acclaimed film that generated enormous hype. The movie collected an impressive number of nominations, setting expectations sky-high. Yet, despite its strong presence throughout the night, “Marty Supreme” ended up empty-handed, tying the record for the most losses after multiple nominations. For many viewers, this result reinforced the feeling that Chalamet had been dramatically overlooked at the BAFTAs.
Timothée Chalamet looks handsome at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards. pic.twitter.com/Cc9Oi0qPrN
— Timothée Chalamet Updates (@timotheeupdates) February 22, 2026
When the envelope for Best Leading Actor was opened and Robert Aramayo’s name was announced for his performance in “I Swear,” the reaction was a mix of shock and admiration. Aramayo, previously best known for supporting roles and television work, delivered a nuanced, grounded performance that clearly resonated with the voters. His victory instantly became one of the defining stories of the night, as he managed to outshine two of the biggest names in modern cinema.
Backstage, the atmosphere was charged. Fans of DiCaprio and Chalamet took to social media, calling the outcome a “snub” and questioning how both men could walk away without the award after such acclaimed performances. Some users highlighted DiCaprio’s growing history of near-misses at major British ceremonies, while others focused on Chalamet’s rising-star narrative and the disappointment of seeing his breakout campaign halted.
Despite missing out on the acting prize, “One Battle After Another” still enjoyed a strong evening, securing key wins and reinforcing DiCaprio’s reputation as one of the most consistently praised actors of his generation. Chalamet, meanwhile, maintained his status as a modern style and cinema icon, with many already predicting that future award seasons will give him more chances at gold.
The 2026 BAFTAs will be remembered not just for red-carpet looks and emotional speeches, but for the moment an underdog Robert Aramayo rewrote the script. In a field dominated by established stars, his win proved that awards nights can still deliver genuine surprises — and that no category is ever truly decided until the final name is read out.
