The BAFTA music nominations are in, spotlighting the scores behind this year’s biggest films. See which composers made the shortlist and why the category is one to watch.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has revealed its nominations for the 79th EE British Academy Film Awards, and among the highlights this year are the nominees in the Best Original Music category, a key award that recognises excellence in film scoring and composition. The full list of nominations was announced in late January, with the ceremony set to take place on 22 February 2026 in London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Music has always played a central role in cinema, helping to shape the emotional core of storytelling. This year’s nominations reflect a remarkably strong field of composers whose work has already been recognised across awards season, including at the Oscars and other international ceremonies. What’s notable is that the BAFTA list mirrors the Oscar nominees in this category, a rare alignment that hasn’t happened in over a decade.

Here are the 2026 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music:

  • Jerskin Fendrix — Bugonia
  • Alexandre Desplat — Frankenstein
  • Max Richter — Hamnet
  • Jonny Greenwood — One Battle After Another
  • Ludwig Göransson — Sinners

Each of these composers brings a distinct musical voice and creative signature to their films. Alexandre Desplat continues his long legacy as one of the most recognised names in film composition, with multiple past BAFTA wins across a career that includes scores for The King’s Speech and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Jonny Greenwood, known both for his work with Radiohead and his acclaimed film scores, is up again for his work on One Battle After Another. Ludwig Göransson, fresh off recent awards success, is nominated for Sinners, and Max Richter earns his first BAFTA nomination for the Shakespeare adaptation Hamnet. Jerskin Fendrix, while less established than some of his fellow nominees, has also gained recognition for his unique score for Bugonia.

The fact that the BAFTA music nominations reflect the Oscar music nominations almost exactly underscores the strength of these scores across the industry this year. It’s also a reminder of how film music, often heard subconsciously by audiences, plays a pivotal role in defining a film’s impact, from sweeping epic themes to intimate emotional cues.

As awards season builds toward the ceremony in February, music fans and film lovers alike will be watching closely to see who takes home the BAFTA for Best Original Music. Whether it’s a veteran composer adding another accolade to their name, or a first-time nominee capturing global attention, this year’s lineup highlights the diverse, and deeply creative, world of modern film scoring.

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