Following Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt becomes the third Bollywood star to take the BAFTA stage — joining Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close and Kate Hudson on February 22 in London.
Priyanka Chopra did it in 2021. Deepika Padukone did it in 2024. Now, in 2026, it is Alia Bhatt’s turn.
The British Academy confirmed on Tuesday that Alia will present at the BAFTA Film Awards 2026. The ceremony takes place on Sunday, February 22. The venue is the Royal Festival Hall in London.
This is not just another celebrity announcement. It is the third chapter in a quietly historic story. Most outlets are too busy listing names to tell it.
A Star-Studded Night Taking Shape
BAFTA unveiled its full presenter line-up this week. Alia joins Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close, and Kate Hudson on the roster. Also presenting are Bryan Cranston, Gillian Anderson, and Michael B. Jordan. Kerry Washington, Regé-Jean Page, and Riz Ahmed are on the list too. Hannah Waddingham, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sadie Sink, Milly Alcock, Stormzy, and Warwick Davis complete the headline names.
Alan Cumming will host the ceremony. Clara Amfo and Ali Plumb front the live red carpet pre-show. The broadcast begins at 7 PM BST. Neev Spencer handles DJ duties on the night.
Emma Baehr, Executive Director of Awards and Content at BAFTA, said: “It’s especially exciting to have such an impressive line-up of presenters. They represent the very best of film and the wider creative industries.”
Why Alia Bhatt at BAFTA Is Bigger Than a Press Release
Most coverage will give you a name and move on. But look closer and a more interesting story emerges.
Priyanka Chopra presented at the BAFTAs in 2021. Her global profile was at its peak. The White Tiger was generating serious Oscar buzz at the time. Deepika Padukone followed in 2024. Now Alia steps onto the same stage in 2026. She arrives ahead of the two biggest films of her career. This is not coincidence. This is a pattern.
BAFTA is making a deliberate, generational choice. Each Bollywood appearance has landed at a moment of peak momentum for Indian cinema. India is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing cinema audiences. Inviting Alia — fresh from Cannes and the Met Gala — is BAFTA’s clearest signal yet. It is not a gesture. It is a strategy.
Alia is not arriving as a curiosity. She is arriving as a peer.
What This Moment Means for Bollywood’s Global Ascent
Five years ago, a Bollywood star at the BAFTAs felt like a milestone. In 2026, it is becoming an expectation. That distinction matters enormously.
The industry is no longer treating Indian cinema as a regional footnote. It is a global force. Alia’s invitation is part of a wider realignment. It is happening across Hollywood, streaming platforms, and international film festivals. South Asian talent is no longer included for optics alone. The audience demand is real. The box office numbers back it up.
Alia is well placed to carry this moment. She is a critical darling in India. She has also been deliberate about building her international profile. Both things are true at once.
What Comes Next for Alia Bhatt
The BAFTA invitation shines a spotlight on what is coming next. The answer is considerable.
Alia was last seen on screen in Jigra in 2024. She is now in production on two major films. The first is Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail. It introduces Alia and Sharvari to the YRF Spy Universe. Bobby Deol also stars. The franchise previously produced Ek Tha Tiger, War, and Pathaan. Alpha is expected to release in 2026.
The second is Love & War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal co-star. A release date has not yet been confirmed. Anticipation is already significant.
Alia is heading to London at the start of the most consequential stretch of her career.
BAFTA 2026 — Key Details
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026 Venue: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London Host: Alan Cumming Broadcast: 7 PM BST Red Carpet Pre-Show: Clara Amfo and Ali Plumb DJ: Neev Spencer
Alia Bhatt will hand over an award on Sunday night. But she will also do something quieter and more significant. She will represent a generation of Indian artists. They have earned their place at the world’s top table. Not by being invited in out of courtesy. But by making themselves impossible to ignore.
The hat-trick is complete. And it is only getting started.
