BAFTA Cymru nominations announced
Matthew Rhys is among the nominees for the Netflix series The Beast In Me
The nominations are out for the 2026 BAFTA Cymru Awards, shining a spotlight on the incredible talent and outstanding work across film and television in Wales. Winners will be revealed at a glittering ceremony hosted by presenter and broadcaster Owain Wyn Evans, returning to the stage at ICC Wales in Newport on Sunday, 4 October.
Topping the nominations this year is the feature film Madfabulous with six nods, closely followed by The Guest with five. Stori'r Iaith and Under Salt Marsh have each picked up three nominations, while several other productions—including Bariau, Havoc, Keep the World Away – Finding Gwen John, Other Voices: Cardigan 2025 with Huw Stephens, Richard Burton: Wild Genius, The Man in My Basement, Y Crwydryn, and Y Golau: Dŵr—are up for two awards apiece.
The 2026 shortlist features a strong mix of established names and exciting new faces. First-time BAFTA nominees this year include Buddug Povey (Actress, Rownd a Rownd), Sian Reese–Williams (Actress, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards), Tom Cullen (Actor, Trespasses), Sian Eleri (Presenter, Keep the World Away – Finding Gwen John), and writers Claire Oakley (Under Salt Marsh) and Lisa Baker (Madfabulous).
Fan favourites are also being recognised, with Eve Myles earning her tenth BAFTA nomination for her performance in The Guest. Matthew Rhys is up for his fourth BAFTA Cymru award for The Beast in Me, and Gabrielle Creevy celebrates her fourth nomination, also for The Guest. In the Director category, both Euros Lyn (Wayward) and Gareth Bryn (Karen Pirie) notch up their ninth nominations.
This year, BAFTA Cymru welcomed back member voting in the Feature/Television Film category. Voting members selected the longlist before a jury narrowed it down to the final nominees and eventual winners.
Host Owain Wyn Evans, known for his energy and style—plus his record-breaking 24-hour Drumathon for BBC Children in Need—is set to bring his trademark sparkle to the ceremony for the third year running. He currently presents the Early Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 and is a familiar face on BBC One’s Homes Under the Hammer, Wales’ Home of the Year, and The One Show.
Ahead of the event, Owain Wyn Evans said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to be back hosting the BAFTA Cymru Awards! I had such a brilliant time last year that when they asked me to come back, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation. It’s such a joy to celebrate the incredible talent we have here in Wales, the storytellers, performers and creatives who continue to produce world-class television and film that makes us all so proud. I know it’s going to be another unforgettable night, full of well-deserved celebrations, a few surprises, plenty of sparkle and, if last year is anything to go by, some seriously fabulous outfits on the red carpet. I can’t wait to do it all over again!”
Lee Walters, chair of BAFTA Cymru, added: “Congratulations to all of this year’s BAFTA Cymru nominees. Every nomination is a testament to the creativity, skill and dedication of the people working across Wales’ screen industries, both in front of and behind the camera. The range and quality of this year’s work reflects a sector that continues to grow in confidence, telling distinctive stories that connect with audiences at home and around the world. The BAFTA Cymru Awards are an opportunity to celebrate that excellence, recognise the incredible talent within our industry, and inspire the next generation of Welsh storytellers. We look forward to celebrating with all of this year’s nominees next month.”