Netflix-backed BAFTA list names 21 rising UK creatives for 2026

BAFTA has announced its 2026 Breakthrough UK list, a group of 21 emerging professionals in film, television, and games.

The initiative, now in its 13th year, is supported by Netflix and identifies creatives who are currently in a breakthrough period of their careers.

The selection includes performers from recent high-profile productions. Ella Bruccoleri, known for The Other Bennet Sister, and Sophie Stone, a star of Falling, are among the named actors. Izuka Hoyle, who appeared in Prisoner, also made the list.

The cohort is diverse in both discipline and background. It features casting directors Lucy Allen and Tom Payne, who worked on Sunny Dancer, alongside producer Hollie Bryan of The Ceremony. In the games sector, the list includes writers and directors such as Eloise Singer of The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters and game developer Husban Siddiqi of Rogue Eclipse.

BAFTA stated that the program provides participants with year-round support, including one-to-one meetings, career guidance, and access to industry networking events. Recipients also receive full BAFTA membership. Since its inception, more than 330 people have participated in the program globally. These alumni have accumulated over 200 BAFTA nominations and more than 80 wins.

Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, described the group as coming from diverse backgrounds that enrich the stories told on screen. She noted that the program is designed to help practitioners build lasting careers across the three screen sectors.

Anne Mensah, vice president of UK content at Netflix, said the company has backed the program for a seventh year. She identified the initiative as a component of Generation N, a commitment to supporting new and mid-career talent in the UK. BAFTA North America is scheduled to reveal its own Breakthrough US list later this month.