Stars arrive for the UK’s BAFTA film awards, in photos

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Stars arrive for the UK’s BAFTA film awards, in photos

2026-02-23 05:41 Last Updated At：05:51

LONDON (AP) — Stars are convening Sunday for the British Academy Film Awards, a major awards season ceremony ahead of next month's Oscars.

Officially called the EE BAFTA Film Awards, the BAFTAs are chosen by thousands of members of the U.K. academy of industry professionals, with one – the Rising Star Award – selected by public vote from a shortlist of nominees.

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Pippa Harris, from left, Chloe Zhao, Jacobi Jupe, Jessie Buckley, Olivia Lynes, and Bodhi Rae Breathnach pose with the award for outstanding British film for 'Hamnet' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Ryan Coogler poses with the award for original screenplay for 'Sinners' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Jessie Buckley poses with the award for leading actress for 'Hamnet' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Robert Aramayo poses with the EE rising star award and the award for leading actor for 'I Swear' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lauren Frankfort Meltzer, from left, Matt Houghton, Georgie Wileman, and Harriette Wright pose with the award for British short film for 'This Is Endometriosis' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lauren Evans poses with the award for casting for 'I Swear' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Ginnifer Goodwin, from left, Yvett Merino, Jared Bush, and Josh Dallas pose with the award for animated film for 'Zootopia 2'at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Michael Bauman poses with the award for cinematography for 'One Battle After Another' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Alan McAlex, from left, Farhan Akhtar, Paddington Bear, Lakshmipriya Devi, and Ritesh Sidhwani pose with the award for children's & family film for 'Boong' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Rei Ami poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Kerry Washington poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Jacobi Jupe, left and Noah Jupe pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Sabine Getty poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Dan Smith, from left, Kathryn Ferguson and Aidan Gillen pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Chase Infiniti poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Toby Jones poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Monica Bellucci poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Alan Cumming poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Gideon Adlon, left, and Odessa A'zion pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

The dress of Audrey Nuna as she poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Ejae, from left Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

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Pippa Harris, from left, Chloe Zhao, Jacobi Jupe, Jessie Buckley, Olivia Lynes, and Bodhi Rae Breathnach pose with the award for outstanding British film for 'Hamnet' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Ryan Coogler poses with the award for original screenplay for 'Sinners' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Jessie Buckley poses with the award for leading actress for 'Hamnet' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Robert Aramayo poses with the EE rising star award and the award for leading actor for 'I Swear' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lauren Frankfort Meltzer, from left, Matt Houghton, Georgie Wileman, and Harriette Wright pose with the award for British short film for 'This Is Endometriosis' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lauren Evans poses with the award for casting for 'I Swear' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Ginnifer Goodwin, from left, Yvett Merino, Jared Bush, and Josh Dallas pose with the award for animated film for 'Zootopia 2'at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Michael Bauman poses with the award for cinematography for 'One Battle After Another' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Alan McAlex, from left, Farhan Akhtar, Paddington Bear, Lakshmipriya Devi, and Ritesh Sidhwani pose with the award for children's & family film for 'Boong' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Rei Ami poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Kerry Washington poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Jacobi Jupe, left and Noah Jupe pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Sabine Getty poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Dan Smith, from left, Kathryn Ferguson and Aidan Gillen pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Chase Infiniti poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Toby Jones poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Monica Bellucci poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Alan Cumming poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Gideon Adlon, left, and Odessa A'zion pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

The dress of Audrey Nuna as she poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Ejae, from left Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Winners will take home a coveted bronze mask trophy.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Twin Milan and Cortina Olympic cauldrons are extinguished, signaling the end of Winter Games

VERONA, Italy (AP) — The twin Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo have been extinguished, signaling the end of the most spread-out Winter Games.

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry declared the 2026 Games over in remarks to the closing ceremony in Verona, telling the local organizers that they “delivered a new kind of winter games and you set a new, very high standard for the future.”

A total of 116 medal events have been held in eight Olympic sports across 16 disciplines, including the debut of ski mountaineering this year, over the course of 17 days of competition.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

VERONA, Italy (AP) — The Milan Cortina Olympics ended Sunday with a closing ceremony paying tribute to Italian dance and music inside the ancient Verona Arena, roughly mid-distance between the far-flung mountain, valley and city venues that made these the most spread-out Winter Games in Olympic history.

Some 1,500 Olympians filed into the arena waving small national flags to a rousing medley of Italian pop hits from the 20th century as the crowd sang along, taking their seats in the stone arena in places marked by green, red and white lights for the Italian flag.

The 2½-hour ceremony opened with a whimsical tribute to Italian lyric opera, with the stage director rousing not only the closing ceremony cast, including Italian singer Achille Lauro, but also long-dormant opera characters tucked away in crates within the amphitheater's tunnels.

On stage, Madama Butterfly in a bright pink and green costume and Aida in golden tiers were unpacked from mirrored crates while 17th century musicians played the joyous “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” from La Traviata, a nod to the Arena's long history as the venue for a summer opera festival.

The opera characters, led by the jester Rigoletto, spilled out into the piazza outside, mixing with the bemused athletes who were flag-bearers for their countries, some ofwhom pulled out their phones to film.

In a key moment, the Olympic flame encased in a Venetian glass vessel was carried into the Arena by Italian gold medalists from the 1994 Lillehammer Games. The Olympic rings illuminated in white appeared high on the stone stairs behind the stage, flanked by national flags, when one raised the flame in the center of the stage.

This is the first Games for the International Olympic Committee president, Kirsty Coventry, a two-time Olympic champion in swimming, who watched the ceremony alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Some 12,000 spectators joined the athletes and officials for the closing ceremony, which was much more intimate affair than the opening ceremony starring Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli inside Milan’s San Siro soccer stadium, attended by more than 60,000 people.

One of the key moments of the ceremony is when the Olympic flag is handed over to the next Winter Games host nation, France, and its flag is raised next to Italy’s and Greece’s.

The Milan Cortina Games spanned an area of 22,000 square kilometers (8,500 square miles), from ice sports in Milan to biathlon in Anterselva on the Austrian border, snowboarding and men’s downhill in Valtellina on the Swiss border, cross-country skiing in the Val di Fiemme north of Verona and women’s downhill, curling and sliding sports in co-host Cortina d’Ampezzo.

It’s a model that will remain for future Games, to avoid the expense of building new facilities. The 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps will stage events in the Alps and Nice, on the Mediterranean Sea, while speedskating will be held abroad in a venue to be decided.

The closing ceremony will conclude with the Olympic flames being extinguished at the unprecedented two caldrons in Milan and Cortina, to be viewed via video link. A light show will substitute fireworks, which are not allowed in Verona, to protect animals from being disturbed.

A total of 116 medal events have been held in eight Olympic sports across 16 disciplines, including the debut of ski mountaineering this year, over the course of 17 days of competition.

The Milan Cortina Paralympics' opening ceremony will also take place in the Verona Arena, on March 6, and the Games will run until March 15.

AP Winter Olympics coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Stars arrive for the UK’s BAFTA film awards, in photos

Stars arrive for the UK’s BAFTA film awards, in photos

Pippa Harris, from left, Chloe Zhao, Jacobi Jupe, Jessie Buckley, Olivia Lynes, and Bodhi Rae Breathnach pose with the award for outstanding British film for 'Hamnet' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Ryan Coogler poses with the award for original screenplay for 'Sinners' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Jessie Buckley poses with the award for leading actress for 'Hamnet' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Robert Aramayo poses with the EE rising star award and the award for leading actor for 'I Swear' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lauren Frankfort Meltzer, from left, Matt Houghton, Georgie Wileman, and Harriette Wright pose with the award for British short film for 'This Is Endometriosis' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lauren Evans poses with the award for casting for 'I Swear' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Ginnifer Goodwin, from left, Yvett Merino, Jared Bush, and Josh Dallas pose with the award for animated film for 'Zootopia 2'at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Michael Bauman poses with the award for cinematography for 'One Battle After Another' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Alan McAlex, from left, Farhan Akhtar, Paddington Bear, Lakshmipriya Devi, and Ritesh Sidhwani pose with the award for children's & family film for 'Boong' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Rei Ami poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Kerry Washington poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Jacobi Jupe, left and Noah Jupe pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Sabine Getty poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Dan Smith, from left, Kathryn Ferguson and Aidan Gillen pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Chase Infiniti poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Toby Jones poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Monica Bellucci poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Alan Cumming poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Gideon Adlon, left, and Odessa A'zion pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

The dress of Audrey Nuna as she poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Ejae, from left Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Pippa Harris, from left, Chloe Zhao, Jacobi Jupe, Jessie Buckley, Olivia Lynes, and Bodhi Rae Breathnach pose with the award for outstanding British film for 'Hamnet' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Ryan Coogler poses with the award for original screenplay for 'Sinners' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Jessie Buckley poses with the award for leading actress for 'Hamnet' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Robert Aramayo poses with the EE rising star award and the award for leading actor for 'I Swear' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lauren Frankfort Meltzer, from left, Matt Houghton, Georgie Wileman, and Harriette Wright pose with the award for British short film for 'This Is Endometriosis' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Lauren Evans poses with the award for casting for 'I Swear' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Ginnifer Goodwin, from left, Yvett Merino, Jared Bush, and Josh Dallas pose with the award for animated film for 'Zootopia 2'at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Michael Bauman poses with the award for cinematography for 'One Battle After Another' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Alan McAlex, from left, Farhan Akhtar, Paddington Bear, Lakshmipriya Devi, and Ritesh Sidhwani pose with the award for children's & family film for 'Boong' at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Rei Ami poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Kerry Washington poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Jacobi Jupe, left and Noah Jupe pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Sabine Getty poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Dan Smith, from left, Kathryn Ferguson and Aidan Gillen pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Chase Infiniti poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Toby Jones poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Monica Bellucci poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Alan Cumming poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Gideon Adlon, left, and Odessa A'zion pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

The dress of Audrey Nuna as she poses for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Ejae, from left Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami pose for photographers upon arrival at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

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