London Critics’ Circle Film Awards to return in February 2026 with Mark Kermode hosting

The 46^th annual London Critics’ Circle Film Awards will take place on Sunday 1^st February 2026, once again hosted at The May Fair Hotel in London. Film critic, broadcaster, and returning host Mark Kermode will preside over the ceremony, which honours the best in cinema as voted for by over 200 leading UK film critics.

The official nominations will be announced virtually on 15^th December 2025, also from The May Fair, with the awards ceremony to be streamed live on the Critics’ Circle Film Section’s YouTube channel. The event continues its tradition of spotlighting both established and emerging talent, celebrating excellence in global filmmaking and performance.

Last year’s awards saw The Brutalist take home Film of the Year, while Conclave was named British and Irish Film of the Year. Standout winners included Ralph Fiennes and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and special honours went to Daniel Craig and Zoe Saldaña, who received the Dilys Powell and Derek Malcolm Awards respectively.

Chair of the Critics’ Circle Film Section, Jane Crowther, now leads a newly appointed team that includes Vice Chair Guy Lodge, Honorary Secretary Linda Marric, and Awards Lead Emily Zemler. Speaking on the upcoming ceremony, Crowther said: “With a new leadership team in place, we’re looking forward to making our 46^th awards the biggest and best yet.”

Eligible films for the 2026 awards must be released in UK cinemas or premiere via streaming between mid-February 2025 and mid-February 2026. As ever, the awards aim to honour cinematic storytelling that resonates with critics and audiences alike, blending mainstream success with boundary-pushing independent voices.

The Critics’ Circle Film Awards have run annually since 1980 and remain one of the UK’s most respected honours in cinema.