What’s On The 2026 BAFTAs Food Menu?

Jacob Elordi, Aimee Lou Wood, Jessie Buckley and Leonardo DiCaprio are just some of the stars who will be heading to London’s Royal Festival Hall for the 2026 BAFTAs ceremony on 22 February. It’s one of the most star-studded events on the British calendar, but what will all these A-listers be eating and drinking? We got the lowdown from this year’s catering company, Caper & Berry.

A Preview Of The 2026 BAFTAs Menu

Cooking for hundreds of celebrities is no mean feat, but Caper & Berry has it down to a tee, having catered for the BAFTA awards for the past few years. So when does the planning begin?

‘The actual preparation begins almost nine months in advance with the BAFTA team coming in for menu discussions and tastings,’ Caper & Berry founder Tim Brennan tells C&TH. ‘As with all events, it is very much a team effort between departments.’

Emma Stone accepts her award for Best Actress for “Poor Things” on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 18, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Iona Wolff/BAFTA via Getty Images)

Naturally, there are multiple practice runs to ensure the team are prepped for any eventuality. ‘We are fortunate to have a fantastic relationship with the BAFTA team, the venue, and their suppliers, so will have weekly meetings in the run up to the awards ceremony to ensure we are all on the same page; stress testing every eventuality to ensure the event is fail safe,’ Brennan adds. ‘This covers everything from transport and logistics, kitchen setups, roles and responsibilities, and the food/drink offering.’

Once the table plan has been agreed (with 10 guests on each), the catering team are informed about any dietary requirements and can plan menu adaptations accordingly. 

What’s On The 2026 BAFTAs Menu?

Led by chef Matt Crow, this year’s menu is inspired by interaction and nostalgia – a nod to classic cinema intervals. First up, the celebrities will be served snacks of roasted maple pumpkin rolls, woodland mushroom toast with crispy sage, and Cornish sea salt crisp breads, followed by a starter of celeriac and apple mille-feuille with chive oil and pumpkin. Like last year, the main dish will be roast chicken, this time flavoured with truffle and served with mushroom pithivier, butter-roasted potatoes and Madeira jus. The vegan alternative, meanwhile, will be caramelised leek and pumpkin pithivier with tarragon sauce. 

Pudding will lean into the theatrical theme with playful creations served on usherette trays in colourful cups, drawing on old-school cinema ice creams. Think popcorn sundaes with chocolate mousse, toffee popcorn and whipped burnt caramel and white chocolate. 

The main dish from the BAFTAs 2025

What Drinks Are There?

After a champagne reception, the stars will be sipping wines from Casillero del Diablo, with three bottles on offer: Casillero del Diablo Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon, Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc and Casillero Zero Sparkling 0.5 percent alcohol-free. 

What Time Is The Meal Served?

The BAFTAs broadcast usually runs for two hours on BBC One, from 7 – 9pm, AKA the dinner window. So how do the stars keep their hunger at bay? Well, the awards aren’t streamed live: the event is actually filmed slightly earlier in the day before being edited for the BBC, which means the celebrities’ dinner can be served at a reasonable time.

‘Guests arrive at the venue and are welcomed with a refreshing drink, before moving into the auditorium for the awards ceremony,’ Caper & Berry’s representative tells us. ‘Once this is over, guests are welcomed downstairs to the meal. This is usually around 8pm.’

Who Is Attending?

The 2026 event is looking suitably starry. Alongside Buckley, Emma Stone and Kate Hudson are among the nominees for the leading actress award, while DiCaprio and Chalamet are up against the likes of Michael B Jordan and Ethan Hawke for leading actor. The nominees for best supporting actor, meanwhile, include Paul Mescal and Benicio del Toro, alongside Elordi. 

Meanwhile, names like Bryan Cranston, Cillian Murphy, Gillian Anderson, Olivia Cooke and Patrick Dempsey will be presenting awards, while British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware is set to perform.