FundraisingGallery

Invest in Talent gets £1.2m boost

Posted: 19 Feb 2026

BAFTA’s work as a charity is getting a huge boost after nearly £1.2million was raised at this year’s biennial fundraising event the ‘BAFTA Invest in Talent Gala’.

A star-studded night helping raise vital funds to support the next generation of talent. The gala saw guests including Abubakar Salim, Adot Gak, Alicia Vikander, Celie Imrie, Gwendoline Christie, Jason Isaacs, Joanne Froggatt, Lenny Henry, Lennie James, Mark Gatiss, and Michael Fassbender turn out to support.

Money raised from the gala, the highest amount ever fundraised by BAFTA in one night, will go towards supporting BAFTA’s year-round charitable work  nurturing and championing talent across film, games and television.

Take a glimpse at some of the action from the night below and get inspired to find out more about BAFTA’s talent programmes and how you can help support them.

Music for the Gala was curated by iconic music venue KOKO. The event was designed by Amanda Davis and AD Events.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a full-length black dress. She is stood on a stage talking into a mic with a sign behind her that reads 'BAFTA'.
Jeff Spicer/BAFTA - Getty Images for BAFTA
Edith Bowman took on hosting duties at the 2026 BAFTA Gala.
A man with black dreads wearing a white top and black blazer playing a white electric guitar.
Jeff Spicer/BAFTA - Getty Images for BAFTA
Singer and songwriter Josh Barry opened the evening.
A heavily pregnant woman with long blonde hair, wearing a figure hugging pale pink dress and singing on a stage.
Carlo Paloni - BAFTA via Getty Images
An unmissable biennial event which saw heavily pregnant global superstar Ellie Goulding take to the stage to perform for guests.
A woman with tied back dark hair wearing an off the shoulder full-length grey dress with a ruffle trim. Next to her is a man with short dark blond hair wearing a tuxedo and bow tie.
Jeff Spicer/BAFTA - Getty Images for BAFTA
Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender.
A woman with a pale blonde buzz cut wearing a long-sleeved white cut out dress. She is sat at a table clapping.
Lily Craigen - BAFTA via Getty Images
British actress and singer Sheila Atim -Learning, BAFTA Inclusion and Talent committee member.
A man with thick grey hair wearing a red blazer with satin lapel next to a woman with long dark hair wearing a full length cap-sleeved silver sequinned dress.
Jeff Spicer/BAFTA - Getty Images for BAFTA
Rolling Stones icon Ronnie Wood and wife Sally Wood - BAFTA Gala committee member.
A woman with tied back dark hair wearing a full length metallic coloured v-neck dress. She is stood in front of a giant BAFTA mask sculpture.
Jeff Spicer/BAFTA - Getty Images for BAFTA
Gala committee member Dr Annalisa Jenkins.
A man with close cropped grey hair and a dark moustache wearing a black blazer, grey striped tie and smiling for the camera.
Jeff Spicer/BAFTA - Getty Images for BAFTA
Russell Tovey showed his support at the Gala.
A man with thick black hair wearing a black dinner jacket next to a man with dark curly hair and thick black-rimmed glasses in a shiny grey jacket and a woman with tied back red hair in a black halter neck dress.
Carlo Paloni - BAFTA via Getty Images
BAFTA alumni Jack Rooke (centre) with former BAFTA Bursary recipients Sam Hume and Madison Stock.
A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair resting her chin on her hand and smiling broadly at something out of view.
Jeff Spicer/BAFTA - Getty Images for BAFTA
Strictly's Tess Daly.
A man with black hair wearing a tuxedo and bow tie holding a mic and talking to a young girls with tied back black dreads wearing a long sleeved black dress.
Carlo Paloni - BAFTA via Getty Images
Jimmy Carr delighted Young Presenter Elizabeth Okogwu by detouring from the red carpet to have a quick interview.
An aerial shot of people mingling at a party in front of a sign that reads 'BAFTA, BAFTA, BAFTA'
Carlo Paloni - BAFTA via Getty Images
Guests mingling at the 2026 BAFTA Invest in Talent Gala.
A young man with short dark hair wearing a dark grey suit and laughing into a mic while talking to a woman with a short strawberry blonde pixie crop who is wearing a velvety blazer and silk scarf.
Carlo Paloni - BAFTA via Getty Images
Celia Imrie made Young Presenter Jeriah Kibusi's day by stopping for a chat.
A woman with long side-parted white-blonde hair wearing a plum coloured oversized statement blazer and smiling at the camera.
Jeff Spicer/BAFTA - Getty Images for BAFTA
Actor Gwendoline Christie - BAFTA donor and supporter.
A woman with bobbed dark hair wearing a metallic grey blazer chatting to a woman with black bobbed hair wearing an off the shoulder black-grey jumpsuit and a man with grey hair in a dark suit.
Carlo Paloni - BAFTA via Getty Images
BAFTA Deputy Chair Hilary Rosen, BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip and Jason Isaacs caught up at the event
A man with short white hair wearing a dark blazer and sporran chatting to a man with grey hair and glasses in a dark suit.
Carlo Paloni - BAFTA via Getty Images
Mark Bonnar was among those spotted enjoying the 2026 Gala.
A group shot of people in evening wear.
Carlo Paloni - BAFTA via Getty Images
Gala committee member Francesca Giustra (centre) with husband Frank Giustra (third right) and guests.
A bald man with a white beard wearing black rimmed glasses and a black shirt and suit.
Jeff Spicer/BAFTA - Getty Images for BAFTA
BAFTA Award winner Lennie James.
A group shot of several people posing on the red carpet in front of a BAFTA branding board.
Gareth Cattermole/BAFTA - Gareth Cattermole/BAFTA/Getty Im
Sir Lenny Henry (third left) and Dame Pippa Harris, BAFTA vice president of Television (fourth from left), pose for a snap with guests on the red carpet.

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