IFTAs 2026: All the winners as Jessie Buckley scoops Best Actress award
It was a night to remember at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Friday night, as the 2026 Irish Film and Television Awards.
Kerry star Jessie Buckley was the big winner of the night, taking home the award for Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet, for which she is also nominated at the upcoming Oscars and BAFTAs.
Speaking to RTE about her win, Jessie said: ‘It’s very emotional for me to be home, ’cause this is the place I grew up. Stephen Rae, Ciarán Hinds, Cillian Murphy, Brenda Fricker, the amount of talent that’s in that room, and to be part of this community [is incredible].
Jessie Buckley with her winning IFTA at the 2026 IFTA awards. Pic: Michael Chester
‘I’ve learned from so many people in that room. To be recognised for telling the story of a mother in Ireland, all her strength, tenderness, and the precipice of life and death and love that she has means the world [to me] because I love mothers, and I love women.’
She added: ‘I’m so proud to be here and to be recognised for this incredible mother.’
Chloé Zhao’s film also won Best Supporting Actor for none other than Paul Mescal, and International Film and Script Film, shared between Irish author Maggie O’Farrell and Zhao.
Jessie Buckley in Hamnet. Pic: Agata Grzybowska/Focus Features/Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Cork-based drama Christy won a number of the top awards, including Best Film, with director Brendan Cantytaking home Director – Film, Allyn Quigley winning for Editing and Amy Rowan winning for Casting.
Éanna Harwicke took home the Award for Actor in a Lead Role for his performance as Roy Keane in Saipan, while Kerry Condon won Actress in a Supporting Role for her role opposite Brad Pitt in F1.
Belfast drama Blue Lights won Best Drama for its third season, with Rachel Carey winning Best Director – Drama for Obituary and Ailbhe Keogan winning Best Script – Drama for Trespasses.
Jessie Buckley with her winning IFTA at the 2026 IFTA awards. Pic: Michael Chester
Last year’s Rising Star Winner, Anthony Boyle, won Lead Actor in a Drama for House of Guinness, while Lola Petticrew took home the award for Lead Actress in a Drama for Trespasses.
Ciarán Hinds was presented with the Irish Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the Irish and international screen industry, across both film and television.
The Walsh Sisters and Derry Girls star Louisa Harland was announced as the 2025 Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland IFTA Rising Star.
Meanwhile, International Actress went to Emma Stone in Bugonia, produced by Ireland’s Element Pictures, and International Actor went to Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another.
The George Morrison Feature Documentary Award was presented to A Want in Her, with Best Cinematography awarded to Seamus McGarvey for his work on Die My Love.
Best Live Action Short Film was awarded to Nostalgie, while Retirement Plan won Best Animated Short.
Eoin O’Sullivan and David Sewell won VFX for House of Guinness, with Natalie Reid winning Hair & Makeup for her work on Trespasses.
Finally, the award for Original Music went to Eimear Noone and Craig Stuart Garfinkle for Báite, and Consolata Boyle won Costume Design for Blue Moon, while Philip Murphy (Production Designer) and Neville Gaynor (Set Decorator) won in the Production Design category for the Ireland-shot second season of Netflix’s Wednesday; and Steve Fanagan and Stevie Haywood won Best Bound for Anemone.
