The BAFTA Film Awards are famous for glamour, celebration, and career-defining wins, but every year the ceremony also makes time for reflection. In 2026, that responsibility will fall to Jessie Ware, who will step onto the stage to provide the musical heart of the evening’s In Memoriam segment.
The British singer-songwriter has been tapped to perform during the tribute to members of the film community who have died in the past year. The sequence is traditionally one of the ceremony’s most emotional passages, a quiet pause amid the cheers, and organizers believe Ware’s voice will help deliver a moment of collective remembrance for viewers in the auditorium and at home.
Ware, widely known for songs including “Say You Love Me,” will perform at London’s Royal Festival Hall during the EE BAFTA Film Awards. The booking also arrives at a significant point in her own calendar, as she prepares for the April 10 arrival of her sixth studio album, Superbloom, which includes the recent single “I Could Get Used To This.”
“It is a great honour to be performing at the BAFTAs in such an important and special moment to remember people and legends that have passed this year,” Ware said. “I’m singing a song from one of my favourite movies by one of my favourite artists and really cannot wait to be on stage in amongst a room of such talented individuals.”
Why the In Memoriam Matters?
Awards shows move quickly, but the In Memoriam portion intentionally slows everything down. The lights dim, conversations stop, and the industry takes stock of the talent it has lost, from performers and directors to craftspeople working behind the camera.
Among those expected to be recognised this year are former BAFTA winners such as Robert Redford and Diane Keaton, figures whose influence has stretched across generations of filmmaking.
Emma Baehr, BAFTA’s executive director of awards and content, said Ware’s ability to balance intimacy with scale made her a natural fit for the responsibility.
“We are honoured to welcome Jessie Ware and her extraordinary talent to the EE BAFTA Film Awards,” Baehr said. “Her beautiful, moving performance will offer a special moment for audiences both in the room and at home, as we pay tribute to those in the industry we have sadly lost.”
Part of a Major Musical Showcase
Ware’s appearance will sit within a broader musical lineup designed to underline the film’s global reach. Also confirmed are performers from the Netflix sensation KPop Demon Hunters.
EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the vocal talents behind characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, will perform the movie’s breakout anthem “Golden.” The BAFTA stage marks their first live outing together outside the United States, giving the ceremony an added sense of exclusivity.
Placing that high-energy number alongside Ware’s reflective tribute should create a striking contrast in tone, demonstrating the emotional breadth cinema can inspire.
A Milestone Moment for Ware
Although Ware is no stranger to major venues, the BAFTA invitation represents a different kind of spotlight. Rather than promoting her own catalogue, she will interpret a song tied to a beloved film and artist, offering her voice in service of memory.
It is a task that aligns neatly with the qualities fans have long associated with her music: warmth, control, and an ability to communicate vulnerability without losing grandeur. With anticipation already building for Superbloom, the performance may also introduce her to viewers who know the awards more than the charts.
Her previous record, That! Feels Good!, delivered one of the strongest commercial runs of her career, climbing high on the U.K. rankings and becoming her biggest showing yet on the U.S. Top Album Sales chart. Expectations for the new era are therefore considerable, but for one night, the emphasis will be on tribute rather than trajectory.
The Ceremony Ahead
This year’s BAFTA Film Awards will be hosted by Alan Cumming, guiding audiences through what is often described as Britain’s biggest night in film. The event unfolds on Sunday, February 22, airing in the U.K. on BBC One and streaming via BBC iPlayer. U.S. viewers can watch on E!.
Between the awards, reunions, and headline-making speeches, Ware’s contribution promises something quieter but just as lasting: a few minutes in which the entire room, and millions beyond it, share the same memories.
