- - Film Independent Spirit Awards 2026: See full winners list (updating live)

Jillian SederholmFebruary 16, 2026 at 3:00 AM

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Joel Edgerton in 'Train Dreams'; Jason Momoa in 'Chief of War'; Keke Palmer in 'One of Them Days'

Courtesy of Netflix; Nicola Dove/Apple TV+; Anne Marie Fox

The 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards are underway, celebrating the best indie films and television series of the last year.

Today's 41st annual ceremony, hosted by Saturday Night Live alum Ego Nwodim, traded in its usual beachfront venue at the Santa Monica Pier for Los Angeles' Hollywood Palladium, due to renovations. You can watch the festivities below, beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, streaming live on Film Independent's YouTube channel.

Going into tonight's event, biographical drama Peter Hujar's Day leads the pack on the film side with five nominations, including for director Ira Sachs, and stars Rebecca Hall and Ben Whishaw (who is also nominated for his performance on Netflix's Black Doves). To be eligible for the Spirit Awards, a movie's budget cannot exceed $30 million after tax incentives. Recent top winners that have aligned with the Oscars' Best Picture victors include Nomadland, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Anora.

In the television categories, teen drama Forever, British drama Mr Loverman, and Emmys and Golden Globes darling Adolescence top the nominations with four each.

Two awards were already revealed prior to the ceremony, with The Long Walk winning the Robert Altman Award, including honors for direcor Francis Lawrence and stars Judy Greer, Mark Hamill, Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Joshua Odjick, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, and Garrett Wareing; and Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series going to Jason Momoa's Chief of War, also starring Charlie Brumbly, Luciane Buchanan, Cliff Curtis, Brandon Finn, Moses Goods, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Benjamin Hoetjes, Siua Ikale'o, Keala Kahuanui-Paleka, Mainei Kinimaka, Kaina Makua, Temuera Morrison, Te Kohe Tuhaka, and James Udom.

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See the full list of winners for the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards below, updating live throughout the ceremony.

2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards winnersMovies

Ben Whishaw in 'Peter Hujar's Day'

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Best Feature

Peter Hujar’s DayThe PlagueSorry, BabyTrain DreamsTwinless

Best Director

Clint Bentley, Train DreamsMary Bronstein, If I Had Legs I’d Kick YouLloyd Lee Choi, Lucky LuIra Sachs, Peter Hujar’s DayEva Victor, Sorry, Baby

Best First Feature

Blue Sun PalaceDust BunnyEast of WallLurkerOne of Them Days

Best Lead Performance

Everett Blunck, The PlagueRose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick YouKathleen Chalfant, Familiar TouchChang Chen, Lucky LuJoel Edgerton, Train DreamsDylan O’Brien, TwinlessKeke Palmer, One of Them DaysThéodore Pellerin, LurkerTessa Thompson, HeddaBen Whishaw, Peter Hujar’s Day

Best Supporting Performance

Naomi Ackie, Sorry, BabyZoey Deutch, Nouvelle VagueKirsten Dunst, RoofmanRebecca Hall, Peter Hujar’s DayNina Hoss, HeddaJane Levy, A Little PrayerArchie Madekwe, LurkerKali Reis, RebuildingJacob Tremblay, SovereignHaipeng Xu, Blue Sun Palace

Best Breakthrough Performance

Liz Larsen, The BaltimoronsKayo Martin, The PlagueMisha Osherovich, She’s the HeSZA, One of Them DaysTabatha Zimiga, East of Wall

Best Screenplay

A Little PrayerSorry, BabySovereignSplitsvilleTwinless

Best First Screenplay

Blue Sun PalaceFriendshipLurkerOne of Them DaysOuterlands

Best Cinematography

Blue Sun PalaceDust BunnyPeter Hujar’s DayTrain DreamsWarfare

Best Editing

EephusGood BoySplitsvilleThe Testament of Ann LeeWarfare

Best Documentary

Come See Me in the Good LightEndless CookieMy Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air in MoscowThe Perfect NeighborThe Tale of Silyan

Best International Film

All That’s Left of YouOn Becoming a Guinea FowlA PoetThe Secret AgentSirāt

Robert Altman Award

WINNER: The cast, casting director, and director of The Long Walk

Someone to Watch Award

Tatti RibeiroNeo SoraAnnapurna Sriram

Truer Than Fiction Award

Tony BennaRajee SamarasingheBrittany Shyne

John Cassavetes Award

The BaltimoronsBoys Go to JupiterEephusEsta IslaFamiliar Touch

Producers Award

Emma HannawayLuca IntiliTony Yang

Television

Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. on 'Forever'

ELIZABETH MORRIS/Netflix

Best New Scripted Series

AdolescenceCommon Side EffectsForeverMr. LovermanNorth of North

Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series

Citizen NationHurricane Katrina: Race Against TimePee-Wee As HimselfSeen & Heard: The History of Black TelevisionVow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae

Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series

Sydney Chandler, Alien: EarthStephen Graham, AdolescenceEthan Hawke, The LowdownLennie James, Mr. LovermanAnna Lambe, North of NorthLola Petticrew, Say NothingSeth Rogen, The StudioLovie Simone, ForeverMichelle Williams, Dying for SexNoah Wyle, The Pitt

Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series

Ariyon Bakare, Mr. LovermanBabou Ceesay, Alien: EarthSharon D. Clarke, Mr. LovermanTaylor Dearden, The PittErin Doherty, AdolescenceStephen McKinley Henderson, A Man on the InsidePoorna Jagannathan, Deli BoysXosha Roquemore, ForeverJenny Slate, Dying for SexBen Whishaw, Black Doves

Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Serie

Asif Ali, Deli BoysWally Baram, OvercompensatingOwen Cooper, AdolescenceMichael Cooper Jr., ForeverErnest Kingsley Junior, Washington Black

Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series

WINNER: Chief of War

on Entertainment Weekly

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