IFTA's 2026: Christy and Saipan lead the nominations

Kenneth Fox

Christy and Saipan lead the nominations for the 2026 Irish Film & Television Academy Awards (IFTAs).

Christy, a sensitive and uplifting story of a young Cork man finding independence after leaving foster care, received 14 nominations.

Meanwhile, Saipan, which depicts one of the most infamous stories in Irish soccer history, received 12 nominations.

Alongside these two movies, six movies were nominated for Best Film, including Aontas, an Irish language movie which follows three women staging a robbery in a rural Credit Union, Richard Linklater's Blue Moon, filmed in Ireland but set in 1940s New York on the opening night of Oklahoma and Four Mothers a hilarious and touching film that sees a successful author balancing his book tour with caring for his elderly mother.

The Best Drama includes Blue Lights Season 3, which returns to the streets of Belfast as the team competes with new violent forces.

Leonard and Hungry Paul follows a young man in the wake of losing his mother, with narration from Julia Roberts guiding us through his story.

In Trespasses, a Catholic teacher living through the Troubles becomes involved with a married Protestant barrister.

The Walsh Sisters adapts Marian Keyes’ stories of a vibrant family of strong-willed women.

Wednesday Season 2, from director Tim Burton, filmed in Ireland, sees the iconic Addams Family heroine return to the suspenseful Nevermore Academy.

The Young Offenders Season 4 returns to Conor and Jock’s misadventures in the colourful Cork suburbs.

The Lead Actor in Film category showcases Cillian Murphy (Steve), Colin Farrell (Ballad of a Small Player), Daniel Day-Lewis (Anemone), Daniel Power (Christy) and the stars of Saipan, Éanna Hardwicke and Steve Coogan.  (see all Actor categories below)

The Lead Actress in Film nominees are equally impressive, featuring Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Carrie Crowley (Aontas), Carolyn Bracken (Horseshoe), Fionnula Flanagan (Four Mothers), Fiona Shaw (Hot Milk) and Eleanor O’Brien (Báite). (see all Actor categories below)

In Drama, standout Lead Actor nominees include Anthony Boyle (House of Guinness), Pierce Brosnan (MobLand), Domhnall Gleeson (The Paper), Martin McCann (Blue Lights), Aaron Monaghan (Hidden Assets) and Alex Murphy (The Young Offenders). (see all Actor categories below)

For Lead Actress in a Drama, standout nominee performances include Niamh Algar (The Iris Affair), Caitríona Balfe (Outlander), Siobhán Cullen (Obituary), Louisa Harland (The Walsh Sisters), Nora-Jane Noone (Hidden Assets) and Lola Petticrew (Trespasses). (see all Actress categories below)

First-time nominees

This year sees seven first-time IFTA nominees, including Daniel Power, Emma Willis and Jamie Forde (Christy), Cal O’Driscoll (Video Nasty), Louisa Harland (The Walsh Sisters), Eleanor O’Brien (Báite) and Katherine Devlin (Blue Lights).

There is a record number of women nominated in directing categories at this year’s Awards, including Drama directors Rachel Carey (Obituary), Megan K Fox (Video Nasty), Oonagh Kearney (The Au Pair), Mia Mullarkey (Hidden Assets), Aisling Walsh (Showkids), debut feature director Myrid Carten (A Want in Her); as well as Lisa Barros D’Sa, who co-directed Saipan with Glenn Leyburn.

The male directors nominated include three debut filmmakers: Brendan Canty (Christy), Edwin Mullane & Adam O’Keeffe (Horseshoe); alongside Lorcan Finnegan (The Surfer), Ruán Magan (Báite), and Hugh O’Conor (Showkids).

For the full list of IFTA nominees, you can check here.