Nobody expected Paddington Bear to be the talk of the 79th British Academy Film Awards in London, and honestly, not even Paddington himself. But there he was, on February 22, 2026, standing front and center on the red carpet and stealing the spotlight from the biggest stars in the world. By the end of the night, everyone, from Hollywood A-listers to folks watching at home, was buzzing about the world’s most polite bear.

Who is Paddington Bear?

For the unversed, Paddington isn’t just any bear. He’s a classic character from British children’s books, dreamed up by Michael Bond back in 1958. He’s famous for his blue duffel coat, red hat, and an endless supply of marmalade sandwiches (usually tucked under his hat, just in case). The Brown family found him lost at Paddington Station, and since then, he’s become a star in books, cartoons, hit movies, and now, a West End musical.Lately, with Paddington: The Musical charming crowds in London, the bear’s popularity has hit a whole new level, just in time for his big BAFTA moment.

Paddington’s big night at the BAFTAs

Let’s be real: the BAFTAs are always packed with celebrities, surprises, and fancy speeches. But this year, Paddington easily stole the show. The event took over the Royal Festival Hall, honoring the best films from 2025, with Alan Cumming hosting and a crowd full of famous faces. Nobody expected a bear in a toggle coat to become the highlight of the night.Paddington didn’t just show up; he, in fact, made history. He walked onstage to present the award for Children’s & Family Film, making him the first bear ever to hand out a BAFTA. The crowd went wild. Even Paddington seemed a little stunned, glancing out at the sea of faces and admitting, “I don’t usually talk in front of lots of people, and there are rather a lot of you.” He shared a bit of Aunt Lucy’s wisdom, too: it’s better to face your fears, unless it’s a snake, in which case, “you have to walk away very slowly.” Now, that’s classic Paddington!Then he dropped the news: “I am the first ever bear to present an award,” he said, before noticing a sticky situation. He’d managed to get marmalade all over the BAFTA trophy. “Sorry about that,” he shrugged. He wanted to lick it off but joked, “Apparently that’s not very good manners.”The award he handed out went to ‘Boong’, a coming-of-age drama from India, beating out big names like ‘Zootropolis 2’ and ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Honestly, not bad for a bear’s first time on the BAFTA stage.

The internet reacts

Paddington’s moment was the perfect mix of silliness and heart. You could see even the royals in the crowd grinning, and people online went wild. One fan wrote, “This is healing something in me.” Another called it “so cool and wholesome.” Someone else summed it up: “There are few moments of wonder in life. I’m glad BAFTA invested in this.” And, of course, they added, “Always have a marmalade sandwich in case of emergencies.”Safe to say that Paddington’s debut stole the headlines and left everyone smiling. Not bad for a bear who just wanted to share a sandwich.