# 41st Independent Spirit Awards
The 41st [Independent Spirit Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/independent-spirit-awards), formally the 41st Film Independent Spirit Awards, honored the best in independent film and television of 2025 at a ceremony held on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.[1](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-announces-nominees-for-the-2026-spirit-awards/) Clint Bentley's *Train Dreams* won Best Feature, and the Netflix series *[Adolescence](https://www.edgepedia.org/adolescence-tv-series)* dominated the television categories.[2](https://apnews.com/article/c7bbc4945ffa0f84d006fdf57c0fb97a)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles[1](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-announces-nominees-for-the-2026-spirit-awards/) |
| Host | Ego Nwodim, former *Saturday Night Live* cast member, with Honorary Chair Lulu Wang[3](https://www.whowhatwear.com/fashion/red-carpet/film-independent-spirit-awards-red-carpet-2026) |
| Top film winner | *Train Dreams* (Clint Bentley): Best Feature, Best Director, Best Cinematography[4](https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/awards/2026-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-updating-live/) |
| Top television winner | *Adolescence*: four awards, including Best New Scripted Series, the most for any show since TV categories began in 2021[5](https://arts.columbia.edu/news/columbia-filmmakers-nominated-slate-independent-spirit-awards-bring-home-several-big-wins) |
| Lead nominations | *Peter Hujar's Day* (Ira Sachs) led with five nominations[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8) |
| John Cassavetes Award | *Esta Isla* (This Island), for the best feature made for under $1,000,000[7](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-celebrates-2026-spirit-awards-winners-at-41st-annual-ceremony/) |
| Eligibility cap | Films produced for less than $30 million[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8) |
| Broadcast | Streamed live on the Film Independent and IMDb YouTube channels and other social platforms[1](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-announces-nominees-for-the-2026-spirit-awards/) |
## Venue change
The 41st ceremony left the Spirit Awards' longtime home near the [Santa Monica Pier](https://www.edgepedia.org/santa-monica-pier), where the show had been held for many years under a white tent in a daytime beach setting, and moved inland to the historic Hollywood Palladium.[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8) The relocation was caused by preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[8](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/independent-spirit-awards-2026-review) The Palladium, which opened in 1940 on the original Paramount lot, had previously hosted the 1994 Spirit Awards, so the 2026 show returned to the venue after 32 years.[9](https://www.filmindependent.org/spirit-awards/about/)
The change altered the event's character. Vanity Fair reported that a standard dark ballroom made the afternoon ceremony feel like a more traditional evening awards show; winner Eva Victor accidentally referred to the daytime event as "tonight" before correcting herself.[8](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/independent-spirit-awards-2026-review)
## Nominations
Film Independent announced the nominations on December 3, 2025.[1](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-announces-nominees-for-the-2026-spirit-awards/) Ira Sachs' *Peter Hujar's Day*, which recreates an interview with the 1970s photographer, led with five nominations, including Best Feature, Best Director, and acting nominations for [Ben Whishaw](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-whishaw) and [Rebecca Hall](https://www.edgepedia.org/rebecca-hall).[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8) Clint Bentley's *Train Dreams*, a [Denis Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/denis-johnson) adaptation, and Eva Victor's *Sorry, Baby* received four nominations each, as did the first features *Blue Sun Palace*, *One of Them Days*, and *Lurker*.[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8) Other Best Feature nominees included James Sweeney's *Twinless* and *The Plague*.[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8)
In television, *Adolescence*, *Forever*, and *Mr Loverman* led with four nominations each.[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8) The Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series nominees were *Citizen Nation*; *Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time*; *Pee-wee as Himself*; *Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television*; and *Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae*.[1](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-announces-nominees-for-the-2026-spirit-awards/)
The organization said its nominees hailed from 18 different countries, with 41% identifying as women.[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8) Six nominees had been supported by Film Independent or its Artist Development programs.[1](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-announces-nominees-for-the-2026-spirit-awards/)
## Winners
**Film.** *Train Dreams* took three awards: Best Feature, Best Director for Clint Bentley, and Best Cinematography.[4](https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/awards/2026-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-updating-live/) The top acting prize went to [Rose Byrne](https://www.edgepedia.org/rose-byrne) for *If I Had Legs I'd Kick You*; she was one of the few actors nominated for both a Spirit Award and an Oscar that season.[2](https://apnews.com/article/c7bbc4945ffa0f84d006fdf57c0fb97a) Eva Victor won Best Screenplay for *Sorry, Baby*.[10](https://nobadmovie.com/2026/02/15/oscars-watch-41st-annual-film-independent-spirit-awards/) *Esta Isla* (This Island) received the John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000.[7](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-celebrates-2026-spirit-awards-winners-at-41st-annual-ceremony/) The Robert Altman Award, honoring one film's directing, ensemble, and casting, went before the ceremony to *The Long Walk*, the [Stephen King](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-king) adaptation with [Mark Hamill](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-hamill), Cooper Hoffman, and David Jonsson.[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8) Tony Yang, producer of *Blue Sun Palace*, received the Producers Award with an unrestricted grant of $25,000.[5](https://arts.columbia.edu/news/columbia-filmmakers-nominated-slate-independent-spirit-awards-bring-home-several-big-wins)
**Television.** Executive producer [Dede Gardner](https://www.edgepedia.org/dede-gardner)'s *Adolescence* claimed four trophies, a record for television at the Spirit Awards since that category was first recognized in 2021, and among them was Best New Scripted Series.[5](https://arts.columbia.edu/news/columbia-filmmakers-nominated-slate-independent-spirit-awards-bring-home-several-big-wins)
**Documentary.** *[The Perfect Neighbor](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-perfect-neighbor)* won Best Documentary.[5](https://arts.columbia.edu/news/columbia-filmmakers-nominated-slate-independent-spirit-awards-bring-home-several-big-wins)
## Voting and eligibility
Winners in most categories are chosen by Film Independent Members, who also receive streaming access to nominated films and series before voting; the John Cassavetes Award, Robert Altman Award, and other special honors are selected by the Spirit Awards Nominating Committees.[9](https://www.filmindependent.org/spirit-awards/about/) • [11](https://www.filmindependent.org/spirit-awards/faq/) Eligible films must be produced for less than $30 million, with a $1 million cap for the John Cassavetes Award, which excluded expensive productions such as *One Battle After Another* from the 41st edition.[6](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8)
## Context in awards season
The 41st ceremony showed little overlap with the Academy Awards compared with recent years, when films such as *Everything Everywhere All at Once*, *[Moonlight](https://www.edgepedia.org/moonlight-2016-film)*, *Anora*, and *Nomadland* won at both shows; commentators identified *Train Dreams* as the only overlapping Best Picture nominee that season.[10](https://nobadmovie.com/2026/02/15/oscars-watch-41st-annual-film-independent-spirit-awards/) The show was held exactly one month before the Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, continuing the event's move earlier in the awards calendar.[4](https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/awards/2026-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-updating-live/) The Spirit Awards serve as the primary fundraiser for Film Independent's year-round programs, and the organization has used gender-neutral acting categories since the switch in 2022, with the first awards given at the 2023 show.[1](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-announces-nominees-for-the-2026-spirit-awards/) • [12](https://apnews.com/article/d9f5b3d68ba9619873015be4670b69ce)
## References
1. [Film Independent Announces Nominees for the 2026 Spirit Awards, Film Independent press release (December 3, 2025)](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-announces-nominees-for-the-2026-spirit-awards/)
2. ['Adolescence' and 'Train Dreams' win top prizes at Film Independent Spirit Awards, AP News (February 15, 2026)](https://apnews.com/article/c7bbc4945ffa0f84d006fdf57c0fb97a)
3. [The Most Elegant Red Carpet Looks From the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Who What Wear](https://www.whowhatwear.com/fashion/red-carpet/film-independent-spirit-awards-red-carpet-2026)
4. ['Train Dreams' Triumphs at Independent Spirit Awards, TheWrap (February 15, 2026)](https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/awards/2026-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-updating-live/)
5. [Columbia Filmmakers Nominated for a Slate of Independent Spirit Awards; Bring Home Several Big Wins, Columbia School of the Arts (February 24, 2026)](https://arts.columbia.edu/news/columbia-filmmakers-nominated-slate-independent-spirit-awards-bring-home-several-big-wins)
6. ['Peter Hujar's Day,' 'Train Dreams,' and 'Sorry, Baby' lead Spirit Award nominations, AP News (December 3, 2025)](https://apnews.com/article/22d8089e39ccf9e2e65170e6051e5ad8)
7. [Film Independent Celebrates 2026 Spirit Awards Winners at 41st Annual Ceremony, Film Independent press release](https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-celebrates-2026-spirit-awards-winners-at-41st-annual-ceremony/)
8. [Independent Spirit Awards 2026 Lose Their Beachy Vibe and Some of Their Spirit Along With It, Vanity Fair (February 16, 2026)](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/independent-spirit-awards-2026-review)
9. [The Spirit Awards, Film Independent](https://www.filmindependent.org/spirit-awards/about/)
10. [Oscars Watch: 41st Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards, No Bad Movie (February 15, 2026)](https://nobadmovie.com/2026/02/15/oscars-watch-41st-annual-film-independent-spirit-awards/)
11. [FAQ, Film Independent Spirit Awards](https://www.filmindependent.org/spirit-awards/faq/)
12. ['Past Lives,' 'American Fiction' and 'The Holdovers' are big winners at Independent Spirit Awards, AP News (2024)](https://apnews.com/article/d9f5b3d68ba9619873015be4670b69ce)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Awards and screen reference › BAFTA, Golden Globe, and other Anglophone screen awards › BAFTA and other screen awards*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license