Australian screen storytelling took centre stage tonight as the 2026 AACTA Awards celebrated the year’s most outstanding achievements across film, television, documentary, online and short form, with Bring Her Back emerging as the night’s biggest winner.

With 16 nominations and winning 10 AACTA Awards, Bring Her Back dominated the film categories, including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, and Best Lead Actress in Film for Sally Hawkins.

Close behind was The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which converted 9 AACTA Award wins from 12 nominations, asserting itself as the standout television production of the year, while The Newsreader continued its award-winning legacy with 4 wins from 12 nominations including Best Drama Series while Apple Cider Vinegar picked up the Award for Best Miniseries.

Individual Honours Celebrate Screen Leaders and Trailblazers

The Australian Academy also recognised outstanding individual contributions to the screen industry:

Bruce Beresford, AACTA Longford Lyell Award
Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings, AACTA Byron Kennedy Award
Kate Armon and Craig Smith, AACTA Reg Grundy Award
Sarah Snook, AACTA Trailblazer Award
Clare Hughes, AACTA Brian Walsh Award

Voted by audiences across Australia and around the world, the 2026 AACTA Audience Choice Awards celebrated the films, series, performers, podcasts and creators that entertained the public over the past year.

From global phenomenon Stranger Things (Season 5) and Wicked: For Good to home-grown favourites Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi and Robert Irwin, the Audience Choice winners reflect the stories and voices audiences couldn’t get enough of. New Awards were also presented which saw Shameless win the inaugural Award for Best Podcast, Norris Nuts won Best Online Channel, Bridey Drake won Best Digital Creator for the second year, and Mekonnen Knife won the Rabanne Breakthrough Artist Award.

AACTA CEO, Damian Trewhella said “This year’s AACTA Awards recognise the remarkable depth and diversity of Australian screen talent. From critically- acclaimed productions to audience favourites, the winners showcase the strength of our industry and the stories that continue to resonate locally and globally. We’re thrilled to be able to bring the Australian screen sector together on the Gold Coast.”

Daniel Monaghan, Executive Director, Entertainment Content, Foxtel Group said “It has been an incredible year for Australian film and television and the AACTA Awards highlight the imagination and craft at the heart of Australian storytelling. Congratulations to the winners, nominees and everyone recognised - the creativity and dedication within the industry continue to strengthen it.”

The 2026 AACTA Awards Ceremony was broadcast in Australia on Channel Ten at 7.30pm AEDT, Friday 6 February. A special extended AACTA Awards broadcast, including all awards from the ceremony, will be available from 7:30pm on Saturday 7 February on BINGE and Foxtel (Famous and available On-Demand).

The 2026 AACTA Awards ceremony is part of AACTA Festival, which runs for five days from 4-8 February, offering a vast range of activities celebrating film, television, and pop culture. Festival goers can enjoy in-depth movie deconstructions, interactive workshops, meet-and-greets, music showcases, masterclasses with renowned filmmakers, outdoor screenings, and a variety of family-friendly activities – and for those looking to break into the industry, an expanded AACTA Netflix Screen Careers Expo presented by Essential Screen Skills will also make its return on Saturday the 7th of February.

Queensland Minister for Tourism, Andrew Powell “The AACTA Awards and Festival generate an estimated $4.85 million for Queensland’s economy, demonstrating the strong return major cultural events deliver for the state.

“The Festival brings industry leaders, talent, and visitors together in a way that elevates Queensland’s tourism profile and strengthens its reputation for world class events.

“Delivering a major event of this scale aligns with our Destination 2045 plan to drive travel demand, support local business, and contribute to long term growth across the state’s visitor economy.”

Acting Gold Coast Mayor, Mark Hammel said “Our city’s star is on the rise and it’s an honour to host the AACTAs over the past three years,’’

“The city’s partnership with AACTA has set a new benchmark for screen and film industry excellence in Australia. Let’s continue to make movie magic here on the coast as we recognise the giants of film and television.”

Queensland Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek said that the AACTA Awards represent the pinnacle of Australian screen excellence and that this year’s ceremony celebrated industry veterans as well as exciting new talent.

“I congratulate all of this year’s winners and nominees for your achievements in screen storytelling. The Queensland Government is proud to support the 2026 AACTA Awards and Festival at its continuing home on the Gold Coast, the heart of Queensland’s ever-growing screen industry.

“Over five incredible days, the AACTAs deliver an unmissable program of panels, workshops and screenings, and open up career pathways for future generations. Tonight’s awards highlight just where that can lead.”

Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said “On behalf of Experience Gold Coast, I would like to extend our congratulations to all the winners and nominees of the 2026 AACTA Awards.

“It’s a privilege to host this iconic celebration of Australian storytelling at HOTA, Home of the Arts, and we look forward to welcoming the AACTA Awards back again next year to inspire and celebrate the next generation of screen talent.”

The winners for the 2026 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group are:

FILM

In film, 5 productions won across 15 awards

AACTA Award for Best Casting in Film presented by Casting Networks: Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Film: Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Film: Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Film: Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Editing in Film presented by Spectrum Films: Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Film: Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Indie Film: Lesbian Space Princess
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in Film: Richard Roxburgh – The Correspondent
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film: Sally Hawkins – Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Film: Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Film: The Correspondent
AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Film: The Correspondent
AACTA Award for Best Sound in Film: Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film: Julian McMahon – The Surfer
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film: Deborah Mailman – Kangaroo

TELEVISION

In television, 13 productions won across 27 awards

AACTA Award for Best Acting in a Comedy: Miranda Tapsell – Top End Bub
AACTA Award for Best Casting in Television presented by Casting Networks: Apple Cider Vinegar
AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program: Play School: All Together
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Hard Quiz
AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performer: Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Drama or Comedy: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Nonfiction Television: The People vs Robodebt
AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program: The People vs Robodebt
AACTA Award for Best Drama Series: The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Editing in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program presented by Gravity Media: Portrait Artist of the Year
AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program: Alone Australia
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama presented by BINGE: Jacob Elordi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama presented by BINGE: Anna Torv – The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program: Grand Designs Australia
AACTA Award for Best Miniseries: Apple Cider Vinegar
AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series: Bump
AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Reality Program presented by Network Ten: The Great Australian Bake Off
AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Television: The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Sound in Television: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Stand-Up Special: Celia Pacquola: I’m As Surprised As You Are
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Daniel Henshall – The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Heather Mitchell – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

DOCUMENTARY

AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary: The Kimberley
AACTA Award for Best Documentary: Journey Home, David Gulpilil
AACTA Award for Best Editing in a Documentary: Unbreakable - The Jelena Dokic Story
AACTA Award for Best Original Score in a Documentary: Journey Home, David Gulpilil
AACTA Award for Best Sound in a Documentary: Yurlu | Country

SHORT FILM

AACTA Award for Best Short Film: I'm The Most Racist Person I Know

ONLINE

AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy: A Series of Unfortunate Dates

OTHER

AACTA Award for Best Hair and Makeup: Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Original Song: Here I Go – Lesbian Space Princess
AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack: Mix Tape
AACTA Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation: Tron: Ares

INDIVIDUAL

2026 AACTA Longford Lyell Award Recipient: Bruce Beresford
2026 AACTA Byron Kennedy Award Recipients: Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings
2026 AACTA Reg Grundy Award Recipient: Kate Armon, Craig Smith
2026 AACTA Trailblazer Award Recipient: Sarah Snook
2026 AACTA Brian Walsh Award Recipient: Clare Hughes

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS

AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite TV Show: Stranger Things (Season 5)
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Film: Wicked: For Good
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Actress: Margot Robbie
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Actor: Jacob Elordi
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Media Personality: Robert Irwin
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Podcast: Shameless
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Music Video: The Kid LAROI – A Cold Play
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Online Channel: Norris Nuts @norrisnuts
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Digital Creator: Bridey Drake @brideydrake
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Rabanne Breakthrough Artist: Mekonnen Knife

Key Dates

Location: HOTA, Home of the Arts - Gold Coast, Queensland
AACTA Festival: Wednesday 4 February – Sunday 8 February 2026
AACTA Screen Careers Expo: Saturday 7 February 2026
For information on the AACTA Festival, click here.

AACTA FESTIVAL TICKETS AND INFORMATION

Running 4 - 8 February 2026, AACTA Festival transforms HOTA, Home of the Arts, into a five-day hub of immersive screen culture, attracting over 15,000 visitors and 300 on-stage participants across 100+ events. From in-depth movie deconstructions, global premieres, interactive workshops, talent meet-and-greets, music showcases, masterclasses with renowned filmmakers, outdoor screenings, and a variety of family-friendly activities. The Festival, including the Screen Careers Expo, offers an unmissable program for screen lovers, emerging creatives, and industry leaders alike.