The 2026 AACTA Awards returned to the Gold Coast in Australia for another massive show, highlighting locally made film and television.

Taking home the most wins were the Phillipou Brothers, as Bring Her Back won ten of the sixteen awards it was nominated for, including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Lead Actress in Film for Sally Hawkins. And in the TV world, The Narrow Road to the Deep North won 9 of its 12 nominations, including Jacob Elordi winning Best Lead Actor in a Drama, though it was The Newsreader that won Best Drama series.

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.”

If you missed the AACTA Awards Ceremony, you can watch it in full on Ten Play and Foxtel.

Check out all of the winners from the 2026 AACTA Awards below.

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