The nominees for the 2026 AACTA Awards have been unveiled today, celebrating another standout year for Australian screen storytelling across film, television and digital categories.
Prestige drama continues to dominate the field, but elevated horror, returning franchises, and a wave of emerging voices are cutting through across multiple categories.
Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar is this year’s most nominated production, collecting 20 nods including two Lead Actress contenders in Alycia Debnam-Carey and Kaitlyn Dever.
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ABC’s The Newsreader and Mystery Road Origin remain awards staples, while newer scripted titles such as Prime Video’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North, BINGE’s Mix Tape and The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer secure major recognition across acting, directing and writing.
On the film side, Bring Her Back leads the Best Film race with 16 nominations as Danny and Michael Philippou continue their surge across Australian cinema.
The Correspondent, Kangaroo, Lesbian Space Princess, The Surfer and The Travellers round out a category that spans star-driven drama, independent genre work and bold original production.
Comedy holds a deep field this year, with ABC’s Austin & Mother and Son, Stan’s Bump, 10’s Ghosts, BINGE’s Strife and Prime Video’s Top End Bub all up for Best Narrative Comedy Series.
Meanwhile lifestyle, factual and digital categories continue to expand, giving online creators, documentary filmmakers and younger audiences a more prominent place in the wider Festival program.
Full List of 2026 AACTA Award Nominees
AACTA Award for Best Miniseries
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Apple Cider Vinegar – Samantha Strauss, Liz Watts, Louise Gough, Helen Gregory, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning – See-Saw Films / Picking scabs (Netflix)
Invisible Boys – Nicholas Verso, Tania Chambers – Asphodel Films and Feisty Dame Productions (Stan)
Mix Tape – Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford, Aoife O’Sullivan, Tristan Orpen Lynch – Aquarius Films and Subotica (in Ireland) (Binge, Foxtel)
The Last Anniversary – Nicole Kidman, Per Saari, Steve Hutensky, Jodi Matterson, Samantha Strauss, John Polson – Made Up Stories, Fifth Season and Blossom Films (Binge, Foxtel)
The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Jo Porter, Rachel Gardner, Shaun Grant, Justin Kurzel, Alexandra Taussig – Curio Pictures (Amazon Prime Video)
The Survivors – Tony Ayres, Andrea Denholm, Cherie Nowlan, Andrew Walker – Tony Ayres Productions | Matchbox Pictures and Universal International Studios. (Netflix)
AACTA Award for Best Film
Bring Her Back – Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton – Causeway Films
Kangaroo – David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin, Angela Littlejohn, Rachel Clements, Trisha Morton-Thomas – Cultivator Films Australia – a STUDIOCANAL Company
Lesbian Space Princess – Tom Phillips
The Correspondent – Carmel Travers – Pop Family Entertainment
The Surfer – Leonora Darby, James Harris, Robert Connolly, James Grandison, Brunella Cocchiglia, Nathan Klingher, Nicolas Cage – Arenamedia and Saturn Films, Lovely Productions, Tea Shop Productions
The Travellers – Michael Boughen, Matthew Street, Kelvin Munro – Ambience Entertainment Pty Ltd
AACTA Award for Best Drama Series
Bay of Fires – Marta Dusseldorp – Archipelago Productions and Fremantle Australia (ABC)
Black Snow Jack of Clubs – Rosemary Blight, Milly Olrog, Lucas Taylor, Ben Grant – Goalpost Pictures (Stan)
Mystery Road Origin – Greer Simpkin, David Jowsey – Bunya Productions (ABC)
The Family Next Door – Melinda Wearne, Dean O’Toole, David Ogilvy, Jenny O’Shea – Beyond Productions Pty Ltd (ABC)
The Newsreader – Joanna Werner, Michael Lucas – Werner Film Productions (ABC)
The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer – Hamish Lewis, Michael Brooks, Ally Henville, Ian Collie, Rob Gibson – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd and Easy Tiger Productions Pty Ltd (Binge, Foxtel)
AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series
Austin – Joe Weatherstone, Catherine Nebauer – Northern Pictures (ABC)
Bump – Dan Edwards, John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Kelsey Munro – Roadshow Rough Diamond (Stan)
Ghosts – Kylie Washington, Sophia Zachariou, Bree-Anne Sykes, Joshua Mapleston – BBC Studios Productions (Network Ten, Paramount+)
Mother and Son – Jude Troy, Richard Finlayson, Matt Okine, Alexandra Cameron – Wooden Horse (ABC)
Strife – Steve Hutensky, Katie Amos, Asher Keddie, Mia Freedman, Sarah Scheller, Lorelle Adamson – Made Up Stories and Fifth Season (Binge, Foxtel)
Top End Bub – Rosemary Blight, Ben Grant, Miranda Tapsell, Joshua Tyler – Goalpost Pictures (Amazon Prime Video)
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AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film
Alison Brie – Together
Emily Browning – One More Shot
Sally Hawkins – Bring Her Back
Susie Porter – The Travellers
Daisy Ridley – We Bury The Dead
Lily Whiteley – Kangaroo
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in Film
Bryan Brown – The Travellers
Ryan Corr – Kangaroo
Jai Courtney – Dangerous Animals
Guy Pearce – Inside
Richard Roxburgh – The Correspondent
David Wenham – Spit
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama presented by BINGE
Alycia Debnam-Carey – Apple Cider Vinegar
Aisha Dee – Watching You
Kaitlyn Dever – Apple Cider Vinegar
Tuuli Narkle – Mystery Road Origin
Teresa Palmer – Mix Tape
Anna Torv – The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama presented by BINGE
Mark Coles Smith – Mystery Road Origin
Jacob Elordi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Travis Fimmel – Black Snow Jack of Clubs
Sam Neill – The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer
Hunter Page-Lochard – Reckless
Sam Reid – The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Acting in a Comedy
Claudia Karvan – Bump
Asher Keddie – Strife
Ben Miller – Austin
Sally Phillips – Austin
Angus Sampson – Bump
Denise Scott – Mother and Son
Miranda Tapsell – Top End Bub
Michael Theo – Austin
AACTA Award for Best Documentary
Ellis Park – Justin Kurzel (Dir.), Nick Batzias, Charlotte Wheaton – GoodThing Productions
Journey Home, David Gulpilil – Maggie Miles (Dir.), Trisha Morton-Thomas (Dir.), Rachel Clements, Jida Gulpilil, Lloyd Garrawurra – Savage Films and Brindle Films
Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke – Lorin Clarke (Dir.), Richard Keddie – THW FILM COMPANY & LORIN CLARKE PRODUCTTIONS
Songs Inside – Shalom Almond (Dir.), Katrina Lucas – Songs Inside Pty Ltd
Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story – Ivan O’Mahoney (Dir.), Jessica Halloran (Dir.) – In Films
Yurlu | Country – Yaara Bou Melhem (Dir.) – Illuminate Films
AACTA Award for Best Indie Film
Carmen & Bolude – Yolandi Franken, Michela Carattini – Frankendipity Enterprises & Charcol Pictures
Fwends – Carter Looker, Sarah Hegge-Taylor, Sophie Somerville – Excellent Friends And Future Success PTY LTD
It Will Find You – Helen Tuck, Enzo Tedeschi, Chris Broadbent – Giniirr Films Pty Ltd
Lesbian Space Princess – Tom Phillips – Wemat Studios
Magic Beach – Liz Kearney, Kate Laurie, Robert Connolly, Chloe Brugale – Arenamedia
With or Without You – Su Armstrong, Carolyn Johnson – WitWot Pty Ltd
AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performer
Hamish Blake – LEGO® Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the Galaxy
Melanie Bracewell – The Cheap Seats
Aaron Chen – Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee
Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
Luke McGregor – Portrait Artist of the Year
Guy Montgomery – Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee
Sam Pang – Sam Pang Tonight
Julia Zemiro – Crime Night!
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film
Damon Herriman – Together
Cosmo Jarvis – Inside
Julian Maroun – The Correspondent
Julian McMahon – The Surfer
Rahel Romahn – The Correspondent
Jonah Wren Phillips – Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film
Marta Dusseldorp – With or Without You
Deborah Mailman – Kangaroo
Brooke Satchwell – Kangaroo
Yael Stone – The Correspondent
Sally-Anne Upton – Bring Her Back
Sora Wong – Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Essie Davis – Apple Cider Vinegar
Aisha Dee – Apple Cider Vinegar
Michelle Lim Davidson – The Newsreader
Robyn Malcolm – Mystery Road Origin
Heather Mitchell – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Susie Porter – Apple Cider Vinegar
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Luke Carroll – Mystery Road Origin
Mark Coles Smith – Apple Cider Vinegar
Daniel Henshall – The Family Next Door
Daniel Henshall – The Newsreader
Matt Nable – Apple Cider Vinegar
Ashley Zukerman – Apple Cider Vinegar
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Film
Bring Her Back – Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou
Kangaroo – Kate Woods
Lesbian Space Princess – Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese
The Correspondent – Kriv Stenders
The Travellers – Bruce Beresford
AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program presented by EMG/Gravity Media
Dancing with the Stars – BBC Studios Productions Australia (Seven Network)
Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Grand Final: Access All Areas – Beyond Productions (SBS)
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Australia – ITV Studios Australia (Network Ten)
LEGO® Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the Galaxy – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)
Portrait Artist of the Year – Endemol Shine Australia (ABC)
That Blackfella Show – ABC (ABC)
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Drama or Comedy
Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5 – Jeffrey Walker
Mix Tape – Episode 1 – Lucy Gaffy
The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 – Justin Kurzel
The Newsreader – Episode 3 – Emma Freeman
The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer – Episode 1 – Madeleine Gottlieb
AACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program
Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee – Kevin & Co and ABC (ABC)
Hard Quiz – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
Sam Pang Tonight – One Wolf Productions (Network Ten)
Spicks and Specks – ABC (ABC)
Taskmaster Australia – Kevin & Co and Avalon (Paramount+)
The Weekly with Charlie Pickering – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program
Do Not Watch This Show – Lee Bones Productions (ABC)
Hard Quiz Kids – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
Play School: All Together – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Space Nova – SLR Productions and Giggle Garage (ABC)
AACTA Award for Best Stand-Up Special
Aunty Donna: The Magical Dead Cat – Jessica Galea, Georgia Mappin, Tom Downey
Celia Pacquola: I’m As Surprised As You Are – Kevin Whyte, Celia Pacquola
Claire Hooper: So Proud – Kyran Nicholson, Claire Hooper
Geraldine Hickey: Don’t Tease Me About My Gloves – Kevin Whyte, Geraldine Hickey
Melbourne International Comedy Festival – The Allstars Supershow – Rowdie Walden, Susan Provan
Melbourne International Comedy Festival – The Gala – Rowdie Walden, Susan Provan
AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program
Alone Australia – ITV Studios Australia (SBS)
Gogglebox Australia – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
Muster Dogs Collies and Kelpies – Ambience Entertainment Pty Ltd (ABC)
Take 5 with Zan Rowe – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
The Piano – Eureka Productions (ABC)
The Secret DNA of Us – Eureka Productions (SBS)
AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program
End Game with Tony Armstrong – Barking Mad Productions, Smashing Films, Allstory Pictures (ABC)
I Was Actually There – Docker Media (ABC)
The Assembly – Helium Pictures (ABC)
The Kimberley – Wild Pacific Media (ABC)
The People vs Robodebt – CJZ (SBS)
Who Do You Think You Are? – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd (SBS)
AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program
Gardening Australia – ABC (ABC)
Grand Designs Australia – Eureka Productions (ABC)
Love it or List it Australia – Beyond Productions (Binge, Foxtel)
Restoration Australia – Eureka Productions (ABC)
Selling Houses Australia – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd (Binge, Foxtel)
The Cook Up with Adam Liaw – SBS (SBS)
AACTA Award for Best Reality Program presented by Network Ten
Australian Idol – Eureka Productions (Seven Network)
Australian Survivor: Australia v The World – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
Married At First Sight Australia – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)
MasterChef Australia – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
The Amazing Race – Eureka Productions (Network Ten)
The Great Australian Bake Off – BBC Studios Productions Australia (Binge, Foxtel)
AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Film
Bring Her Back – Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman
Inside – Charles Williams
Lesbian Space Princess – Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese
The Correspondent – Peter Duncan
Together – Michael Shanks
AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Television
Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5 – Angela Betzien
Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 6 – Samantha Strauss
Mix Tape – Episode 1 – Jo Spain
The Newsreader – Episode 6 – Michael Lucas
The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer – Episode 1 – Sarah L. Walker
Despite the reveal, one key detail remains under wraps: AACTA has yet to announce who will host next year’s broadcast, with last year’s ceremony led by Russell Crowe.
The event once again lands on the Gold Coast in February as part of a five-day AACTA Festival of screenings, panels, masterclasses, industry events and fan experiences.
The 2026 AACTA Awards will air live on Channel 10 at 7.30pm AEDT on Friday 6 February, with an extended broadcast available on Binge and Foxtel the following evening.
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