SARAH SNOOK TO HEADLINE AACTA FESTIVAL AS RECIPIENT OF THE 2026 AACTA TRAILBLAZER AWARD

The Australian Academy (AACTA) is thrilled to announce that internationally acclaimed actor Sarah Snook will headline a special In Conversation event at the 2026 AACTA Festival, where she will also be honoured with this year’s prestigious AACTA Trailblazer Award.

Sarah Snook will receive the esteemed Trailblazer Award at the 2026 AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel Group on Friday 6 February at HOTA on the Gold Coast. The AACTA Trailblazer Award celebrates Australians who are forging unique and influential pathways in the global industry and recognises Snook’s extraordinary impact and continued influence on the Australian screen industry. 

On Saturday 7 February, Snook will be joined by Australian actor Shane Jacobson to present an exclusive ‘In Conversation’ where she will offer the audience insights and recollections about her career, which has led to her being one of Australia’s most celebrated talents.

The session sees Snook delve into her journey from early Australian screen roles to her global breakthrough as ‘Shiv Roy’ in HBO’s Succession, which earned her an Emmy, two Golden Globes and widespread critical acclaim. Snook will also discuss her latest projects, including the internationally praised All Her Fault which she just won the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Limited Series in Los Angeles last week, was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in Limited Series and is available to watch now on BINGE in Australia. The conversation will also further explore her award-winning stage triumph The Picture of Dorian Gray, which saw her take home both the Laurence Olivier Award and the Tony Award for Best Actress.

Snook said “I’m so honored to receive the AACTA Trailblazer Award. Australia is where I learned to love storytelling, and every opportunity I’ve had began with the support of this community. I’m grateful to the filmmakers, co-stars, crews and audiences who have lifted me up along the way. It’s a privilege to represent Australian talent on the world stage, and I hope to keep contributing to the vibrant, world-class industry we’re building together.”

Snook has been nominated for six AACTA Awards and has won three, including her first AACTA Award at the inaugural ceremony in 2012 for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama (Sisters of War). She went on to win Best Lead Actress in a Film in 2014 for her performance opposite Ethan Hawke in Predestination, and most recently received an AACTA Award for her voice performance in the animated feature Memoir of a Snail.

Snook’s incredible filmography and wealth of international accolades make her the ideal recipient of the 2026 AACTA Trailblazer Award.

Previously awarded to Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth, Rose Byrne, Simon Baker, and Isla Fisher, the AACTA Trailblazer Award recognises the achievements of an Australian screen practitioner whose body of work has served as an inspiration to others. The discretionary award, which is determined by the AFI | AACTA Board, acknowledges the recipient’s valuable contribution to promoting Australian screen culture and excellence at home and abroad.

AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said: “Sarah Snook embodies everything the AACTA Trailblazer Award represents. From her early work in Australian film and television to her extraordinary global success across screen and stage, Sarah has carved a reputation as one of Australia’s greatest performers. She continues to champion Australian storytelling on the world stage while inspiring the next generation of creatives at home. We are immensely proud to honour Sarah and look forward to hearing more about her journey at this year’s AACTA Festival.”

Tickets to Sarah Snook’s AACTA Festival In Conversation event are limited. Media, industry and fans are encouraged to secure their seats now before the session sells out at aactafestival.com.

Sarah Snook – AACTA Trailblazer In Conversation

2026 AACTA Festival

10–11am Saturday, 7 February 2026

HOTA, Home of the Arts

Sarah Snook, one of Australia’s most acclaimed actors, takes the stage for a headline in-conversation at the AACTA Festival.

Across stage and screen, she has earned 24 major international awards, including an Emmy, Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards and multiple AFI | AACTA Awards, along with Olivier and Tony awards - regarded as the highest honours a stage actor can receive anywhere in the world.

With standout roles in Succession, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Predestination, The Dressmaker and most recently All Her Fault, Sarah has become one of the most respected and versatile actors of her generation, with plenty more still to come.

This exclusive In Conversation with her friend Shane Jacobson offers festival audiences a chance to hear directly from an actor whose work has elevated every production she has been part of, and placed her among the leading screen artists in the world.

Key Dates

• Location: HOTA, Home of the Arts - Gold Coast, Queensland

• AACTA Festival: Wednesday 4 February – Sunday 8 February 2026

• Sarah Snook in Conversation: Saturday 7 February 2026

• AACTA Awards Industry Gala: Wednesday 4 February 2026

• AACTA Festival Industry Conference Day: Thursday 5 February 2026

• AACTA Awards Ceremony & Official After Party: Friday 6 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.

Tickets for AACTA Festival events and the AACTA Awards Ceremonies, including Live! by the Lake, are available now at aactafestival.com.