THAT’S A WRAP ON THE 2026 AACTA AWARDS AND FESTIVAL!

The Gold Coast became the centre of Australian screen culture as the 2026 AACTA Awards and AACTA Festival delivered five unmissable days of celebration, connection and creativity across film, television, documentary, digital and online storytelling. 

Featuring 280 speakers, over 100 events and two major awards ceremonies, the Festival connected tens of thousands of attendees, alongside creators, practitioners and industry leaders from Australia and around the world.

Red-carpet premieres, a jam-packed festival programme featuring in-depth conversations with some of Australia’s most respected actors and filmmakers, and unparalleled access to industry networking and career-shaping opportunities have cemented AACTA Festival 2026 as the country’s most significant screen event.

For images and highlights from the 2026 AACTA Festival and Awards, click here.  

AACTA Awards Ceremonies

Australia’s leading screen talent descended on the Gold Coast for the 2026 AACTA Awards, celebrating the year’s most outstanding achievements across film, television and screen craft.

The AACTA Awards Ceremony, hosted by talented actor and comedian, Celeste Barber, was a standout moment, bringing together an extraordinary lineup of Australian and international talent.

There were unforgettable on-stage moments, and landmark award wins that reflected the depth, diversity and ambition of Australian screen storytelling. AACTA Awards presenters and guests included: Sarah Snook, Dacre Montgomery, Baz Luhrmann, Brian Cox, Asher Keddie, Danielle Cormack, Joseph Zada, David Wenham, Guy Montgomery, Brenton Thwaites, Tuuli Narkle, Richard Wilkins, Delta Goodrem, Mandy Walker, Angela Bishop, Rove McManus, Phoebe Tonkin, Bryan Brown, Margaret Pomeranz, Shane Jacobson, Marta Dusseldorp, Steph Tisdell, Pia Miranda, Shabana Azeez, Yerin Ha, Fred Schepisi, Kat Stewart, Thomas Cocquerel, alongside Catherine Martin.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the AACTA Trailblazer Award to Sarah Snook, presented by acclaimed actor Brian Cox, recognising her extraordinary impact on Australian and international screen culture. 

Another special moment of the evening was the presentation of the AACTA Longford Lyell Award to legendary filmmaker Bruce Beresford, recognising his extraordinary contribution to Australian screen culture across a career spanning more than five decades. The award was presented by acclaimed actor Bryan Brown.

The AACTA Awards Industry Gala, hosted by Ed Kavalee, honoured excellence in screen craft and production, and recognised achievements across film, television, documentary, short film and digital categories. The night brought together the industry’s leading creatives dedicated to celebrating the craft behind the screen, followed by an official after-party that kept celebrations going well into the night.

AACTA Festival

AACTA Festival 2026 delivered a bold and exciting program that brought the screen industry together across five dynamic days of conversation, craft, creativity and connection. Spanning film, television, documentary, digital and online storytelling, the Festival united hundreds of speakers and panellists with thousands of attendees through an ambitious schedule of headline events, in-depth sessions and cultural moments. 

From global talent and award-winning creatives to emerging voices and next-generation storytellers, AACTA Festival once again positioned itself as the nation’s leading platform for celebrating screen culture and shaping the future of the industry.

ACTORS on ACTORS 

AACTA Festival 2026 delivered a standout series of Actor on Actor and In Conversation events, offering audiences rare, candid access to some of Australia’s most respected screen talent.  The Festival saw Sarah Snook in conversation as the recipient of the AACTA Trailblazer Award, joined by Brian Cox, reflecting on craft, longevity and working at the highest level of the global industry. Festival audiences also engaged with conversations featuring Dacre Montgomery, Yerin Ha, Shabana Azeez, and a compelling joint session with Anna Torv and director Emma Freeman, exploring collaboration, performance and bringing complex stories to screen.

Premieres, Screenings & Special Events

Red-carpet premieres and special screenings were a major highlight of AACTA Festival 2026, bringing the excitement and prestige of the big screen to the heart of the Festival. There was the Australian premiere of EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, a Baz Luhrmann double bill celebrating Romeo + Juliet and EPiC, and the world premiere of Two Years Later, starring Phoebe Tonkin and Brenton Thwaites. Anniversary screenings and special events further celebrated Australian screen history, transforming Home of the Arts (HOTA) into a hub of red-carpet glamour and cinematic experience.

Filmmaking Masterclasses

Filmmaking masterclasses at AACTA Festival 2026 were led by some of the industry’s most respected practitioners, headlined by a career-spanning session with legendary Australian director Bruce Beresford, who reflected on decades of filmmaking across Australia and Hollywood. The program also featured masterclasses with Oscar-winning editor Lee Smith, alongside cinematography sessions with acclaimed cinematographers Mandy Walker and John Seale. Craft-focused sessions extended into special makeup effects with Jason Baird, as well as deep dives into editing, sound, music and production design. Together, these masterclasses offered attendees rare, hands-on insight into the creative and technical processes behind some of the most celebrated screen work of our time.

Reunions & Anniversary Screenings

AACTA Festival 2026 celebrated landmark moments in Australian screen history with a series of special reunions and anniversary events. Fan-favourite series Dance Academy returned for a much-anticipated reunion, bringing cast and creatives together to reflect on the show’s lasting cultural impact. The Festival also marked the 30th anniversary of Shine with a special screening and discussion, alongside a 50th anniversary screening of The Devil’s Playground, honouring two iconic works of Australian cinema.

Creator Economy

AACTA Festival 2026 delivered a strong and future-focused Creator Economy program, exploring how digital creators are building sustainable careers, scaling audiences and working across traditional and emerging platforms. Sessions unpacked monetisation strategies, platform growth, algorithms and, practical discussions on how creators can collaborate with broadcasters, streamers and production companies.

AACTA Netflix Screen Careers Expo

The AACTA Netflix Screen Careers Expo (SCE26) offered unparalleled access to a mix of leading employers, tertiary institutions, training providers, industry organisations and cutting-edge screen technologies. Designed to inform, connect and inspire, the Expo created a space for attendees to explore real-world pathways into the screen industry. Held as a key pillar of the AACTA Festival, the expo brought together students, graduates, career changers and industry professionals to engage directly with the people and organisations shaping Australia’s screen sector. 

Key sessions included the AACTA SCE26 Best Student Film Award Showcase, Breaking into the Screen Industry, Navigating the Screen Industry as an Actor, Networking 101, and Life on Set, offering practical guidance on pathways, professional skills and working realities across screen production. Technical and future-focused sessions such as Render Ready: Getting Started in VFX, Hands-On Futures, and Grit and the Art of Doing It! further equipped attendees with insight into evolving roles, technologies and career resilience.