The 2026 AACTA Award Nominees

Nicole Kidman, Jacob Elordi, Sam Neill, Aisha Dee, Teresa Palmer and Alison Brie among star-studded field of nominees announced for the 2026 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) today announced the nominees for the 2026 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group, recognising outstanding achievements across film, television, documentary, short form and digital production. The Awards will be presented during AACTA Festival, held 4–8 February at HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast. Tickets are available now at aactafestival.com.

Nicole Kidman, Jacob Elordi, Sam Neill, Teresa Palmer, Alison Brie, Sally Hawkins, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Kaitlyn Dever and Anna Torv are among the major names recognised today as the nominees for the 2026 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group were announced. They join a field that reflects one of the strongest years for Australian film and television, with talent and productions represented across both established screen favourites and new breakout titles. The AACTA Awards will be presented at HOTA on the Gold Coast as part of AACTA Festival from 4 – 8 February 2026.

Television

Apple Cider Vinegar secures its position as the most nominated production this year, with 20 nominations across acting, writing, directing, casting, soundtrack, score, sound, costume, and editing, including two Best Lead Actress nominations for Alycia Debnam-Carey and Kaitlyn Dever and six supporting acting nominations (Essie Davis, Aisha Dee, Susie Porter, Mark Coles Smith, Matt Nable, Ashley Zukerman).

Acclaimed dramas The Newsreader (12 nominations) and Mystery Road Origin (11 nominations) continue their dominance in the scripted landscape, earning recognition across lead and supporting acting, writing, directing, cinematography, editing and casting. Mystery Road and The Newsreader represent some of the most consistently awarded Australian dramas of the past decade with 56 and 43 total nominations respectively, maintaining their momentum with strong performances across both creative and craft categories.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North (12 nominations), Mix Tape (8 nominations), The Survivors (6 nominations) and The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer (5 nominations) all secure widespread recognition, earning nominations across a broad mix of acting, writing, directing and craft categories.

Comedy also delivers standout results, with Austin, Bump, Ghosts, Mother and Son, Strife, and Top End Bub all up for the AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series. While Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee, Hard Quiz, Sam Pang Tonight, Spicks and Specks, Taskmaster Australia and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering compete for Best Comedy Entertainment Program.

 Best Lifestyle Program nominees, Gardening Australia, Grand Designs Australia, Love it or List it Australia, Restoration Australia, Selling Houses Australia and The Cook Up with Adam Liaw highlight the continued strength of lifestyle content and their long-running popularity with both audiences and industry. 

Film

Bring Her Back continues the momentum for Danny and Michael Philippou, emerging as one of the year’s dominant contenders with 16 nominations. The film features across major categories, including Best Film, Best Lead Actress for Sally Hawkins and three supporting acting nominations (Jonah Wren Phillips, Sally-Anne Upton, Sora Wong). It also collects nominations across direction, editing, cinematography, sound and casting, cementing its status as a leading force in this year’s feature competition.

The Correspondent (14 nominations), Kangaroo (8 nominations), Lesbian Space Princess (7 nominations), The Surfer (7 nominations) and The Travellers (4 nominations) complete the six-film Best Film lineup. Together, these titles demonstrate the breadth of this year’s cinematic field, earning recognition across performance, writing and craft and showcasing a mix of large-scale thrillers, character-driven drama, elevated genre storytelling and standout independent filmmaking.

Australian horror also features strongly, with Together collecting 8 nominations, including Best Lead Actress for Alison Brie and Best Supporting Actor for Damon Herriman, alongside key nods across screenplay, editing and original score.

Other Nominations

The online and documentary categories showcase a diverse range of emerging voices and established storytellers. In the AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy, nominees span a broad cross-section of independent creators and production teams, with titles including A Series of Unfortunate Dates, Long Head, Not Russian Anywhere, Ruff & Ruby, The Worst That Could Happen and ’Til You Make It highlighting the strength of Australia’s digital-first screen sector.

Documentary also delivers a particularly strong lineup, with Ellis Park, Journey Home, David Gulpilil, Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke, Songs Inside, Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story and Yurlu | Country recognised for their powerful storytelling and significant cultural resonance across subjects spanning sport, identity, music, landscape and personal history.

This year’s nominations also highlight several standout individuals recognised across multiple categories. Aisha Dee earned two nominations for Lead Actress (Watching You) and Supporting Actress (Apple Cider Vinegar), while Mark Coles Smith is also acknowledged in both Lead Actor (Mystery Road Origin) and Supporting Actor (Apple Cider Vinegar). Daniel Henshall received two Supporting Actor nominations for The Family Next Door and The Newsreader.

Composer Cornel Wilczek achieves one of the year’s most significant tallies with four nominations across Original Score in both film (Bring Her Back, Together) and television (Apple Cider Vinegar, The Survivors). Rowdie Walden is recognised across entertainment and comedy for That Blackfella Show and two Melbourne International Comedy Festival programs. Kevin Whyte leads all individuals this year with five nominations spanning children’s, comedy entertainment and stand-up, while Jemma Burns secures three nominations in Best Soundtrack (Apple Cider Vinegar, Kangaroo, Mystery Road: Origin), following her dual recognition in the same category last year.

For a full list of AACTA Award nominees, click here.

AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella added “This year’s nominations showcase the remarkable creativity and craft behind Australian screen storytelling. It’s encouraging to see such a diverse mix of new voices, returning favourites and world-class productions recognised across film, television, documentary and online content. I congratulate all nominees and look forward to celebrating with the industry as we gather on the Gold Coast for AACTA Festival in February.”

The AACTA International Award nominations and VFX nominations will be announced later this month. The AACTA Audience Choice Awards will also return later this month, as AACTA call for contenders on their social media platforms for the publicly voted Awards including Favourite Australian Digital Creator, Favourite Film, TV Show, and Actors. This year, AACTA will introduce new categories, Favourite Australian Podcast and Favourite Australian Music Video. Voting for these Awards will happen in January. Follow AACTA on social media for more information.

Watch the 2026 AACTA Awards Ceremony 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 (Showcase and available On-Demand).

 Lana Greenhalgh Director of Scripted Originals, Foxtel Group said: "Congratulations to all nominees for what has been another extraordinary year of Australian film and television, pushing our local screen industry to new heights. We're proud to support the AACTA Awards and look forward to celebrating our collective achievements in February."

The nominees were determined by AACTA Members, Australia’s largest community of screen professionals and fans. Round 2 voting opens today, AACTA Members are invited to vote on the nominated productions to determine the 2026 AACTA Award winners. The winners of the 2026 AACTA Awards will be announced across two ceremonies - the AACTA Awards Industry Gala will be held on Wednesday 4 February and the AACTA Award Ceremony will be held on Friday 6 February.

The 2026 AACTA Awards ceremonies are part of AACTA Festival which will run for 5 days from February 4 - 8 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 Screen Careers Expo presented by Essential Screen Skills will also make its return on Saturday 8 February.

Whether you are a film fan, a budding creative, a pop culture enthusiast, or a dedicated industry professional, AACTA Festival offers a unique opportunity to network, learn, and revel in the magic of film and television. For more information visit aactafestival.com.

 Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek, said the Gold Coast will once again host a spectacular celebration.

“The glitz and glamour of the AACTA Awards goes beyond the film and screen industry, creating a golden opportunity for the Gold Coast,” Minister Langbroek said.

 “Industry leaders and global names travel to experience the region’s iconic beaches, culture and attractions while contributing an estimated $4.85 million to the state’s economy.

 “Congratulations to all the nominees who underscore Australia’s growing influence on the international film and screen industry, with Queensland at the forefront.”

“The countdown to the 2026 AACTA continues and I’m thrilled to see several local Gold-Coast affiliated nominees in the running,’’ said Mayor Tom Tate.

“Hosting AACTA since 2024 has helped our local talent thrive while, at the same time, showcasing the most talented industry professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region. It’s a great time to be involved in this vibrant industry and I can’t wait to turn on the lights for the 2026 AACTAs.’’

Key Dates

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

AACTA Festival: Wednesday 4 February – Sunday 8 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.

 More AACTA Festival programming will be announced later this year.

Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney said “We look forward to welcoming Australia’s screen industry to the Gold Coast in February to honour these incredible nominees. The AACTA Awards celebrate unique and authentic Australian screen stories and the remarkable people who bring them to life for local and global audiences. The Festival program also provides a special opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to learn from many of these industry leaders.

"My congratulations to all of the 2026 nominees, including Screen Queensland-supported productions such as Spit, Beast of War, Black Snow Jack of Clubs and Dangerous Animals."