Today’s awards were held in late afternoon and should be over by the time the broadcast begins in Sydney and Melbourne.
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Host Celeste Barber dropped the F bomb at around 7.40pm, I didn’t think that language was allowed on TV until after 8.30? Though I note it wasn’t edited out.
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Permitted on M classification which was moved earlier to 7:30 under the code a few years ago.
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The Trailblazer Award (to Sarah Snook) was shown very early. I thought it wouldn’t occur until halfway through the ceremony.
So far - two TV Awards didn’t make the cut but were shown earlier in the night (as lead out to an ad break). Best Mini Series and Best Drama Series. Such a shame they couldnt show these big awards. But are showing Best Factual Program and Best Children’s Program.
The sooner the awards move back to Sydney, the better.
HOTA on the Gold Coast looks so cheap, it doesn’t offer the same scale and space needed for an awards show like this.
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A dozen of empty seats at HOTA.
I think the next AACTA Awards should take place on a weekend so that more people can attend.
Maybe they got up during the show? Presenting?
Looked fairly full from early on, but did see AACTA were trying to still sell tickets in the stalls as late as yesterday.
Just noticed the end of Clare Hughes’s acceptance speech for the Brian Walsh Award for emerging talent was abruptly cut off. Hopefully there will be a full version on YouTube channel of AACTA or on Foxtel tomorrow.
Very few film awards in tonight’s ceremony (most film awards were on earlier in the week at the “industry awards”). And they had the nerve to have “earlier shown: Best Film Direction, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor to the late Julian McMahon”…
The telecast finished at 10.12pm.
Horror film Bring Her Back emerged as the night’s biggest winner, with ten wins from 16 nominations.
Prime Video’s World War II drama The Narrow Road to the Deep North had 9 AACTA Award wins from 12 nominations.
These are important awards and shouldn’t have been cut.
I also don’t understand why there was an award branded Foxtel Group. Wouldn’t they be better off promoting their Binge brand?
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According to Foxtel online guide, the extended broadcast will be on Showcase from 7.30pm to 10.30pm AEDT.
AACTA ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS FOR THE 2026 AACTA AWARDS PRESENTED BY FOXTEL GROUP
Gold Coast, Australia - Australian screen storytelling took centre stage tonight as the 2026 AACTA Awards celebrated the year’s most outstanding achievements across film, television, documentary, online and short form, with Bring Her Back emerging as the night’s biggest winner.
With 16 nominations and winning 10 AACTA Awards, Bring Her Back dominated the film categories, including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, and Best Lead Actress in Film for Sally Hawkins.
Close behind was The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which converted 9 AACTA Award wins from 12 nominations , asserting itself as the standout television production of the year, while The Newsreader continued its award-winning legacy with 4 wins from 12 nominations including Best Drama Series while Apple Cider Vinegar picked up the Award for Best Miniseries.
Individual Honours Celebrate Screen Leaders and Trailblazers
The Australian Academy also recognised outstanding individual contributions to the screen industry:
Bruce Beresford, AACTA Longford Lyell Award
Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings, AACTA Byron Kennedy Award
Kate Armon and Craig Smith, AACTA Reg Grundy Award
Sarah Snook, AACTA Trailblazer Award
Clare Hughes, AACTA Brian Walsh Award
Voted by audiences across Australia and around the world, the 2026 AACTA Audience Choice Awards celebrated the films, series, performers, podcasts and creators that entertained the public over the past year.
From global phenomenon Stranger Things (Season 5) and Wicked: For Good to home-grown favourites Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi and Robert Irwin , the Audience Choice winners reflect the stories and voices audiences couldn’t get enough of. New Awards were also presented which saw Shameless win the inaugural Award for Best Podcast , Norris Nuts won Best Online Channel, Bridey Drake won Best Digital Creator for the second year, and Mekonnen Knife won the Rabanne Breakthrough Artist Award.
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.”
Daniel Monaghan, Executive Director, Entertainment Content, Foxtel Group said “It has been an incredible year for Australian film and television and the AACTA Awards highlight the imagination and craft at the heart of Australian storytelling. Congratulations to the winners, nominees and everyone recognised - the creativity and dedication within the industry continue to strengthen it.”
Queensland Minister for Tourism, Andrew Powell “The AACTA Awards and Festival generate an estimated $4.85 million for Queensland’s economy, demonstrating the strong return major cultural events deliver for the state.
“The Festival brings industry leaders, talent, and visitors together in a way that elevates Queensland’s tourism profile and strengthens its reputation for world class events.
“Delivering a major event of this scale aligns with our Destination 2045 plan to drive travel demand, support local business, and contribute to long term growth across the state’s visitor economy.”
Acting Gold Coast Mayor, Mark Hammel said “Our city’s star is on the rise and it’s an honour to host the AACTAs over the past three years,’’
“The city’s partnership with AACTA has set a new benchmark for screen and film industry excellence in Australia. Let’s continue to make movie magic here on the coast as we recognise the giants of film and television.”
Queensland Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek said that the AACTA Awards represent the pinnacle of Australian screen excellence and that this year’s ceremony celebrated industry veterans as well as exciting new talent.
“I congratulate all of this year’s winners and nominees for your achievements in screen storytelling. The Queensland Government is proud to support the 2026 AACTA Awards and Festival at its continuing home on the Gold Coast, the heart of Queensland’s ever-growing screen industry.
“Over five incredible days, the AACTAs deliver an unmissable program of panels, workshops and screenings, and open up career pathways for future generations. Tonight’s awards highlight just where that can lead.”
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said “On behalf of Experience Gold Coast, I would like to extend our congratulations to all the winners and nominees of the 2026 AACTA Awards.
“It’s a privilege to host this iconic celebration of Australian storytelling at HOTA, Home of the Arts, and we look forward to welcoming the AACTA Awards back again next year to inspire and celebrate the next generation of screen talent.”
List of 2026 AACTA Awards winners
ABC wins 11 AACTA awards as The Newsreader continues its glittering run
The ABC was the leading free-to-air network at the 2026 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards, winning 11 awards at last night’s ceremony on the Gold Coast including four to The Newsreader.
The awards complete a superb year for ABC Screen, with wins across drama, comedy entertainment, children’s, documentary and lifestyle categories.
The Newsreader enhanced its reputation as one of the most celebrated dramas in Australian television. Last night the third season of The Newsreader took home the Best Drama Series award, completing a remarkable trifecta after winning the prestigious category for both season one in 2021 and season two in 2024. The Newsreader also won Best Screenplay in Television for Michael Lucas, Best Lead Actress for Anna Torv, and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for Daniel Henshall. Produced by Werner Productions for the ABC, the standout series has now won 14 AACTAs across its three seasons.
Hard Quiz was also a major winner, recognised as Best Comedy Entertainment Program and popular host Tom Gleeson as Best Comedy Performer.
In its first Australian season, Portrait Artist of the Year hosted by Miranda Tapsell and Luke McGregor won Best Entertainment Program. The longest running children’s program on Australian television, Play School: All Together won Best Children’s Program. Grand Designs Australia took out the Best Lifestyle Program, the Best Stand-Up Special was secured by Celia Pacquola: I’m As Surprised As You Are and beautifully shot The Kimberley was honoured with the Best Cinematography in a Documentary award.
ABC Director Screen Jennifer Collins: “Congratulations to the ABC Screen teams whose exceptional work across our diverse and ambitious slate ensures these remarkable programs reach audiences around the country, and to our production partners whose craft and creativity make it possible to deliver these unmistakably Australian programs.”
The AACTA Awards (formerly the AFI Awards) honour screen excellence in Australia.
ABC 2026 AACTA Award Winners
- Best Drama Series: The Newsreader
- Best Lead Actress in a Drama presented by BINGE: Anna Torv – The Newsreader
- Best Screenplay in Television: Michael Lucas – The Newsreader
- Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Daniel Henshall – The Newsreader
- Best Children’s Program: Play School: All Together
- Best Comedy Entertainment Program: Hard Quiz
- Best Comedy Performer: Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
- Best Entertainment Program presented by Gravity Media: Portrait Artist of the Year
- Best Lifestyle Program: Grand Designs Australia
- Best Stand-Up Special: Celia Pacquola: I’m As Surprised As You Are
- Best Cinematography in a Documentary: The Kimberley
The International Awards are a waste of time. They should not be in the telecast and maybe not even awarded.
Meanwhile they didn’t show the Supporting Actress and Actor awards in full even though you had Deborah Mailman there and there was a very emotional posthumous award for Julian McMahon that was shiwn briefly accepted by his wife.
I agree with the International Awards. A complete waste of time, and not needed in the telecast. If they “had to have it” for whatever reason, then have it at the Industry Awards or “shown earlier in the night” on the main night.
I also mentioned in here last night re the supporting awards. Very disrespectful for not telecasting them. With the great and talented Deborah Mailman being there, and the heartfelt acceptance speech by Julian McMahon’s wife.
Very odd decision by AACTA and 10 in what awards in excluded from the telecast. So that the award ceremony can be shown later in whole on Foxtel (or Binge) at a later time. Which everyone would know the winners anyway…
Clips of every award* presented on AACTA Industry Gala and AACTA Awards last week are now available on AACTA’s YouTube channel.
*The exception was Best Soundtrack which was won by Rory McPartland and Dina Coughlan for Foxtel series Mix Tape. Delta Goodrem and Richard Wilkins were on stage at Friday’s award ceremony to present the award to the director of Mix Tape, who accepted on behalf of Rory and Dina.
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Thanks for the heads up. Glad all the awards are up. Even for the Industry Gala day that rarely gets a mention in the media.