AACTA 2026 film and TV nominations revealed
Australian television’s biggest night has crowned an unlikely champion as a Netflix hit scores the most nominations at the 2026 AACTA Awards.
The Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts (AACTA) has unveiled the nominees for the 2026 awards ceremony – and there’s a clear frontrunner in the TV stakes.
Leading the race this year with a staggering 20 nominations is Apple Cider Vinegar. The Netflix drama based on the life of Aussie wellness con artist Belle Gibson, scored nominations across writing, directing, casting and editing and acting, including two Best Lead Actress nominations for Alycia Debnam-Carey and Kaitlyn Dever.
The series also scored six supporting acting nominations for its support cast,including Matt Nable, Susie Porter and Aisha Dee.
Acclaimed drama The Newsreader is again an AACTA darling drawing in 12 nominations, with fellow ABC stablemate Mystery Road Origin not far behind with 11 nominations.
Both series have been well decorated at the awards ceremony over the years. In the past decade, the programs have scored 56 and 43 total nominations, respectively.
War drama The Narrow Road to the Deep North, picked up 12 nominations including Best Lead Actor for its star, Aussie-actor-turned Hollywood-heart-throb Jacob Elordi.
Teresa Palmer’s heartfelt BINGE Original series Mix Tape landed 8 nominations, mysterious thriller The Survivors took out six nominations, and the Sam Neill favourite The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer scored five nods.
It’s been a huge year for the Aussie film industry too, with a surprise horror film topping the nominations.
Bring Her Back, the terrifying film that cinemagoers have dubbed one of the best horror movies of 2025, emerged a dominant contender with 16 nominations, including Best Film and Best Lead Actress for British actress Sally Hawkins.
It also got nods in the supporting acting category for its young stars Sora Wong, 14, and Jonah Wren Phillips, 12.
Completing the six-film Best Film nominations are The Correspondent with 14 nominations, Kangaroo with eight, Lesbian Space Princess with seven, The Surfer also with seven and The Travellers with four nominations.
Our homegrown Hollywood star Nicole Kidman also scored a nomination alongside her Made Up Stories, Fifth Season and Blossom Films collaborators for the BINGE miniseries The Last Anniversary, which stars fellow Hollywood star Teresa Palmer.
The LA-based Palmer is also nominated for Best Lead Actress in the aforementioned drama Mix Tape.
Here is the full list of nominees for the 2026 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group, which will take place at HOTA on the Gold Coast on Friday, February 6.
AACTA Award for Best Miniseries
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)
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 – Peter Beck, Amanda Bainbridge, Deb Spinocchia, Kylie Washington – BBC Studios Productions Australia (Seven Network)
Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Grand Final: Access All Areas – Paul Clarke, Emily Griggs, Angela Downing – Beyond Productions (SBS)
I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Australia – Beth Hart, Alex Mavroidakis, Josie Steele, Clare Bath – ITV Studios Australia (Network Ten)
LEGO® Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the Galaxy – David McDonald, Hamish Blake, Di Yang, AJ Johnson – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)
Portrait Artist of the Year – David McDonald, Kate Feely, Maria Handas – Endemol Shine Australia (ABC)
That Blackfella Show – Rowdie Walden – 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 – Bronwynn Bakker, Cameron Bakker, Guy Montgomery, Greg Sitch – Kevin & Co and ABC (ABC)
Hard Quiz – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
Sam Pang Tonight – Sam Pang, John Origlasso – One Wolf Productions (Network Ten)
Spicks and Specks – Rowdie Walden, Anthony Watt – ABC (ABC)
Taskmaster Australia – Bronwynn Bakker, Cameron Bakker – Kevin & Co and Avalon (Paramount+)
The Weekly with Charlie Pickering – Charlie Pickering, Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Frank Bruzzese – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program
Do Not Watch This Show – Andy Lee, Greg Sitch – Lee Bones Productions (ABC)
Hard Quiz Kids – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)
Play School: All Together – Bryson Hall, Lyndal Mebberson – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Space Nova – Suzanne Ryan, Yasmin Jones – 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 – Riima Daher, Joseph McMahon, Beth Hart, Keely Sonntag – ITV Studios Australia (SBS)
Gogglebox Australia – David McDonald, Will Minchin, Natasha Pizzica – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
Muster Dogs Collies and Kelpies – Michael Boughen, Matthew Street, Lauren Rudd – Ambience Entertainment Pty Ltd (ABC)
Take 5 with Zan Rowe – Zan Rowe, Nikita Agzarian, Josh Schmidt – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
The Piano – Bethan Briegel-Jones, Gemma Murphy, Josie Mason Campbell – Eureka Productions (ABC)
The Secret DNA of Us – Josie Mason Campbell, Sophie Meyrick – Eureka Productions (SBS)
AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program
End Game with Tony Armstrong – Steve Bibb, Dan Brown – Barking Mad Productions, Smashing Films, Allstory Pictures and Barking Mad Productions, Smashing Films, Allstory Pictures (ABC)
I Was Actually There – Loni Cooper, Josh Schmidt, Julie Hanna – Docker Media (ABC)
The Assembly – Melissa Maclean, Mark Fennessy, Therese Hegarty, Julie Hanna – Helium Pictures (ABC)
The Kimberley – Electra Manikakis, Nick Robinson, Peta Ayers, Mark Coles Smith – Wild Pacific Media (ABC)
The People vs Robodebt – Paula Bycroft, Michael Cordell, Andrew Farrell – CJZ (SBS)
Who Do You Think You Are? – Maxine Gray, Carolyn Kung – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd (SBS)
AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program
Gardening Australia – Gill Lomas – ABC (ABC)
Grand Designs Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett – Eureka Productions (ABC)
Love it or List it Australia – Karen Warner, Geoff Fitzpatrick, John Luscombe, Howard Myers-Rifai – Beyond Productions (Binge, Foxtel)
Restoration Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett – Eureka Productions (ABC)
Selling Houses Australia – Caroline Swift, Kam Vurlow, Monique Bushby – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd (Binge, Foxtel)
The Cook Up with Adam Liaw – Emily Griggs, Gavin Jarrett – SBS (SBS)
AACTA Award for Best Reality Program presented by Network Ten
Australian Idol – Joel McCormack, Riccy Felixberto, Wes Dening – Eureka Productions (Seven Network)
Australian Survivor: Australia v The World – Amelia Fisk, David Forster, Phoebe McMahon, Toby Trappel – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
Married At First Sight Australia – Tara McWilliams, Alexandra Spurway, Stevo Petkovic, Dimi Theodoulou – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)
MasterChef Australia – Marty Benson, Adam Fergusson, Eoin Maher, April Mackay – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)
The Amazing Race – Rikkie Proost, Alenka Henry, Jane Rowley – Eureka Productions (Network Ten)
The Great Australian Bake Off – Emily Commens, Amanda Bainbridge, Deb Spinocchia, Kylie Washington – 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
AACTA Award for Best Short Film
Beyond Measure – David Ferrier (Dir.) – North of 40 Buttons
Dependent – Julian Maroun, Marcus Fredrick Khoudair, Joseph Chebatte (Dir.), Emma Elias – The Mad Collab
DIY – Tony Gardiner (Dir.), Lachlan Marks – Third generation Films and One Nine Media
Don’t Ignore Me – Raymond Mendez, Charli Fletcher (Dir.), Rosangela Fasano, Bianca Kean – NoFilter Productions
I’m The Most Racist Person I Know – Leela Varghese (Dir.), Suriyna Sivashanker, Shabana Azeez
Red River Cowboy – Grace Wriggles (Dir.) – Grace Wriggles Films and Black Phoenix Productions
The Shirt Off Your Back – Julia Corcoran, Ari Harrison, David Robinson-Smith (Dir.) – Sanctuary Pictures and Ripple Pictures
Writers in Love – Sarah Giles (Dir.), Grace Malouf, Jacqueline Kerwick – Portal Productions Pty Ltd
AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy
A Series of Unfortunate Dates – Amy Raffe – White Bonnet Films
Long Head – Millie Holten, Annabelle Ots, Dan Ilic – Not A Real Media Company Pty Ltd
Not Russian Anywhere – Annisa Belonogoff, Aimée-Lee Xu Hsien, Lucinda Bruce, Nicole Scharf – Anakie Street
Ruff & Ruby – Jessica Trinity Fisher – Jessica Trinity Fisher
The Worst That Could Happen – Lachlan Macfarlane, Austin Macfarlane, Rita Artmann, Monique Mulcahy – Haven’t You Done Well Productions
‘Til You Make It – Philip Hayden, Emma Choy, Scott Major, Riley Sugars, Gemma Louise Murphy – ‘Til You Make It Productions Pty Ltd
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Nonfiction Television
Aunty Donna: The Magical Dead Cat – Max Miller, Sam Lingham
Australian Survivor: Australia v The World – Episode 1 – Richard Franc, Mark McEvilly
I Was Actually There – Episode 4 – Kirk Docker
The Kimberley – Episode 1 – Nick Robinson
The People vs Robodebt – Episode 2 – Ben Lawrence
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Film
Beast of War – Mark Wareham
Bring Her Back – Aaron McLisky
The Correspondent – Geoffrey Hall
The Surfer – Radek Ladczuk
Went Up The Hill – Tyson Perkins
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Television
Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5 – Toby Oliver
Mystery Road Origin – Episode 5 – Sky Davies
The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 – Sam Chiplin
The Newsreader – Episode 3 – Earle Dresner
The Survivors – Episode 3 – Mark Wareham
AACTA Award for Best Editing in Film presented by Spectrum Films
Beast of War – Kiah Roache Turner, Stephen Evans, Regg Skwarko
Bring Her Back – Geoff Lamb
The Correspondent – Veronika Jenet
The Surfer – Tony Cranstoun
Together – Sean Lahiff
AACTA Award for Best Editing in Television
Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5 – Mat Evans, Annette Davey
Invisible Boys – Episode 9 – Peter Pritchard
Mystery Road Origin – Episode 5 – Nicholas Holmes
The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 – Alexandre de Franceschi
The Newsreader – Episode 6 – Julie-Anne De Ruvo
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Originally published as AACTA 2026 film and TV nominations revealed
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