Australia’s AACTA Awards: Highlights and Winners, Including ‘Bring Her Back’ and ‘Narrow Road To Deep North’
The 2026 AACTA Awards showcased a standout performance by the Philippou Brothers’ A24 horror film Bring Her Back, which dominated the ceremony with 10 wins out of 15 categories. Among its accolades were Best Film, Best Lead Actress in Film for Sally Hawkins, and Best Direction. The film led the nominations with a total of 16.
The Correspondent followed with three wins, including Best Actor for Richard Roxburgh, while Lesbian Space Princess secured two wins, marking it as the only other multiple winner in the film sector.
In the television category, Prime Video’s WWII drama series The Narrow Road to the Deep North excelled, capturing nine awards, including Best Actor for Jacob Elordi and Best Direction. In contrast, The Newsreader received four awards, clinching Best Drama, Best Actress for Anna Torv, and Best Screenplay.
Held at Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast, the annual AACTA Awards are presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, celebrating the year’s standout achievements in Australian film and television. The awards are part of the ongoing 2026 AACTA Festival, which spans five days and concludes on February 8.
In recognition of individual contributions to the industry, the 2026 AACTA Awards honored Sarah Snook with the Trailblazer Award, Bruce Beresford with the Longford Lyell Award, and Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings with the Byron Kennedy Award, among others.
“This year’s AACTA Awards recognize the remarkable depth and diversity of Australian screen talent,” said AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella. He highlighted that the winners exemplified both critical acclaim and audience preference, reflecting the strength of the industry and its stories, which resonate both locally and globally.
Below is a complete list of winners from the 2026 AACTA Awards:
FILM
AACTA Award for Best Casting in Film presented by Casting Networks
Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Film
Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Film
Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Film
Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Editing in Film:
Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Film:
Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Indie Film
Lesbian Space Princess
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in Film
Richard Roxburgh – The Correspondent
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film
Sally Hawkins – Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Film
Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Film
The Correspondent
AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Film
The Correspondent
AACTA Award for Best Sound in Film
Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film
Julian McMahon – The Surfer
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film
Deborah Mailman – Kangaroo
TELEVISION
AACTA Award for Best Acting in a Comedy
Miranda Tapsell – Top End Bub
AACTA Award for Best Casting in Television:
Apple Cider Vinegar
AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program
Play School: All Together
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in Television
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program
Hard Quiz
AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performer
Tom Gleeson – Hard Quiz
AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Television
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Drama or Comedy
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Direction in Nonfiction Television
The People vs Robodebt
AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program
The People vs Robodebt
AACTA Award for Best Drama Series
The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Editing in Television
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program
Portrait Artist of the Year
AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program
Alone Australia
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama
Jacob Elordi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama
Anna Torv – The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program
Grand Designs Australia
AACTA Award for Best Miniseries
Apple Cider Vinegar
AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series
Bump
AACTA Award for Best Original Score in Television
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Production Design in Television
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Reality Program
The Great Australian Bake Off
AACTA Award for Best Screenplay in Television
The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Sound in Television
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
AACTA Award for Best Stand-Up Special
Celia Pacquola: I’m As Surprised As You Are
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Daniel Henshall – The Newsreader
AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Heather Mitchell – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
DOCUMENTARY
AACTA Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary
The Kimberley
AACTA Award for Best Documentary
Journey Home, David Gulpilil
AACTA Award for Best Editing in a Documentary
Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story
AACTA Award for Best Original Score in a Documentary
Journey Home, David Gulpilil
AACTA Award for Best Sound in a Documentary
Yurlu | Country
SHORT FILM
AACTA Award for Best Short Film
I’m The Most Racist Person I Know
ONLINE
AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy
A Series of Unfortunate Dates
OTHER
AACTA Award for Best Hair and Makeup
Bring Her Back
AACTA Award for Best Original Song
Here I Go – Lesbian Space Princess
AACTA Award for Best Soundtrack
Mix Tape
AACTA Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation:
Tron: Ares
INDIVIDUAL
AACTA Longford Lyell Award
Bruce Beresford
AACTA Byron Kennedy Award
Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings
AACTA Reg Grundy Award
Kate Armon, Craig Smith
AACTA Trailblazer Award
Sarah Snook
AACTA Brian Walsh Award
Clare Hughes
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favorite TV Show
Stranger Things (Season 5)
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favorite Film
Wicked: For Good
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favorite Australian Actress
Margot Robbie
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favorite Australian Actor
Jacob Elordi
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favorite Media Personality
Robert Irwin
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favorite Australian Podcast
Shameless
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favorite Australian Music Video
The Kid LAROI – A Cold Play
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favorite Online Channel
Norris Nuts @norrisnuts
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favorite Digital Creator:
Bridey Drake @brideydrake
AACTA Audience Choice Award for Rabanne Breakthrough Artist
Mekonnen Knife
