Big names, breakout wins and a clear split between global favourites and homegrown hits – the 2026 AACTA Awards had it all. While international titles made their mark at the AACTA International Awards, Australian productions firmly owned the spotlight at the local ceremony, delivering a night that celebrated both worldwide acclaim and national pride.
At the International Awards, One Battle After Another emerged as the standout film, securing the top honours for Best Film and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. The Warner Bros action thriller was the only title to take home multiple International Awards this year. Acting wins continued familiar awards-season patterns, with Timothée Chalamet picking up Best Actor for Marty Supreme and Rose
Byrne winning Best Actress for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.
The ceremony, presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, took place on Friday at the Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast. Alongside the film categories, television titles also found recognition, with Netflix’s Adolescence winning Best Drama Series and HBO Max’s The Studio taking home the Comedy Series prize.
Supporting acting honours at the International Awards went to Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein and Amy Madigan for Weapons, while Sentimental Value writers Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt won Best Screenplay.
On the Australian-only side of the awards, the Philippou Brothers’ horror film Bring Her Back dominated the film categories, collecting 10 wins from 15 nominations. The A24 and Sony release secured major trophies including Best Film, Best Direction and Best Lead Actress in Film for Sally Hawkins, underlining its strong showing across both creative and technical categories.
The Correspondent followed with three film wins, including Best Actor for Richard Roxburgh, while Lesbian Space Princess was the only other multiple film winner.
Television honours at the local AACTAs were led by Prime Video’s WWII drama The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which claimed nine awards, including Best Actor for Jacob Elordi, Best Direction and several craft prizes. The Newsreader finished next with four wins, taking Best Drama Series along with Best Actress for Anna Torv and Best Screenplay.
Individual honours were also handed out during the ceremony, recognising long-standing contributions and emerging voices across the industry.
“This year’s AACTA Awards recognize the remarkable depth and diversity of Australian screen talent,” AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella said. “From critically acclaimed productions to audience favorites, the winners showcase the strength of our industry and the stories that continue to resonate locally and globally.”
Below is the complete list of winners from the 2026 AACTA International Awards, followed by the Australian AACTA Awards.
AACTA International Awards
FILM
AACTA International Award for Best Direction in Film
One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
AACTA International Award for Best Film
One Battle After Another
AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor in Film
Timothée Chalamet (as Marty Mauser) – Marty Supreme
AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress in Film
Rose Byrne (as Linda) – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay in Film
Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt
AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film
Jacob Elordi (as The Creature) – Frankenstein
AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film
Amy Madigan (as Aunt Gladys) – Weapons
TELEVISION
AACTA International Award for Best Actor in a Series
Gary Oldman (as Jackson Lamb) – Slow Horses
AACTA International Award for Best Actress in a Series
Sarah Snook (as Marissa Irvine) – All Her Fault
AACTA International Award for Best Comedy Series
The Studio – Season 1
AACTA International Award for Best Drama Series
Adolescence – Season 1
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


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