15th AACTA Awards

15th AACTA Awards
Sponsored by	Foxtel Group
Date	4 February 2026 (2026-02-04) (industry luncheon) 6 February 2026 (2026-02-06) (main ceremony)
Location	Home of the Arts, Gold Coast, Australia
Most nominations	Apple Cider Vinegar (20)
Television/radio coverage
Networks
Network 10 Showcase
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The 15th Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (generally known as the AACTA Awards) is an awards ceremony to celebrate the best of Australian films and television of 2025. The main ceremony is scheduled to take place on 6 February 2026 at the Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast and will be broadcast on Network 10 and Showcase.^[1] The ceremony is preceded by an earlier industry gala on 4 February 2025.^[2]

Feature film

The nominations are as follows:^[1][3]

Best Film Bring Her Back – Samatha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton Kangaroo – David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin, Angela Littlejohn, Rachel Clements, Trisha Morton-Thomas Lesbian Space Princess – Tom Phillips The Correspondent – Carmel Travers The Surfer – Leonara Darby, James Harris, Robert Connolly, James Grandison, Brunella Cocchiglia, Nathan Klingher, Nicolas Cage The Travellers – Michael Boughen, Matthew Street, Kelvin Munro	Best Indie Film Carmen & Bolude – Yolandi Franken, Michela Carattini Fwends – Carter Looker, Sarah Hegge-Taylor, Sophie Somerville It Will Find You – Helen Tuck, Enzo Tedeschi, Chris Broadbent Lesbian Space Princess – Tom Phillips Magic Beach – Liz Kearney, Kate Laurie, Robert Connolly, Chloe Brugale With or Without You – Su Armstrong, Carolyn Johnson
Best Direction Danny and Michael Philippou – Bring Her Back Kate Woods – Kangaroo Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese – Lesbian Space Princess Kriv Stenders – The Correspondent Bruce Beresford – The Travellers	Best Screenplay Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman – Bring Her Back Charles Williams – Inside Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese – Lesbian Space Princess Peter Duncan – The Correspondent Michael Shanks – Together
Best Lead Actor Bryan Brown – The Travellers Ryan Corr – Kangaroo Jai Courtney – Dangerous Animals Guy Pearce – Inside Richard Roxburgh – The Correspondent David Wenham – Spit	Best Lead Actress 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
Best Supporting Actor Damon Herriman – Together Cosmo Jarvis – Inside Julian Maroun – The Correspondent Julian McMahon – The Surfer Rahel Romahn – The Correspondent Jonah Wren Phillips – Bring Her Back	Best Supporting Actress 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
Best Cinematography Mark Wareham – Beast of War Aaron McLisky – Bring Her Back Geoffrey Hall – The Correspondent Radek Ladczuk – The Surfer Tyson Perkins – Went Up the Hill	Best Editing Stephen Evans, Kiah Roache Turner, Regg Skwarko – Beast of War Geoff Lamb – Bring Her Back Veronika Jenet – The Correspondent Tony Cranstoun – The Surfer Sean Lahiff – Together
Best Original Music Score Cornel Wilczek – Bring Her Back Michael Darren – Lesbian Space Princess Tom Ellard – The Correspondent Francois Tetaz – The Surfer Cornel Wilczek – Together	Best Sound Emma Bortignon, Nick Steele, Hamish Keen, Cameron Grant, Lachlan Harris, Pete Smith – Bring Her Back Liam Egan, Angus Robertson, Lara Cross, Michael Newton – The Correspondent Spit Paul Pirola, Matt Lapthorne – Together Went Up the Hill
Best Production Design Emma Hough Hobbs – Lesbian Space Princess Fiona Donovan – The Correspondent Emma Fletcher – The Surfer Went Up the Hill Together	Best Costume Design Tracey Rose Sparke – Beast of War Anna Cahill – Bring Her Back Phill Eagles – Spit Joanna Mae Park – The Correspondent Lien See Leong – The Surfer
Best Casting Nikki Barrett – Bring Her Back Nikki Barrett, Natalie Wall – Inside Anousha Zarkesh – Kangaroo Anousha Zarkesh – The Correspondent Jane Norris – The Surfer

Television

Best Drama Series Bay of Fires – Marta Dusseldorp (ABC) Black Snow: Jack of Clubs – Rosemary Blight, Milly Olrog, Lucas Taylor, Ben Grant (Stan) Mystery Road: Origin – Greer Simpkin, David Jowsey (ABC) The Family Next Door – Melinda Wearne, Dean O'Toole, David Ogilvy, Jenny O'Shea (ABC) The Newsreader – Joanna Werner, Michael Lucas (ABC) The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer – Hamish Lewis, Michael Brooks, Ally Henville, Ian Collie, Rob Gibson (Binge, Foxtel)	Best Miniseries Apple Cider Vinegar – Samantha Strauss, Liz Watts, Louise Gough, Helen Gregory, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning (Netflix) Invisible Boys – Nicholas Verso, Tania Chambers (Stan) Mix Tape – Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford, Aoife O'Sullivan, Tristan Orpen Lynch (Binge, Foxtel) The Last Anniversary – Nicole Kidman, Per Saari, Steve Hutensky, Jodi Matterson, Samantha Strauss, John Polson (Binge, Foxtel) The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Jo Porter, Rachel Gardner, Shaun Grant, Justin Kurzel, Alexandra Taussig (Amazon Prime Video) The Survivors – Tony Ayres, Andrea Denholm, Cherie Nowlan, Andrew Walker (Netflix)
Best Narrative Comedy Series Austin – Joe Weatherstone, Catherine Nebauer (ABC) Bump – Dan Edwards, John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Kelsey Munro (Stan) Ghosts – Kylie Washington, Sophia Zachariou, Bree-Anne Sykes, Joshua Mapleston (Network 10, Paramount+) Mother and Son – Jude Troy, Richard Finlayson, Alexandra Cameron, Matt Okine (ABC) Strife – Steve Hutensky, Katie Amos, Asher Keddie, Mia Freedman, Sarah Scheller, Lorelle Adamson (Binge, Foxtel) Top End Bub – Rosemary Blight, Ben Grant, Joshua Tyler, Miranda Tapsell (Amazon Prime Video)	Best Entertainment Program Dancing with the Stars – Peter Beck, Amanda Bainbridge, Deb Spinocchia, Kylie Washington (Seven Network) Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Grand Final: Access All Areas – Paul Clarke, Emily Griggs, Angela Downing (SBS) I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! – Beth Hart, Alex Mavroidakis, Josie Steele, Clare Bath (Network 10) Lego Masters: Grand Masters of the Galaxy – David McDonald, Hamish Blake, Di Yang, AJ Johnson (Nine Network) Portrait Artist of the Year – David McDonald, Kate Feely, Maria Handas (ABC) That Blackfella Show – Rowdie Walden (ABC)
Best Comedy Entertainment Program Guy Montgomery's Guy-Mont Spelling Bee – Bronwynn Bakker, Cameron Bakker, Guy Montgomery, Greg Sitch (ABC) Hard Quiz – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh (ABC) Sam Pang Tonight – Sam Pang, John Origlasso (Network 10) Spicks and Specks – Rowdie Walden, Anthony Watt (ABC) Taskmaster Australia – Bronwynn Bakker, Cameron Bakker (Paramount+) The Weekly with Charlie Pickering – Charlie Pickering, Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Frank Bruzzese (ABC)	Best Factual Entertainment Program Alone Australia – Beth Hart, Riima Daher, Joseph McMahon, Keely Sonntag (SBS) Gogglebox Australia – David McDonald, Will Minchin, Natasha Pizzica (Network 10) Muster Dogs: Collies and Kelpies – Michael Boughen, Matthew Street, Lauren Rudd (ABC) Take 5 with Zan Rowe – Zan Rowe, Nikita Agzarian, Josh Schmidt (ABC) The Piano – Bethan Briegel-Jones, Gemma Murphy, Josie Mason Campbell (ABC) The Secret DNA of Us – Josie Mason Campbell, Sophie Meyrick (SBS)
Best Lifestyle Program Gardening Australia – Gill Lomas (ABC) Grand Designs Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett (ABC) Love It or List It Australia – Karen Warner, Geoff Fitzpatrick, John Luscombe, Howard Myers-Rifai (Binge, Foxtel) Restoration Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett (ABC) Selling Houses Australia – Caroline Swift, Kam Vurlow, Monique Bushby (Binge, Foxtel) The Cook Up with Adam Liaw – Emily Griggs, Gavin Jarrett (SBS)	Best Reality Program Australian Idol – Joel McCormack, Riccy Felixberto, Wes Dening (Seven Network) Australian Survivor: Australia V The World – Amelia Fisk, David Forster, Phoebe McMahon, Toby Trappel (Network 10) Married At First Sight – Tara McWilliams, Alexandra Spurway, Stevo Petkovic, Dimi Theodoulou (Nine Network) MasterChef Australia – Marty Benson, Adam Fergusson, Eoin Maher, April Mackay (Network 10) The Amazing Race Australia – Rikkie Proost, Alenka Henry, Jane Rowley (Network 10) The Great Australian Bake Off – Emily Commens, Amanda Bainbridge, Deb Spinocchia, Kylie Washington (Binge, Foxtel)
Best Children's Program Do Not Watch This Show – Andy Lee, Greg Sitch (ABC) Hard Quiz Kids – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh (ABC) Play School: All Together – Bryson Hall, Lyndal Mebberson (ABC) Space Nova – Suzanne Ryan, Yasmin Jones (ABC)	Best Stand-Up Special The Magical Dead Cat – Aunty Donna – Jessica Galea, Georgia Mappin, Tom Downey I'm As Surprised As You Are – Celia Pacquola – Kyran Nicholson So Proud – Claire Hooper Don't Tease Me About My Gloves – Geraldine Hickey Melbourne International Comedy Festival - The Allstars Supershow – Rowdie Walden, Susan Provan Melbourne International Comedy Festival - The Gala – Rowdie Walden, Susan Provan
Best Lead Actor in Drama 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	Best Lead Actress in Drama 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
Best Supporting Actor in 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	Best Supporting Actress in 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
Best Comedy Performer Hamish Blake – Lego Masters: 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!	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
Best Direction in Drama or Comedy Jeffrey Walker – Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5: Casseroles Lucy Gaffy – Mix Tape – Episode 1 Justin Kurzel – The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 Emma Freeman – The Newsreader – Episode 3: Behind the Front Line Madeleine Gottlieb – The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer – Episode 1	Best Direction in Non-Fiction Television Max Miller, Sam Lingham – Aunty Donna: The Magical Dead Cat Richard Franc, Mark McEvilly – Australian Survivor: Australia V The World – Episode 1: The Multiverse Kirk Docker – I Was Actually There – Episode 4: Cronulla Riots Nick Robinson – The Kimberley – Episode 1 Ben Lawrence – The People vs Robodebt – Episode 2
Best Screenplay in Television Angela Betzien – Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5: Casseroles Samantha Strauss – Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 6: Tapeworm Jo Spain – Mix Tape – Episode 1 Michael Lucas – The Newsreader – Episode 6: The Fall Sarah L. Walker – The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer – Episode 1	Best Casting Kirsty McGregor – Apple Cider Vinegar Anousha Zarkesh – Mystery Road Origin Nikki Barrett, Kelly Graham – The Narrow Road to the Deep North Nathan Lloyd – The Newsreader Jane Norris – The Survivors
Best Cinematography in Television Toby Oliver – Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5: Casseroles Sky Davies – Mystery Road: Origin – Episode 5 Sam Chiplin – The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 Earle Dresner – The Newsreader – Episode 3: Behind the Front Line Mark Wareham – The Survivors – Episode 3	Best Costume Design in Television Alice Babidge – The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 Cappi Ireland – Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5: Casseroles Joanna Mae Park, Suzanne Keogh – Mix Tape – Episode 1 Lien See Leong – The Survivors – Episode 3 Gypsy Taylor – The Newsreader – Episode 3: Behind the Front Line
Best Editing in Television Mat Evans, Annette Davey – Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5: Casseroles Peter Pritchard – Invisible Boys – Episode 9: Bees Nicholas Holmes – Mystery Road: Origin – Episode 5 Alexandre de Franceschi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 Julie-Anne De Ruvo – The Newsreader – Episode 6	Best Production Design in Television Melinda Doring – Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5: Casseroles Herbert Pinter – Mystery Road: Origin – Episode 5 Scott Bird – Ten Pound Poms – Episode 1 Alice Babidge, Bev Dunn, Paul Sarpi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 Paddy Reardon – The Newsreader – Episode 3: Behind the Front Line
Best Original Music Score in Television Cornel Wilczek – Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5: Casseroles Chiara Costanza – Mix Tape – Episode 1 Vincent Goodyer – Mystery Road: Origin – Episode 5 Jed Kurzel – The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 Thomas Rouch, Cornel Wilczek – The Survivors – Episode 3	Best Sound in Television Luke Mynott, Tania Vlassova, Cihan Saral, Michael Newton, Nick Godkin, Evan McHugh – Apple Cider Vinegar – Episode 5: Casseroles Stuart Morton, Jonathan Mendolicchio, Lara Cross, Daniel Birch – Mix Tape – Episode 1 Andy Wright, Mick Boraso, Nick Emond, Glenn Newnham – The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Episode 1 Emma Bortignon, Stephen Witherow, Tobi Armbruster – The Survivors – Episode 6 Trevor Hope, Dino Giacomin, Rob Sullivan, James Andrews – The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer – Episode 1

Documentary

Best Documentary Ellis Park – Justin Kurzel, Nick Batzias, Charlotte Wheaton Journey Home, David Gulpilil – Maggie Miles, Trisha Morton-Thomas, Rachel Clements, Jida Gulpilil, Lloyd Garrawurra Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke – Lorin Clarke, Richard Keddie Songs Inside – Shalom Almond, Katrina Lucas Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story – Ivan O'Mahoney, Jessica Halloran Yurlu | Country – Yaara Bou Melhem	Best Documentary or Factual Television Program End Game with Tony Armstrong – Steve Bibb, Dan Brown (ABC) I Was Actually There – Loni Cooper, Josh Schmidt, Julie Hanna (ABC) The Assembly – Melissa Maclean, Mark Fennessy, Therese Hegarty, Julie Hanna (ABC) The Kimberley – Electra Manikakis, Nick Robinson, Peta Ayers, Mark Coles Smith (ABC) The People vs Robodebt – Paula Bycroft, Michael Cordell, Andrew Farrell (SBS) Who Do You Think You Are? – Maxine Gray, Carolyn Kung (SBS)
Best Editing in a Documentary Nick Fenton – Ellis Park Aleck Morton – Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke Gretchen Peterson – The People vs Robodebt – Episode 2 Katharina Fiedler – The Wolves Always Come at Night Peter Crombie – Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story	Best Cinematography in a Documentary Germain McMicking – Ellis Park Allan Collins, Anna Cadden, Maggie Miles – Journey Home, David Gulpilil Jack Riley, Nick Robinson, Caspar Mazzotti, Paul Bell – The Kimberley – Episode 1 Michael Latham – The Wolves Always Come at Night Tom Bannigan – Yurlu | Country
Best Original Music Score in a Documentary David Bridie – Journey Home, David Gulpilil Simon Walbrook – Revealed: Death Cap Murders – Episode 1: The Crime Amanda Brown – Songs Inside Helena Czajka – Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story Helena Czajka – Yurlu | Country	Best Sound in a Documentary Travis Handley, Stephen Hopes – Cold Chisel: The Big 5-0 David Williams, Josh Williams – Journey Home, David Gulpilil Tom Heuzenroeder – Songs Inside Nigel Christensen, Michael Ackroyd, James Andrews – Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story Sam Hayward – Yurlu | Country

Short form and online

Best Short Film Beyond Measure – David Ferrier Dependent – Julian Maroun, Marcus Fredrick Khoudair, Joseph Chebatte, Emma Elias DIY – Tony Gardiner, Lachlan Marks Don't Ignore Me – Raymond Mendez, Charli Fletcher, Rosangela Fasano, Bianca Kean I'm The Most Racist Person I Know – Leela Varghese, Suriyna Sivashanker, Shabana Azeez Red River Cowboy – Grace Wriggles The Shirt Off Your Back – Julia Corcoran, Ari Harrison, David Robinson-Smith Writers in Love – Sarah Giles, Grace Malouf, Jacqueline Kerwick

Best Short Animation

Best Online Drama or Comedy 'Til You Make It – Philip Hayden, Emma Choy, Scott Major, Riley Sugars, Gemma Louise Murphy A Series of Unfortunate Dates – Amy Raffe Long Head – Millie Holten, Annabelle Ots, Dan Ilic Not Russian Anywhere – Annisa Belonogoff, Aimée-Lee Xu Hsien, Lucinda Bruce, Nicole Scharf Ruff & Ruby – Jessica Trinity Fisher The Worst That Could Happen – Lachlan Macfarlane, Austin Macfarlane, Rita Artmann, Monique Mulcahy

Additional awards

Best Hair and Makeup Rebecca Buratto, Larry Van Duynhoven, Paul Katte, Nick Nicolaou, Karen Gower, Mariel McClorey – Bring Her Back Amber Adams, Adam Johansen, Damian Martin – It Will Find You Angela Conte – The Narrow Road to the Deep North Larry Van Duynhoven, Ellie Daniel, Brydie Stone, Julian Dimase – Together Hayley Atherton, Jason Baird, Sean Genders – We Bury the Dead	Best Visual Effects or Animation
Best Original Song "Dangerous" (Ryan Bingham) – Dangerous Animals "Head South" (Jonathan Ogilvie, Stella Bennett, Michael Daly, Grant Horsnell) – Head South "Here I Go" (Leela Varghese, Gemma Chua-Tran, Michael Darren) – Lesbian Space Princess "Night & Day" (Dominic Cabusi, Bronte Maree O'Neill, Herana, Steady Okurame) – Carmen & Bolude "The Chase" (Elliott Wheeler, Shannon Sanders) – Spit "Went Up the Hill" (Vicky Krieps) – Went Up the Hill	Best Soundtrack Apple Cider Vinegar – Jemma Burns Bring Her Back – Andrew Koťátko Kangaroo – Jemma Burns Mix Tape – Rory McPartland, Dina Coughlan Mystery Road: Origin – Jemma Burns Playing Gracie Darling – Julia Webster, Jamie Richter
Audience Choice Award for Favourite Film	Audience Choice Award for Favourite Television Show
Audience Choice Award for Favourite Actor	Audience Choice Award for Favourite Actress
Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Media Personality	Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Digital Creator

References

1. "Belle Gibson drama tops 2026 AACTA nominations". ABC News. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
2. Gray, Peter (5 December 2025). "AACTA Awards announce star-studded field of nominees for 2026 season". The AU Review. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
3. "Winners & Nominees". AACTA. Retrieved 5 December 2025.

External links

• Official AACTA website