The supernatural folk horror film Bring Her Back claimed top honors at the 2026 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards, securing 10 wins from 16 nominations, including Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Lead Actress for Sally Hawkins. Stars Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, and Sarah Snook also earned recognition at the ceremony celebrating excellence in film, television, documentaries, online content, and short films.
Major Category Winners
The miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North followed with nine victories, highlighted by Jacob Elordi’s Best Lead Actor in a Drama award. The Newsreader drama series added four wins to its tally, while Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar took Best Miniseries.
Audience Choice and Trailblazer Honors
Audience favorites included Margot Robbie as Favorite Australian Actress, Jacob Elordi as Favorite Australian Actor, and Robert Irwin as Favorite Media Personality. Sarah Snook received the 2026 AACTA Trailblazer Award for her contributions to the screen industry. Other special awards went to Bruce Beresford (Longford Lyell Award), Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings (Byron Kennedy Award), Kate Armon and Craig Smith (Reg Grundy Award), and Clare Hughes (Brian Walsh Award).
In audience-voted categories, Stranger Things (Season 5) won Favorite TV Show, Wicked: For Good claimed Favorite Film, and the Shameless podcast earned Best Podcast.
Full List of 2026 AACTA Winners
Film
- Best Casting: Bring Her Back
- Best Cinematography: Bring Her Back
- Best Costume Design: Bring Her Back
- Best Direction: Bring Her Back
- Best Editing: Bring Her Back
- Best Film: Bring Her Back
- Best Indie Film: Lesbian Space Princess
- Best Lead Actor: Richard Roxburgh (The Correspondent)
- Best Lead Actress: Sally Hawkins (Bring Her Back)
- Best Original Score: Bring Her Back
- Best Production Design: The Correspondent
- Best Screenplay: The Correspondent
- Best Sound: Bring Her Back
- Best Supporting Actor: Julian McMahon (The Surfer)
- Best Supporting Actress: Deborah Mailman (Kangaroo)
Television
- Best Acting in a Comedy: Miranda Tapsell (Top End Bub)
- Best Casting: Apple Cider Vinegar
- Best Children’s Program: Play School: All Together
- Best Cinematography: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
- Best Comedy Entertainment: Hard Quiz
- Best Comedy Performer: Tom Gleeson (Hard Quiz)
- Best Costume Design: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
- Best Direction in Drama/Comedy: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
- Best Direction in Nonfiction: The People vs Robodebt
- Best Documentary/Factual: The People vs Robodebt
- Best Drama Series: The Newsreader
- Best Editing: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
- Best Entertainment Program: Portrait Artist of the Year
- Best Factual Entertainment: Alone Australia
- Best Lead Actor in Drama: Jacob Elordi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North)
- Best Lead Actress in Drama: Anna Torv (The Newsreader)
- Best Lifestyle Program: Grand Designs Australia
- Best Miniseries: Apple Cider Vinegar
- Best Narrative Comedy: Bump
- Best Original Score: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
- Best Production Design: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
- Best Reality Program: The Great Australian Bake Off
- Best Screenplay: The Newsreader
- Best Sound: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
- Best Stand-Up Special: Celia Pacquola (I’m As Surprised As You Are)
- Best Supporting Actor in Drama: Daniel Henshall (The Newsreader)
- Best Supporting Actress in Drama: Heather Mitchell (The Narrow Road to the Deep North)
Documentary
- Best Cinematography: The Kimberley
- Best Documentary: Journey Home, David Gulpilil
- Best Editing: Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story
- Best Original Score: Journey Home, David Gulpilil
- Best Sound: Yurlu | Country
Short Film
- Best Short Film: I’m The Most Racist Person I Know
Online
- Best Online Drama/Comedy: A Series of Unfortunate Dates
Other
- Best Hair and Makeup: Bring Her Back
- Best Original Song: “Here I Go” from Lesbian Space Princess
- Best Soundtrack: Mix Tape
- Best Visual Effects/Animation: Tron: Ares
Individual Awards
- Longford Lyell: Bruce Beresford
- Byron Kennedy: Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings
- Reg Grundy: Kate Armon, Craig Smith
- Trailblazer: Sarah Snook
- Brian Walsh: Clare Hughes
Audience Choice Awards
- Favorite TV Show: Stranger Things (Season 5)
- Favorite Film: Wicked: For Good
- Favorite Australian Actress: Margot Robbie
- Favorite Australian Actor: Jacob Elordi
- Favorite Media Personality: Robert Irwin
- Favorite Australian Podcast: Shameless
- Favorite Australian Music Video: The Kid LAROI – A Cold Play
- Favorite Online Channel: Norris Nuts @norrisnuts
- Favorite Digital Creator: Bridey Drake @brideydrake
- Rabanne Breakthrough Artist: Mekonnen Knife
