The 2026 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards served up drama, glamour, and a whole lot of winners, and it was the supernatural folk horror film ‘Bring Her Back’ that walked away with the biggest haul of the night.
The chilling thriller ‘Bring Her Back’ didn’t just scare audiences. It conquered the AACTAs. With ten wins from sixteen nominations, the film took home trophies for Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Lead Actress for Sally Hawkins.
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Not far behind, the miniseries ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ raked in nine awards, including Best Lead Actor for Jacob Elordi. Drama series ‘The Newsreader’ continued its streak of wins with four awards, while Netflix’s ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ was crowned Best Miniseries.
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It wasn’t just the stars of 2025-26 who got recognition. Legendary filmmaker Bruce Beresford received the prestigious Longford Lyell Award. Visionaries Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings picked up the Byron Kennedy Award, while Kate Armon and Craig Smith were recognised with the Reg Grundy Award. The Brian Walsh Award went to Clare Hughes, honoring her exceptional contributions to Australian film and television.
Also Read: Padma Awards 2026: Dharmendra, Rohit Sharma, Bhagat Singh Koshyari among 131 awardees | Check full list
Here is the full list of winners:
In film
Best Casting in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’
Best Cinematography in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’
Best Costume Design in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’
Best Direction in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’
Best Editing in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’
Best Film: ‘Bring Her Back’
Best Indie Film: ‘Lesbian Space Princess’
Best Lead Actor in Film: Richard Roxburgh (‘The Correspondent’)
Best Lead Actress in Film: Sally Hawkins (‘Bring Her Back’)
Best Original Score in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’
Best Production Design in Film: ‘The Correspondent’
Best Screenplay in Film: ‘The Correspondent’
Best Sound in Film: ‘Bring Her Back’
Best Supporting Actor in Film: Julian McMahon (‘The Surfer’)
Best Supporting Actress in Film: Deborah Mailman (‘Kangaroo’)
In Television
Best Acting in a Comedy: Miranda Tapsell (‘Top End Bub’)
Best Casting in Television: ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’
Best Children’s Program: ‘Play School: All Together’
Best Cinematography in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’
Best Comedy Entertainment Program: ‘Hard Quiz’
Best Comedy Performer: Tom Gleeson (‘Hard Quiz’)
Best Costume Design in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’
Best Direction in Drama or Comedy: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’
Best Direction in Nonfiction Television: ‘The People vs Robodebt’
Best Documentary or Factual Program: ‘The People vs Robodebt’
Best Drama Series: ‘The Newsreader’
Best Editing in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’
Best Entertainment Program: ‘Portrait Artist of the Year’
Best Factual Entertainment Program: ‘Alone Australia’
Best Lead Actor in a Drama: Jacob Elordi (‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’)
Best Lead Actress in a Drama: Anna Torv (‘The Newsreader’)
Best Lifestyle Program: ‘Grand Designs Australia’
Best Miniseries: ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’
Best Narrative Comedy Series: ‘Bump’
Best Original Score in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’
Best Production Design in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’
Best Reality Program: ‘The Great Australian Bake Off’
Best Screenplay in Television: ‘The Newsreader’
Best Sound in Television: ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’
Best Stand-Up Special: Celia Pacquola (‘I’m As Surprised As You Are’)
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Daniel Henshall (‘The Newsreader’)
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Heather Mitchell (‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’)
In Documentary
Best Cinematography in a Documentary: ‘The Kimberley’
Best Documentary: ‘Journey Home, David Gulpilil’
Best Editing in a Documentary: ‘Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story’
Best Original Score in a Documentary: ‘Journey Home, David Gulpilil’
Best Sound in a Documentary: ‘Yurlu | Country’
Short film
Best Short Film: ‘I’m The Most Racist Person I Know’
Online
Best Online Drama or Comedy: ‘A Series of Unfortunate Dates’
Others
Best Hair and Makeup: ‘Bring Her Back’
Best Original Song: ‘Here I Go’ from ‘Lesbian Space Princess’
Best Soundtrack: ‘Mix Tape’
Best Visual Effects or Animation: ‘Tron: Ares’
Individual
2026 AACTA Longford Lyell Award Recipient: Bruce Beresford
2026 AACTA Byron Kennedy Award Recipients: Kristina Ceyton, Samantha Jennings
2026 AACTA Reg Grundy Award Recipient: Kate Armon, Craig Smith
2026 AACTA Trailblazer Award Recipient: Sarah Snook
2026 AACTA Brian Walsh Award Recipient: Clare Hughes
Audience Choice Awards
Favourite TV Show: ‘Stranger Things ‘(Season 5)
Favourite Film: ‘Wicked: For Good’
Favourite Australian Actress: Margot Robbie
Favourite Australian Actor: Jacob Elordi
Favourite Media Personality: Robert Irwin
Favourite Australian Podcast: Shameless
Favourite Australian Music Video: The Kid LAROI – A Cold Play
Favourite Online Channel: Norris Nuts @norrisnuts
Favourite Digital Creator: Bridey Drake @brideydrake
Rabanne Breakthrough Artist: Mekonnen Knife
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