AACTA Awards 2026 Nominations (TV and related nominees) | Predictions

Nominations have just been announced for the AACTA Awards 2026.

Fast facts - 

• AACTA Festival will run for 5 days from February 4 – 8th 2026.
• AACTA Awards Industry Gala: Wednesday 4 February 2026
• AACTA Awards will screen at 7.30pm AEDT, Friday 6 February on Channel 10.
• Apple Cider Vinegar has topped the TV nominations
• The Newsreader and The Narrow Road to the Deep North followed with 12 nominations and Mystery Road: Origin at 11 nominations
• Next were Mix Tape (8 nominations), The Survivors (6 nominations) and The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer (5 nominations)

Predictions bold and in red.

AACTA Award for Best Miniseries

• Apple Cider Vinegar – Samantha Strauss, Liz Watts, Louise Gough, Helen Gregory, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning – See-Saw Films / Picking scabs (Netflix)

• Invisible Boys – Nicholas Verso, Tania Chambers – Asphodel Films and Feisty Dame Productions (Stan)

• Mix Tape – Angie Fielder, Polly Staniford, Aoife O’Sullivan, Tristan Orpen Lynch – Aquarius Films and Subotica (in Ireland) (Binge, Foxtel)

• The Last Anniversary – Nicole Kidman, Per Saari, Steve Hutensky, Jodi Matterson, Samantha Strauss, John Polson – Made Up Stories, Fifth Season and Blossom Films (Binge, Foxtel)

• The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Jo Porter, Rachel Gardner, Shaun Grant, Justin Kurzel, Alexandra Taussig – Curio Pictures (Amazon Prime Video)

• The Survivors – Tony Ayres, Andrea Denholm, Cherie Nowlan, Andrew Walker – Tony Ayres Productions | Matchbox Pictures and Universal International Studios. (Netflix)

AACTA Award for Best Drama Series

• Bay of Fires – Marta Dusseldorp – Archipelago Productions and Fremantle Australia (ABC)

• Black Snow: Jack of Clubs – Rosemary Blight, Milly Olrog, Lucas Taylor, Ben Grant – Goalpost Pictures (Stan)

• Mystery Road Origin – Greer Simpkin, David Jowsey – Bunya Productions (ABC)

• The Family Next Door – Melinda Wearne, Dean O’Toole, David Ogilvy, Jenny O’Shea – Beyond Productions Pty Ltd (ABC)

• The Newsreader – Joanna Werner, Michael Lucas – Werner Film Productions (ABC)

• The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer – Hamish Lewis, Michael Brooks, Ally Henville, Ian Collie, Rob Gibson – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd and Easy Tiger Productions Pty Ltd (Binge, Foxtel)

AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series

• Austin – Joe Weatherstone, Catherine Nebauer – Northern Pictures (ABC)

• Bump – Dan Edwards, John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Kelsey Munro – Roadshow Rough Diamond (Stan)

• Ghosts – Kylie Washington, Sophia Zachariou, Bree-Anne Sykes, Joshua Mapleston – BBC Studios Productions (Network Ten, Paramount+)

• Mother and Son – Jude Troy, Richard Finlayson, Matt Okine, Alexandra Cameron – Wooden Horse (ABC)

• Strife – Steve Hutensky, Katie Amos, Asher Keddie, Mia Freedman, Sarah Scheller, Lorelle Adamson – Made Up Stories and Fifth Season (Binge, Foxtel)

• Top End Bub – Rosemary Blight, Ben Grant, Miranda Tapsell, Joshua Tyler – Goalpost Pictures (Amazon Prime Video)

AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a 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

AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a 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

AACTA Award for 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

AACTA Award for Best Documentary

• Ellis Park – Justin Kurzel (Dir.), Nick Batzias, Charlotte Wheaton – GoodThing Productions

• Journey Home, David Gulpilil – Maggie Miles (Dir.), Trisha Morton-Thomas (Dir.), Rachel Clements, Jida Gulpilil, Lloyd Garrawurra – Savage Films and Brindle Films

• Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke – Lorin Clarke (Dir.), Richard Keddie – THW Film Company & Lorin Clarke Productions

• Songs Inside – Shalom Almond (Dir.), Katrina Lucas – Songs Inside Pty Ltd

• Unbreakable – The Jelena Dokic Story – Ivan O’Mahoney (Dir.), Jessica Halloran (Dir.) – In Films

• Yurlu | Country – Yaara Bou Melhem (Dir.) – Illuminate Films

AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performer

• Hamish Blake – Lego Masters Australia: 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!

AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a 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

AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a 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

AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program

• Dancing with the Stars – Peter Beck, Amanda Bainbridge, Deb Spinocchia, Kylie Washington – BBC Studios Productions Australia (Seven Network)

• Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Grand Final: Access All Areas – Paul Clarke, Emily Griggs, Angela Downing – Beyond Productions (SBS)

• I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Australia – Beth Hart, Alex Mavroidakis, Josie Steele, Clare Bath – ITV Studios Australia (Network Ten)

• Lego Masters Australia: Grand Masters of the Galaxy – David McDonald, Hamish Blake, Di Yang, AJ Johnson – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)

• Portrait Artist of the Year – David McDonald, Kate Feely, Maria Handas – Endemol Shine Australia (ABC)

• That Blackfella Show – Rowdie Walden – ABC (ABC)

AACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program

• Guy Montgomery’s Guy-Mont Spelling Bee – Bronwynn Bakker, Cameron Bakker, Guy Montgomery, Greg Sitch – Kevin & Co and ABC (ABC)

• Hard Quiz – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)

• Sam Pang Tonight – Sam Pang, John Origlasso – One Wolf Productions (Network Ten)

• Spicks and Specks – Rowdie Walden, Anthony Watt – ABC (ABC)

• Taskmaster Australia – Bronwynn Bakker, Cameron Bakker – Kevin & Co and Avalon (Paramount+)

• The Weekly with Charlie Pickering – Charlie Pickering, Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Frank Bruzzese – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)

AACTA Award for Best Children’s Program

• Do Not Watch This Show – Andy Lee, Greg Sitch – Lee Bones Productions (ABC)

• Hard Quiz Kids – Chris Walker, Kevin Whyte, Tom Gleeson, John Tabbagh – Thinkative Television and ABC (ABC)

• Play School: All Together – Bryson Hall, Lyndal Mebberson – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

• Space Nova – Suzanne Ryan, Yasmin Jones – SLR Productions and Giggle Garage (ABC)

AACTA Award for Best Stand-Up Special

• Aunty Donna: The Magical Dead Cat – Jessica Galea, Georgia Mappin, Tom Downey

• Celia Pacquola: I’m As Surprised As You Are – Kevin Whyte, Celia Pacquola

• Claire Hooper: So Proud – Kyran Nicholson, Claire Hooper

• Geraldine Hickey: Don’t Tease Me About My Gloves – Kevin Whyte, Geraldine Hickey

• Melbourne International Comedy Festival – The Allstars Supershow – Rowdie Walden, Susan Provan

• Melbourne International Comedy Festival – The Gala – Rowdie Walden, Susan Provan

AACTA Award for Best Factual Entertainment Program

• Alone Australia – Riima Daher, Joseph McMahon, Beth Hart, Keely Sonntag – ITV Studios Australia (SBS)

• Gogglebox Australia – David McDonald, Will Minchin, Natasha Pizzica – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)

• Muster Dogs Collies and Kelpies – Michael Boughen, Matthew Street, Lauren Rudd – Ambience Entertainment Pty Ltd (ABC)

• Take 5 with Zan Rowe – Zan Rowe, Nikita Agzarian, Josh Schmidt – Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

• The Piano – Bethan Briegel-Jones, Gemma Murphy, Josie Mason Campbell – Eureka Productions (ABC)

• The Secret DNA of Us – Josie Mason Campbell, Sophie Meyrick – Eureka Productions (SBS)

AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program

• End Game with Tony Armstrong – Steve Bibb, Dan Brown – Barking Mad Productions, Smashing Films, Allstory Pictures and Barking Mad Productions, Smashing Films, Allstory Pictures (ABC)

• I Was Actually There – Loni Cooper, Josh Schmidt, Julie Hanna – Docker Media (ABC)

• The Assembly – Melissa Maclean, Mark Fennessy, Therese Hegarty, Julie Hanna – Helium Pictures (ABC)

• The Kimberley – Electra Manikakis, Nick Robinson, Peta Ayers, Mark Coles Smith – Wild Pacific Media (ABC)

• The People vs Robodebt – Paula Bycroft, Michael Cordell, Andrew Farrell – CJZ (SBS)

• Who Do You Think You Are? – Maxine Gray, Carolyn Kung – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd (SBS)

AACTA Award for Best Lifestyle Program

• Gardening Australia – Gill Lomas – ABC (ABC)

• Grand Designs Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett – Eureka Productions (ABC)

• Love it or List it Australia – Karen Warner, Geoff Fitzpatrick, John Luscombe, Howard Myers-Rifai – Beyond Productions (Binge, Foxtel)

• Restoration Australia – Brooke Bayvel, Michael Collett – Eureka Productions (ABC)

• Selling Houses Australia – Caroline Swift, Kam Vurlow, Monique Bushby – Warner Bros. International Television Production Australia Pty Ltd (Binge, Foxtel)

• The Cook Up with Adam Liaw – Emily Griggs, Gavin Jarrett – SBS (SBS)

AACTA Award for Best Reality Program 

• Australian Idol – Joel McCormack, Riccy Felixberto, Wes Dening – Eureka Productions (Seven Network)

• Australian Survivor: Australia v The World – Amelia Fisk, David Forster, Phoebe McMahon, Toby Trappel – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)

• Married At First Sight Australia – Tara McWilliams, Alexandra Spurway, Stevo Petkovic, Dimi Theodoulou – Endemol Shine Australia (Nine Network)

• MasterChef Australia – Marty Benson, Adam Fergusson, Eoin Maher, April Mackay – Endemol Shine Australia (Network Ten)

• The Amazing Race – Rikkie Proost, Alenka Henry, Jane Rowley – Eureka Productions (Network Ten)

• The Great Australian Bake Off – Emily Commens, Amanda Bainbridge, Deb Spinocchia, Kylie Washington – BBC Studios Productions Australia (Binge, Foxtel)

More info and categories can be found here.