AACTA Awards 2026 winners list: Bring Her Back dominates in film, The Narrow Road to the Deep North in TV

Horror movie Bring Her Back has emerged as the decisive winner of the 2026 AACTA Awards, picking up 10 gongs including best film.

The film from Danny and Michael Philippou, the follow-up to their wildly successful 2023 release Talk to Me, also won for directing and best actress for Sally Hawkins.

Julian McMahon, who died in July from cancer, posthumously won the best supporting actor in a film for his role in The Surfer, one of his last onscreen performances.

On the TV side, harrowing war series The Narrow Road to the Deep North won nine AACTAs including for lead star Jacob Elordi, who was recognised for his performance in best actor in a drama while Heather Mitchell was awarded in the best supporting actress in a drama.

Sarah Snook was given the Trailblazer Award.

The AACTAs are the closest Australian equivalent of the Oscars and Emmys. The awards were given out over two ceremonies, an industry night and the gala event.

WINNERS

Best film – Bring Her Back

Best indie film – Lesbian Space Princess

Best direction in film – Bring Her Back

Best lead actor in a film – Richard Roxburgh, The Correspondent

Best lead actress in a film – Sally Hawkins, Bring Her Back

Best supporting actor in a film – Julian McMahon, The Surfer

Best supporting actress in a film – Deborah Mailman, Kangaroo

Best screenplay in film – The Correspondent

Best casting in film – Bring Her Back

Best cinematography in film – Bring Her Back

Best costume design in film – Bring Her Back

Best editing in film – Bring Her Back

Best original score in film – Bring Her Back

Best production design in film – The Correspondent

Best sound in film – Bring Her Back

Best drama series – The Newsreader

Best miniseries – Apple Cider Vinegar

Best narrative comedy series – Bump

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 supporting actor in a drama – Daniel Henshall, The Newsreader

Best supporting actress in a drama – Heather Mitchell, The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Best acting in a comedy – Miranda Tapsell, Top End Bub

Best direction in drama or comedy – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Best direction in nonfiction TV – The People vs Robodebt

Best screenplay in TV – The Newsreader

Best cinematography in TV – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Best casting in TV – Apple Cider Vinegar

Best production design in TV – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Best costume design in TV – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Best original score in TV – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Best sound in TV – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Best editing in TV – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Best children’s program – Play School: All Together

Best comedy entertainment program – Hard Quiz

Best comedy performer – Tom Gleeson, Hard Quiz

Best documentary or factual program – The People vs Robodebt

Best entertainment program – Portrait Artist of the Year

Best factual entertainment program – Alone Australia

Best lifestyle program – Grand Designs Australia

Best reality program – The Great Australian Bake Off

Best stand-up special – Celia Pacquola, I’m As Surprised as You Are

Best documentary – Journey Home, David Gulpilil

Best cinematography in a documentary – The Kimberley

Best editing in a documentary – Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story

Best original story in a documentary – Journey Home, David Gulpilil

Best sound in a documentary – Yurlu | Country

Best short film – I’m the Most Racist Person I Know

Best online drama or comedy – A Series of Unfortunate Dates

Best hair and makeup - Bring Her Back

Best original song – Here I Go, Lesbian Space Princess

Best visual effects or animation – Tron: Ares

Disclosure: The writer is a member of AACTA and voted in the 2026 awards