Overview
- The Queensland Government and Experience Gold Coast renewed their partnership with AACTA, locking the awards and festival on the Gold Coast until 2028.
- AACTA Festival 2026 runs February 4–7 at HOTA, with the Industry Gala on Feb 4, Industry Conference on Feb 5, the AACTA Awards Ceremony on Feb 6, and the Screen Careers Expo on Feb 7.
- Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin were named AACTA ambassadors, joining Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and George Miller in leadership roles.
- Luhrmann will present the Australian premiere of EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, and the festival will host the world premiere of Two Years Later starring Brenton Thwaites and Phoebe Tonkin with a red carpet and Q&A.
- The program features roughly 100 events with 300 speakers and more than 40 industry sessions involving Foxtel, Paramount+, Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures Television, Netflix, HBO Max and Stan.