AACTA has unveiled a major new wave of programming for the 2026 AACTA Festival, stacking international star power with deeper industry conversations as it positions the event as both a cultural showcase and a serious screen-sector convening point.
Running from 4-8 February 2026 at HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast, the expanded lineup adds names including Yerin Ha, Phoebe Tonkin, Dichen Lachman, Baz Luhrmann, Danny and Michael Philippou, Shane Jacobson and Adam Liaw, alongside milestone screenings, world premieres and career-focused panels.
The announcement also confirms Causeway Films’ Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings as recipients of the 2026 AACTA Byron Kennedy Award, underlining the Festival’s dual mission: celebrating global-facing Australian success while investing in the future of local storytelling.
Yerin Ha in Bridgerton
Bridgerton, Severance and the global moment
One of the most high-profile additions is Ha, who will appear at the Festival following her casting as the new leading lady in Bridgerton.
Her appearance reflects AACTA’s growing emphasis on Australian talent breaking through on the world stage.
That global lens continues with Lachman, who will join the Festival from Los Angeles to discuss her breakout role in Severance, and Tonkin, who will attend the world premiere of Two Years Later, further cementing the Festival’s reputation as a launchpad rather than a retrospective.
At the blockbuster end, Luhrmann will join the Australian premiere of EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert, bringing red-carpet energy and creative context to one of the Festival’s most anticipated events.
Dichen Lachman in Severance
Celebrating legacy and momentum
AACTA’s 2026 program also leans into nostalgia and continuity, most notably with a 20th anniversary screening of Kenny, attended by Jacobson and director Clayton Jacobson, celebrating one of Australia’s most enduring screen characters.
Meanwhile, Danny and Michael Philippou return to chart their journey from the rough-edged chaos of RackaRacka to the global impact of their feature filmmaking, reinforcing AACTA’s interest in creators who have built audiences outside traditional pathways.
The Festival will also spotlight mainstream television culture, including a special I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! conversation, alongside Feelgood TV, featuring Liaw and producer Kylie Washington, exploring why comfort viewing continues to resonate.
Causeway Films and fearless filmmaking
The awarding of the 2026 AACTA Byron Kennedy Award to Kristina Ceyton and Samantha Jennings places Causeway Films firmly at the centre of the Festival’s industry narrative.
From The Babadook and The Nightingale to Talk to Me and Bring Her Back, Causeway’s body of work represents one of Australia’s most successful global production runs.
Bring Her Back leads this year’s feature nominations with 16 nods across major categories.
Festival audiences will hear directly from the duo in Fearless Filmmaking with Ceyton and Jennings fronting an in-depth session exploring creative risk, instinct and global reach, scheduled for Saturday 7 February.
Careers, access and the next generation
Beyond headline talent, AACTA continues to broaden its professional offering.
The Screen Careers Expo, presented by Essential Screen Skills, returns with new panels including Navigating the Screen Industry as an Actor, Networking 101, Life on Set, and Hands-On Futures, alongside a Live Feature Story Development Panel presented by Screenworks.
The Festival has also reinstated its $50 AACTA membership offer, giving new members discounted access to Festival and Awards events, a move designed to lower barriers for emerging creatives and early-career professionals.
AACTA’s ambition grows
With five days of screenings, panels, workshops, masterclasses and awards ceremonies, the 2026 AACTA Festival is shaping up as one of the organisation’s most expansive editions yet.
By combining global-facing talent, industry recognition, and practical career pathways, AACTA is signalling that the Festival is no longer just a celebration of screen culture, but a strategic touchpoint for where Australian film and television is heading next.