The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts has unveiled the nominees for the 2026 AACTA International Awards, spotlighting the year’s most acclaimed film and television masterclasses across the global screen industry.
Announced on the Gold Coast, the nominations span prestige cinema, globally recognised television series, and some of the most talked-about performances of the year, with big names including Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jean Smart, Russell Crowe, and Hugh Jackman.
Australian talent is strongly represented across both film and television categories, reinforcing the country’s continued influence on the international screen stage.
Aussie talent makes a global mark
Local performers are well represented among the international nominees, with Russell Crowe recognised for Nuremberg, Hugh Jackman for Song Sung Blue, Joel Edgerton for Train Dreams and Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein.
Television nominations also highlight Australian strength, with Sarah Snook earning a nod for All Her Fault, alongside Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) and Dacre Montgomery (Dead Man’s Wire).
Montgomery is also serving as AACTA Festival Ambassador for 2026.
The breadth of Australian representation underscores the global reach of local talent across both blockbuster cinema and prestige television.
Film nominations led by Hamnet and One battle after another
In film, Hamnet leads the nominations across Best Film, acting, direction and screenplay categories, joined by strong showings from One Battle After Another, Marty Supreme, Nuremberg and Sinners.
The Best Lead Actor category is particularly competitive, featuring Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Russell Crowe (Nuremberg), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams) and Hugh Jackman (Song Sung Blue).
Directing nominees include Paul Thomas Anderson, Guillermo del Toro, Ryan Coogler, Josh Safdie and Chloé Zhao, reflecting a year dominated by ambitious, auteur-driven filmmaking.
Television continues its awards dominance
Television categories showcase the ongoing strength of drama and character-led storytelling, with Adolescence earning multiple acting nominations, while Severance, Slow Horses and The Diplomat reaffirm their global appeal.
Comedy remains fiercely competitive, with Hacks, The Bear, Only Murders in the Building and Shrinking nominated alongside newcomer The Studio.
Jean Smart, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell and Sarah Snook headline a field defined by standout performances across streaming and broadcast platforms.
Fans of Severance will also see cast member Dichen Lachman appear at AACTA Festival 2026, offering insights into her role in the global hit series.
Winners of the 2026 AACTA International Awards will be announced on Friday, 6 February 2026, alongside the AACTA Awards Ceremony at HOTA, Home of the Arts, on the Gold Coast.
The ceremony forms part of the five-day AACTA Festival, running from 4 to 8 February 2026, which will feature screenings, industry panels, workshops, masterclasses, meet-and-greets and the return of the Screen Careers Expo presented by Essential Screen Skills.