AACTA Festival 2026

Feb 4 - Feb 8

The Gold Coast is set to shine even brighter in February 2026 as AACTA Festival, including the AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group, return to HOTA with a powerhouse program featuring internationally acclaimed filmmakers and storytellers including: Anna Torv, Baz Luhrmann, Bruce Beresford, Chloe Hayden, Thomas Keneally, David Michôd, David Williamson, Emma Freeman, Fred Schepisi, John Seale, Josh Heuston, Mandy Walker, Michael Robotham, Phoebe Tonkin, Shabana Azeez, Tony McNamara – joining over 300 other on-stage participants across 100+ events.

AACTA also announced a major partnership extension that will see the AACTA Awards and Festival continue to grow in scale and ambition, with the Queensland Government and Experience Gold Coast renewing their commitment to host the events on the Gold Coast through to 2028, coinciding with the historic 70th anniversary of AFI | AACTA.

2026 AACTA Festival Launch, Baz Luhrmann, Hon. John Paul Langbroek, Minister for Education and the Arts, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, Jacqui Feeney, Screen Queensland, Lana Greenhalgh, Director of Scripted Originals at Foxtel Group (image by Jennie Wrig)

Festival Highlights

Over five packed days, AACTA Festival 2026 program highlights include:

– Australian Premiere of EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert Walk the red carpet at the premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s latest epic movie made on the Gold Coast.

– AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel Group & AACTA Awards Industry Gala – Celebrate the Australian screen industry with two incredible ceremonies celebrating Australia’s best screen talent and practitioners.

– World Premiere of Two Years Later starring Brenton Thwaites and Phoebe Tonkin, with red carpet, followed by a Q&A.

– Hour by Hour: Shabana Azeez on The Pitt. A rare opportunity to hear from the Australian actor, fresh off the global success of the Emmy-winning series The Pitt.

– Dance Academy Reunion – The beloved cast returns to share memories and behind-the-scenes stories. Featuring Xenia Goodwin, Alicia Banit, Dena Kaplan, Jo Werner and Samantha Strauss.

– Join us for a Big Brother reunion with special guests including Reggie Bird, Ben from Brisbane, and Mike Goldman, for a lively and unfiltered conversation about the show that changed reality TV forever.

Tickets for AACTA Festival events and the AACTA Awards Ceremonies, including Live! by the Lake, are available now at aactafestival.com.