2026 AACTA nominees announced

On Saturday 6 December 2025, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) announced the nominees for the 2026 AACTA Awards, recognising the best of the best in Australian film, television, documentary and online content.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival's The Gala (hosted by Mel Buttle) and Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow (hosted by Michael Hing) were both nominated in the Best Stand-Up Special category, alongside Aunty Donna: The Magical Dead Cat, Celia Pacquola: I’m As Surprised As You Are, Claire Hooper: So Proud, and Geraldine Hickey: Don’t Tease Me About My Gloves.

Nominations for Best Comedy Entertainment Program went to Guy Montgomery's Guy-Mont Spelling Bee, Hard Quiz, Sam Pang Tonight, Spicks and Specks, Taskmaster Australia, and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering.

Best Comedy Performer saw nominations for Hamish Blake, Melanie Bracewell, Aaron Chen, Tom Gleeson, Luke McGregor, Guy Montgomery, Sam Pang, and Julia Zemiro, while nominations for Best Acting in a Comedy went to Claudia Karvan, Asher Keddie, Ben Miller, Sally Phillips, Angus Sampson, Denise Scott, Miranda Tapsell, and Michael Theo.

Best Narrative Comedy Series nominations went to Austin, Bump, Ghosts, Mother and Son, Strife, and Top End Bub.

Aunty Donna: The Magical Dead Cat was also nominated in the Best Direction in Nonfiction Television category.

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated!

View the full list of nominees here.

Winners will be announced at the 2026 AACTA Awards Ceremony on Friday 6 February on the Gold Coast.