The list of contenders for one of the world’s major film and television awards is now official. The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts announced the nominees for its 2026 AACTA International Awards, highlighting the year’s most prominent global movies and series alongside a powerful showing from Australian talent. The historical drama Hamnet and the Warner Bros. action film One Battle After Another lead the nominations in film, while the new drama series Adolescence scored multiple nods on the television side. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Friday, February 6, 2026, at HOTA, Home of the Arts on Australia’s Gold Coast.
The Complete List of Nominees
The nominees span eleven major categories across film and television, recognizing everything from top performances and best picture to writing and direction. Below is the complete list as released by the Australian Academy.
Film Categories
AACTA International Award for Best Film
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- Nuremberg
- One Battle After Another
- Sinners
AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actor in Film
- Timothée Chalamet (as Marty Mauser) – Marty Supreme
- Russell Crowe (as Hermann Goring) – Nuremberg
- Leonardo DiCaprio (as Bob) – One Battle After Another
- Joel Edgerton (as Robert Grainier) – Train Dreams
- Hugh Jackman (as Mike) – Song Sung Blue
AACTA International Award for Best Lead Actress in Film
- Jessie Buckley (as Agnes) – Hamnet
- Rose Byrne (as Linda) – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Kate Hudson (as Claire) – Song Sung Blue
- Chase Infiniti (as Willa Ferguson) – One Battle After Another
- Renate Reinsve (as Nora Borg) – Sentimental Value
AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actor in Film
- Benicio Del Toro (as Sensei Sergio St. Carlos) – One Battle After Another
- Jacob Elordi (as The Creature) – Frankenstein
- Paul Mescal (as Will) – Hamnet
- Dacre Montgomery (as Richard ‘Dick’ Hall) – Dead Man’s Wire
- Sean Penn (as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw) – One Battle After Another
AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress in Film
- Glenn Close (as Martha Delacroix) – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
- Elle Fanning (as Rachel Kemp) – Sentimental Value
- Mia Goth (as Elizabeth) – Frankenstein
- Amy Madigan (as Aunt Gladys) – Weapons
- Emily Watson (as Mary) – Hamnet
AACTA International Award for Best Direction in Film
- Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Ryan Coogler – Sinners
- Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein
- Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
- Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay in Film
- A House of Dynamite – Noah Oppenheim
- Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell, Chloé Zhao
- Marty Supreme – Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
- One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
- Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt
Television Categories
AACTA International Award for Best Drama Series
- Adolescence – Season 1
- Severance – Season 2
- Slow Horses – Season 4
- The Diplomat – Season 3
- The Pitt – Season 1
AACTA International Award for Best Comedy Series
- Hacks – Season 4
- Only Murders in the Building – Season 5
- Shrinking – Season 3
- The Bear – Season 4
- The Studio – Season 1
AACTA International Award for Best Actor in a Series
- Owen Cooper (as Jamie Miller) – Adolescence
- Stephen Graham (as Eddie Miller) – Adolescence
- Gary Oldman (as Jackson Lamb) – Slow Horses
- Seth Rogen (as Matt Remick) – The Studio
- Noah Wyle (as Dr Michael Robinavitch) – The Pitt
AACTA International Award for Best Actress in a Series
- Erin Doherty (as Briony Ariston) – Adolescence
- Keri Russell (as Kate Wyler) – The Diplomat
- Jean Smart (as Deborah Vance) – Hacks
- Sarah Snook (as Marissa Irvine) – All Her Fault
- Michelle Williams (as Molly Kochan) – Dying for Sex
Top Contenders and Notable Highlights
The nominations point to several major storylines for the upcoming awards season. In film, Hamnet and One Battle After Another established themselves as the titles to beat. One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, earned seven nominations, including a head-to-head matchup in the Best Supporting Actor category where its stars Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn will compete against each other. Hamnet, the story of William Shakespeare’s family directed by Chloé Zhao, is close behind with six nominations.
On television, the breakout drama Adolescence is the only series to land two of its actors in a single category, with Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham both nominated for Best Actor. The comedy field is a mix of established favorites and a promising newcomer. Veteran hits like Hacks, The Bear, and Only Murders in the Building will face fresh competition from The Studio, a new series starring Seth Rogen.
A Strong Showing for Australian Talent
A key feature of this year’s AACTA International Awards list is the significant presence of Australian actors making waves in global productions. Seven Australian performers received nominations across the film and television categories.
In film, Russell Crowe is recognized for his role as Hermann Göring in Nuremberg, while Hugh Jackman is nominated for his performance in the Neil Diamond-inspired film Song Sung Blue. They are joined by Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), and Dacre Montgomery (Dead Man’s Wire). In the Best Lead Actress category, Rose Byrne is nominated for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.
On television, Sarah Snook earned a nomination for Best Actress for her role in the series All Her Fault, continuing her award-winning career trajectory. This collective recognition highlights the ongoing impact of Australian creatives on the international screen industry.
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Awards Ceremony and Festival Details
The winners will be announced at the 15th annual AACTA International Awards ceremony on February 6, 2026. The event is the centerpiece of the larger AACTA Festival, a five-day celebration of film, television, and pop culture running from February 4 to February 8, 2026, on the Gold Coast.
The festival will offer a range of activities for the public and industry professionals, including movie screenings, workshops, masterclasses with filmmakers, and meet-and-greet events. A Screen Careers Expo for those looking to enter the industry is scheduled for Saturday, February 7. Tickets for festival events and the awards ceremony are now available through the official AACTA Festival website.
“This year’s nominations showcase the remarkable creativity and craft behind Australian screen storytelling,” said AACTA CEO Damian Trewhella in a statement about the domestic awards. “It’s encouraging to see such a diverse mix of new voices, returning favourites and world-class productions recognised”.
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