Australia’s screen industry will return to the Gold Coast for five days in February, with the AACTA Awards presented by BINGE taking place at HOTA on Feb. 5.

The AACTA Awards and Festival will return to the Gold Coast in February 2027, with the five-day event bringing together the Australian film, television and digital industries for awards ceremonies, screenings, masterclasses and industry events.

Running from Feb. 3-7 at HOTA, Home of the Arts, the festival will culminate in the AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by BINGE on Friday, Feb. 5.

The return marks the fourth year of AACTA’s Gold Coast era, following an expansion that has seen the accompanying festival grow to more than 100 events and 350 speakers, attracting tens of thousands of attendees.

Previous editions have drawn Australian talent including Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Sarah Snook, Baz Luhrmann, Warwick Thornton, Leah Purcell, Dacre Montgomery, Yerin Ha, Michael Gracey and cinematographer Mandy Walker, alongside international guests including Henry Cavill, Ron Howard, Brian Cox and Robbie Williams.

AACTA Chair Jack Christian said the event had grown considerably since relocating to the Gold Coast.

“We’re incredibly proud of how the AACTA Awards and Festival have grown on the Gold Coast over the past three years. There is nothing else quite like it on the Australian screen calendar,” Christian said.

“It is a week that celebrates achievement, creates opportunity and puts Australian screen talent firmly in the spotlight. In 2027, we’re taking another step forward with an even more ambitious five days of celebration, conversation and connection, showcasing the very best of Australian screen and bringing our industry together.”

The 2027 program will begin Wednesday, Feb. 3 with the AACTA Awards Industry Gala and Official After Party, presented by Screen Queensland.

The following day will be devoted to the AACTA Festival Industry Day, featuring discussions, networking and professional development sessions examining issues and opportunities facing the Australian and international screen sectors.

The main AACTA Awards Ceremony will take place Friday, Feb. 5, recognising achievements across Australian film, television and online storytelling, followed by the official awards after party.

The festival will continue across the weekend with screenings, conversations, masterclasses and special events. The AACTA Screen Careers Expo will return Saturday, Feb. 6, connecting aspiring filmmakers and screen professionals with industry representatives and providing information about career pathways across the sector.

The full program, including headline speakers and major screenings, is yet to be announced.

Queensland Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the combination of industry and public-facing events had made AACTA an important part of the state’s screen calendar.

“With a packed program that connects the best of the Australian industry with the next generation of filmmakers, celebrates screen excellence and highlights the creativity of the sector, the AACTA Awards and Festival is an unmissable experience,” Langbroek said.

Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell also pointed to the event’s value beyond the screen industry, describing its return as “another vote of confidence in Queensland as Australia’s events capital.”

“Major events like AACTA attract visitors, support local jobs and showcase the very best of our State,” Powell said.

AACTA is also opening up the development of its 2027 festival to the broader industry. Expressions of interest are being sought for proposed festival events, speakers and moderators, as well as volunteers and potential commercial partners.

The organisation’s decision to build a multi-day festival around its annual awards has significantly expanded the event beyond the traditional industry ceremony. The Gold Coast editions have combined awards campaigning and professional development with public screenings, reunions, conversations and filmmaking masterclasses.

That approach will continue in 2027, with the Feb. 5 awards remaining the centrepiece of a five-day program designed to bring established screen figures, emerging filmmakers, students and audiences together at HOTA.

Further details of the 2027 AACTA Festival program, including headline guests, screenings and ticketing, will be announced in the coming months.