Tropfest is back as the largest short film festival – The teasing is finally over as the world’s largest short film festival, Tropfest, is set to return to Centennial Park, Sydney on Sunday 22 February, 2026. Filmmaker submissions open from 1 December, 2025.
Presented by CommBank and powered by YouTube, Tropfest 2026 introduces a reimagined festival with a year-round presence, culminating in several days of events leading up to the Main Event. Plans were officially revealed at a ground-breaking launch today in Centennial Park by Tropfest Founder, John Polson, The Honourable Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales, Tropfest board members Peter V’landys, Bryan Brown, key partners, VIPs, Tropfest alumni, content creators and more.
The Festival announced a host of new pivotal partnerships for its return, including Presenting Partner CommBank, Powered-by Partner YouTube, Official Airline Partner Qantas, Media Supporting Partner Nine Entertainment and Official Venue Partner Greater Sydney Parklands, with major backing from NSW Government.
Returning to its roots, filmmakers must create a brand-new short film, seven minutes or less, that includes the iconic ‘Tropfest Signature Item’ (TSI) to ensure films are produced specifically for the festival – the 2026 TSI is an “Hourglass”. Finalist films will be selected from an anticipated hundreds of entries to have their world premiere at the live, free-to-the-public event, with the winners announced on the night.
Aspiring filmmakers will be in the running to win a host of BIG prizes, including a special Google tech bundle, and a share of $100,000 from the newly established CommBank – Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund. First, second and third prizes will be $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 respectively, with Tropfest and CommBank actively encouraging winners to utilise those amounts towards career development and their next projects.
Tropfest Founder, John Polson said:
“It’s been my dream for six long years to bring Tropfest back. Now, thanks to some key players, we’re able to put the event right back where it belongs, in the heart of Sydney and in the hearts of Australians everywhere. Our number one priority is to give Australia’s most talented, emerging filmmakers a level playing field, and get them out making films for this unique event. This could be your shot, and we can’t wait to see how you run with “Hourglass” as the TSI – the ingenuity around the TSI always surprises me.
“The Tropfest Main Event is free for anyone who wants to come along and celebrate unique, ground-breaking stories from some of the newest and brightest creative minds around Australia and the world. Come February, grab your picnic blanket and take part in the Tropfest story once again.”
Commonwealth Bank’s Group Executive Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Monique Macleod said:
“Tropfest has long been a beloved part of Australia’s summer and we’re proud to help bring it back in 2026. As presenting partner, CommBank is backing the next generation of storytellers and celebrating the creativity that makes this festival so special. Tropfest is open to everyone and is a place where communities can make new memories and share in the magic of Australian film. We’re excited to be part of this new chapter and look forward to sharing some exciting experiences with festivalgoers on the big night.”
Managing Director and VP of Google Australia and New Zealand, Melanie Silva said:
“Tropfest is a cultural touchstone that’s celebrated homegrown film and creative talent for decades. YouTube is the perfect partner for Tropfest because we fundamentally share the same mission: to find and champion the next generation of storytellers. We’re honoured to support bringing this beloved festival back to life, not only by exclusively livestreaming Tropfest for the world to see, but by actively nurturing the next generation of storytellers. Through the ‘YouTube Creator Collective x Tropfest’ free workshops, we’ll equip aspiring Australian filmmakers and creators with the skills and tools they need to tell their stories and share them with the world.”
Renowned for being the ultimate launchpad for Australian stories, Tropfest has spent over three decades helping transform dozens of emerging filmmakers into established professionals working prolifically, both locally and globally. Today that legacy continues, with the iconic festival now set to provide lasting career opportunities thanks to the creation of the Tropfest Foundation – a permanent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing year-round opportunities for the next generation of storytellers.
The Foundation will be led by a visionary board of cultural leaders: Tropfest Foundation Chair Sarah Murdoch, Tropfest Founder John Polson, NRL & Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys, Actor & Producer Bryan Brown, and TTG CEO Richard Weinberg. In partnership with YouTube, Tropfest is launching two new initiatives. The first is the YouTube Creator Collective x Tropfest, a digital skilling and development program for filmmakers and creators, launching this October. The second, set to launch in February 2026, will celebrate the art of storytelling in the lead-up to the main Tropfest event. This initiative will include talks, workshops and masterclasses spanning every facet of filmmaking – from writing and production design to AI and beyond.
Tropfest Foundation Chair, Sarah Murdoch said:
“The relaunch of Tropfest marks the beginning of a new chapter, a cultural movement that won’t just see a new generation of Australian stories come to life but will also support career pathways for the next generation of Australian filmmaking. I can’t wait!”
Want to get a taste of Tropfest before February? Head over to Tropfest’s YouTube channel
and see the extensive library of previous finalists and winners. Additionally, for the first time in the event’s 30+ year history, a Tropfest “Marathon” will be going LIVE on the YouTube channel from Friday 5th September at 7.00pm for a full two weeks, 24 hours a day. “Trop ‘til You Drop” will be a round-the-clock celebration of decades of iconic Tropfest short films, including many hidden treasures from the vault.
From 1st December, Tropfest entrants will be able to submit via YouTube, with entries closing on Wednesday January 7, 2026.
In addition to the Tropfest YouTube Channel, fans can head to www.tropfest.com or follow @tropfest on socials for festival details and regular updates on all things Trop!
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Tropfest is back as the largest short film festival
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