CGA Awards 2026 set Melbourne date with Joel Creasey and Kat Stewart hosting – The Casting Guild of Australia Awards will return to Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday, 27 November 2026, with Joel Creasey and Kat Stewart hosting the annual ceremony.
For Australian screen audiences, the CGA Awards 2026 are more than an industry night. Casting shapes the talent pipeline across television, film, theatre, commercials and reality formats. As a result, the awards help spotlight the people who connect performers with the roles that define local stories.
Director Daina Reid will appear as special guest at the 2026 event. Reid’s recent screen work includes The Handmaid’s Tale and Run Rabbit Run, adding further profile to this year’s ceremony.
CGA Awards 2026 details
Nominees for the Casting Guild of Australia Awards are expected in late October. The CGA Rising Stars will then be revealed in early November before the invite-only awards night.
The awards launched in 2015. The Guild describes the event as the only casting awards ceremony in the southern hemisphere.
This year’s categories recognise casting in feature films, short films, television comedy and television drama. They also cover telemovies, miniseries, theatre productions, television commercials and community campaigns.
CGA president Thea McLeod said the ceremony continues to recognise the craft and influence of casting professionals across Australia’s creative industries.
Recent CGA Rising Stars
Last year’s CGA Rising Stars included Clare Hughes, Ioane Sa’ula, Joseph Zada, Lily Latorre and Roxie Mohebbi. Stacy Clausen, Tanzyn Crawford, Tharanya Tharan, Xavier Molyneux and Zoe Phillips were also recognised.
Visit the Casting Guild of Australia for more information, and browse more TV Central industry and entertainment news.
