The ABC dazzled audiences with a confident and fun showcase of its 2026 content slate in Sydney.
In spite of apparently having no budget, the taxpayer funded public broadcaster had plenty of star power on display, with Shaun Micallef and Tom Gleeson having the audience in stitches at times.
Other stars on show included Anne Edmonds, John Safran, Triple J’s Abby Butler and Tyrone Pynor, Mark Fennel, Sam Pang and host more (B&T estimates half of the ABC studio was filled with talent an ABC execs). Guy Sebastian and Andrea Lam entertained guests with a liver performance towards the end.
Micallef, given the unenviable task of introducing a new documentary about Rolf Harris, warned the ABC production team not to put a photo of Harris in the background while he was on stage, while Gleeson joked about how powerful men all seem to be middle aged bald white men, nodding to the ABC chair Kim Williams in the front row.
Jokes aside, ABC reminded the audience that it is the most trusted media brand in Australia, and claimed ABC News is the top digital news and ABC iview is the number one BVOD service reaching 3.4 million Australians each week.
ABC Radio reaches 4.751 million listeners each week across the 5 capital city markets and remains the number one digital streaming audio network.
Furthermore, the ABC is the largest commissioner of Australian storytelling and its 2026 slate looks impressive. It is headlined by Goolagong, a mini-series about tennis star Evonne Goolagong; outback murder mystery Treasure & Dirt; a Tropic Noir series starring Anna Torv called Dustfall; and a return of the 90s creative competition series Race Around The World, which launched the career of Safran.
There’s also that two-part Rolf Harris documentary which delves into the sinister truth behind the performer; Shaun Micallef’s Going For Broke, a sober look at Australia’s lifelong love affair with gambling; and Ground Up, a comedy that follows the creation of the new Tasmanian AFL team – and the stadium that needs to be built first – starring Sam Pang.
Marc Fennell’s provocative and deeply personal investigation into what it means to be a man in Australia today, The State of Man, looks like ‘must watch’ viewing, and the new comedy series Urzila, starring Urzila Carlson, will certainly find an audience.
“The opportunity to lead the ABC is simultaneously both a huge privilege, but it also brings with it incredible responsibility,” ABC managing director Hugh Marks said.
“No organisation even comes close to our beliefs and we contribute to our sense of Australians, our sense of identity through what is the most beautiful of things, story, news, audio and screen in all its forms.
“We want Australians to feel the value of the ABC more than ever before, to see themselves in our stories and continue to trust us and be proud of what we deliver as we are.”
An announcement that caught the eye was ABC’s commitment to storytelling via social media. It is launching ABC News Loop, which delivers format fit journalism directly to social media feed.
ABC Media Showcase 2026 highlights
SCREEN – SCRIPTED
Based on the best-selling novel by Chris Hammer, Treasure & Dirt brings to life a gripping murder mystery set in a desolate outback opal town, starring Michael Dorman.
Anna Torv leads Dustfall, based on the novel The Unbelieved by Vikki Petraitis, a gripping Tropic Noir about a detective investigating a string of drink spiking assaults.
Powerful drama Shakedown brings to life the untold human stories behind one of the most shocking political scandals in Australian history. Premium mini-series Goolagong chronicles the life of world champion tennis player and Australian sporting hero Evonne Goolagong.
Hilarious new comedy Ground Up follows the creation of the new Tasmanian AFL team – and the stadium that needs to be built first – starring Sam Pang.
Heartwarming new series Dog Park, a feel-good story about finding belonging in a group of dog-owners; and beloved comedians Anne Edmonds and Kitty Flanagan unite for Bad Company, set within the crumbling walls of a theatre company on the brink of bankruptcy.
SCREEN – ENTERTAINMENT
There’s loads more homegrown entertainment to look forward to, with Urzila taking us deep into the mind of comedy superstar, Urzila Carlson, through standup crafted together with hilarious sketches.
A misfit crew of comedians return to the schoolyard in Class Clowns, where under the watchful eye of Principal Julia Morris, they tackle wildly ridiculous assignments based on classic school subjects. In Tonight at the Museum, host Alex Lee guides four celebrity contestants through games based around priceless objects from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
Always Was Tonight will decolonise news, one headline at a time. Hosted by Tony Armstrong and featuring a stellar cast of First Nations talent, this satire brings news with a bit more blaklash!
Groundbreaking 90s creative competition series Race Around The World returns, this time with the effervescent Zan Rowe as host. Original provocateur John Safran also returns, this time to judge those who dare to follow in his Race footsteps.
SCREEN – DOCUMENTARY
The 2026 lineup is packed with distinct and boundary-pushing factual programs.
In Shaun Micallef’s Going For Broke, Micallef turns a sober eye on Australia’s lifelong love affair with gambling, while Hamish Macdonald examines the onslaught of misinformation in The Matter of Facts.
Sarah Ferguson presents Tampa: The Boat That Turned the Tide, telling the explosive story of the 2001 Tampa crisis on its 25th anniversary, and Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia explores some of the most compelling High Court cases in history. Rolf Harris: Can You Tell What I Am Yet? delves into the sinister truth behind the performer.
Ages of Ice follows scientists as they research changes in ice on the coldest corners of the planet, and what it means for Earth’s future.
After premiering at Melbourne International Film Festival, feature documentary But Also John Clarke comes to the ABC, weaving together personal anecdotes, archival gems and tales about the man behind the defining satirical voice.
Marc Fennell explores modern masculinity and the rise of the online ‘manosphere’ in The State of Man, and Todd Sampson’s Why? sees the Gruen panellist dive into different communities around the world to figure out what makes them tick.
SCREEN – MUSIC, ARTS & EVENTS
Australian music royalty and multi-instrumentalist Guy Sebastian joins acclaimed classical pianist Andrea Lam and host Amanda Keller on the second season of The Piano, unearthing everyday pianists from all over Australia in a celebration of music as a universal language.
As part of ABC Classic’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2026, the ABC Young Performers Awards return to spotlight Australia’s most exceptional young musicians.
SCREEN – CHILDREN & FAMILY
ABC continues to be the leader of world-class Australian children’s content.
Iconic Aussie staple Play School celebrates 60 years with plenty of fun planned for the whole family.
In Flower & Flour, a spirited girl and her cat turn everyday moments in their multicultural neighbourhood into extraordinary adventures. Kindness lies at the heart of It’s Andrew!, about a rhinoceros living in a unicorn world.
Shaun Tan’s Tales from Outer Suburbia brings the beloved book to screen, following siblings Klara and Pim as they encounter a series of miraculous adventures over their summer holidays. In Caper Crew, Amelia and Kai Delaney’s quiet lives are upended when their con-artist Grandmother Queenie turns up, teaching them the art of the grift.
Dance with Tom brings vibrant stories of Australia’s First Nations culture to life through dance. Also coming to ABC Kids is a new Indigenous Lullaby from King Stingray, called Gurtha ŋhärana.
NEWS
ABC News Loop will deliver Australia’s best and most trusted journalism directly into your social media feed, bringing depth to the scroll with world-class explainer journalism for mobile users. A dedicated core team, as well as contributors from across ABC News, will report the news in innovative and fresh ways in shortform video.
ABC News Breakfast is packing its bags and hitting the road in the new year with a series of outside broadcasts from every state and territory. And Australian Story will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a special event together with some of its most popular subjects.
AUDIO – PODCASTS & AUDIO BOOKS
ABC’s True Crime podcast Unravel returns with a new season, Unravel: What Became of Jack?, a real-time investigation of a missing person’s case after a boys’ weekend goes horribly wrong in regional Queensland.
Alan Kohler sits down each week with prominent movers and shakers of corporate Australia for Alan Kohler: In Conversation, gaining expert insights into their business, how they overcome challenges and what makes them tick. And join Australian activist, author, and 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame in an all-new podcast and multi-platform series for Ladies, We Need to Talk, exploring autism in women.
Matt Bevan’s If You’re Listening is back in 2026 with double the episodes and a special four-part series Black Swans looking at our desperation to predict things and the fact that we often get predictions completely wrong.
ABC New Wave alumni, The Grill sees best friends, Izzy Wight, Tad Harawa and Ben Ilobuchi, catch up once a week to share their petty grievances. Each “beef” they have with the world is hilariously overanalysed before being thrown on the grill and let go.
Join Australia’s nastiest Nannas, Edith and Maureen from Fairly Plain for a new video podcast series Granny Bingo – where they undertake chaotic interviews with Australian celebrities that will force some famous faces to take themselves a bit less seriously.
The ABC releases its first original audiobook collection, ABC Timeless Audiobooks exclusive to ABC listen app and web. From Persuasion narrated by Angourie Rice, Frankenstein narrated by Dacre Montgomery, to My Brilliant Career narrated by Gemma Chau-Tran, six classic titles have been given a fresh take by a new generation of Australian voices.
Families will be delighted that Bluey Listen Along returns, offering more of your favourite Bluey episodes as audio-only for screen-free entertainment. For big kids and families, Wait…They Did What!? hosted by TikTok star Tilly Oddy-Black, unearths some truly bizarre common practices from modern history.
The sound of summer is cricket on the ABC. ABC Cricket Podcast with Corbin Middlemas and Ed Cowan will move to twice weekly episodes and daily post-match analysis during every Test. Corbin teams up with Jim Maxwell for a special series about the Ashes throughout history.
AUDIO – MUSIC & YOUTH
In 2026, triple j remains as passionate as ever about backing and breaking local artists and delivering music, events and content that speaks to young people across Australia. The Hottest 100 returns as our nationwide listening party, triple j’s One Night Stand is back with a new regional concert with pitches opening in the new year, Unearthed High launches bigger, better and earlier, and there’ll be more Like A Versions than ever before.
triple j is saddling up for a dedicated country music show, Country Club. Hosted by Yorta Yorta man Tom Forrest aka Outback Tom, it’s country music delivered to you on Country, as he broadcasts weekly from the Kimberley.
Latifa Tee will be at the helm of a brand-new, all-Australian electronic music show, Doof. Built to spotlight the huge homegrown electronic scene, the show will champion the Australian artists making waves.
Celebrate 50 years of ABC Classic as Australia’s home of classical music throughout 2026. On Saturday 24 January, join a day-long celebration with music, moments and memories from the past five decades. Highlights include iconic recordings from across the years, ‘best of’ live concerts, tributes from past and present presenters, listener stories, and special moments that have shaped the sound of ABC Classic.
INTERNATIONAL – SCREEN & AUDIO
Culture by Design is back in 2026, taking international viewers on a fresh, cultural journey across Asia with design expert Anthony Burke.
Powerful sporting series Play On, hosted by Paul Kennedy, also returns to explore how sport builds community, identity and opportunity.
Popular news program The Pacific, hosted by Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela, brings the latest weekly news from a trusted network of Pacific correspondents. That Pacific Sports Show also returns in 2026 to share the inspiring stories of Pacific athletes, with hosts Tiana Penitani Gray and Sam Wykes.
On ABC Radio Australia, wake up to the Pacific’s favourite morning program Nesia Daily with Jacob McQuire and Michael Chow who return in 2026. Hip hop legend Hau Latukefu will be spinning his favourite tunes for In The Fale and award-winning music journalist Sose Fuamoli platforms the Pacific’s most exciting female voices on Sista Sounds and goes deep with leading Pacific artists in On The Record.
