Not too long ago, Tropfest was the beating heart of Aussie film culture, where thousands sprawled out on picnic blankets across Sydney’s parks to witness the launch of future screen legends.
And now, after six long years, Tropfest is back. Bigger, bolder, and set to transform Centennial Park on Sunday, 22 February 2026, into a storytelling playground once again.
At the official media launch at Centennial Park, the buzz was real. Tropfest founder John Polson, announced the exciting news with support from NSW Premier Chris Minns, Monique Macleod CommBank, YouTube, Managing Director and VP of Google Australia and New Zealand, Melanie Silva and film royalty George Miller, Bruna Papandrea, Bryan Brown, Robert Connolly and Nash Edgerton in attendance.
Tropfest 2026 is stacked with serious partner backing: 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.
“It’s been my dream for six long years to bring Tropfest back … We’re finally home,” said John Polson. “Our number one goal is to get Australia’s most talented, emerging filmmakers a level playing field … we can’t wait to see how they run with this year’s Signature Item: ‘Hourglass.’”
Chris Minns enthusiastically shared, “Sydney needs Tropfest. In 100 years, people won’t be reading our speeches — they’ll be watching the art, the films, the stories that capture who we are.”
And in a goosebump moment, none other than Martin Scorsese appeared in a surprise video endorsing the festival and encouraging aspiring filmmakers: “Go make it, creators. Your story belongs here.”
Aspiring filmmakers will be in the running to win a host of prizes, including a special Google tech bundle, and newly established CommBank-Tropfest Emerging Filmmakers Fund offering a jaw-dropping $100,000 in prize money:
- $50K (First Place)
- $30K (Second Place)
- $20K (Third Place)
YouTube Takes Tropfest Global
For the first time ever, Tropfest will livestream globally via YouTube, with finalists screened in-person at Centennial Park and streamed to millions around the world.
Kicking off September 5, the “Trop ‘til You Drop” YouTube Marathon will stream 24/7 for two full weeks — showcasing decades of iconic Tropfest films, including many hidden gems from the vault.
YouTube will also launch the Creator Collective x Tropfest, offering free workshops for emerging filmmakers starting October.
From a TV in a Café to the World’s Largest Short Film Festival
John Pilson shared with me that Tropfest started by accident. “I made a short film and couldn’t afford the thousand dollars to hire a cinema, so I asked the owner of Tropicana Café if I could put a TV in the corner. I thought maybe 20 people would come … 200 showed up. So I jumped on a chair and declared we were going to make a festival.”
Since those humble beginnings, Tropfest quickly grew to become the largest platform for short films in the world. Previously, audiences of around 100,000 have been recorded at the live events where 16 finalist films are screened to the public, making Tropfest one of the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest cultural icons. With broadcast and online audiences including the official Tropfest YouTube channel, this number has now swelled to millions across the globe.
Tropfest created a legacy that helped launch leading actors and directors working in Australia and internationally. The long list that John Polson is proud of includes Bruna Papandrea, Sam Worthington, Rebel Wilson, Robert Connolly, Joel and Nash Edgerton, Murray Bartlett, David Wenham, Emma Freeman, Alethea Jones, Genevieve Clay-Smith, Damon Gameau, Patrick Hughes, Abe Forsythe, Gregor Jordan, Adam Zwar, Jason Gann, Justin Kurzel, Mia Wasikowska, Xavier Samuel, Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer.
The support and involvement of film personalities has been a major drawcard of the festival since the beginning, with Australian and international celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Samuel L. Jackson, Baz Luhrmann, Keanu Reeves, George Miller AO, Ewan McGregor, Rose Byrne, Naomi Watts, Sam Neill and dozens more judging and supporting past Tropfests. The judging line-up for 2026 will be revealed soon.
The Legends Share Their Connection to Tropfest
George Miller: “Way back I met John [Polson] because our offices used to be at Darlinghurst and everybody hung out at Tropicana Café. He asked me to go to the second one and I got hooked on the whole idea of making short films. It’s just great sitting in that audience … as the films come up you don’t know what you’re going to see. still remember Rust Bucket the short film that kicked off Robert Connolly’s career.
Brian Brown: “I was there at the first one back in Tropicana Café and at least three-quarters of them at different times since then. I did love the time that we sat in Victoria Street with a sheet up showing the films.” Brian has played a big part in helping John Polson relaunch Tropfest with fellow board members Peter V’lands and Sarah Murdoch.
Bruna Papandrea: “John Polson’s an old friend of mine. We’ve known each other since we were 17. I had a film in the second Tropfest that I co-directed and I’ve been a judge and supporter over the years and a lifelong fan. I feel very connected to it, and I’m very excited it’s back.”
Nash Edgerton: “Both Rob [Connoly] and I had films at Tropfest in 1997. We just made stuff with friends. It was the first time I’d ever been to the festival, and I pretty much went every year after that whenever I was in town.” Nash’s film Deadline won the Tropfest first prize in 1997, and his film Lucky won second prize in 2005.
Robert Connolly: “In 1997 at the beginning of our careers Nash [Edgerton] won, I came second. I hadn’t made any feature films … We couldn’t fund the film I was trying to get up so one weekend we said we should make something, and we made the short film.
Rob Carlton: Robert Connolly and Nash Edgerton pointed out Rob’s Carmichael and Shane which won Tropfest 2006 was a standout favourite for them. Rob featured his own twins in the film. ‘Well that is the most outstanding thing to hear from these two guys whom I know and admire so much”.
Beyond the Screening: Scholarships and Year-Round Impact
Tropfest is no longer just a night, it’s a year-round movement. Through the newly established Tropfest Foundation, led by Sarah Murdoch, Bryan Brown, Peter V’landys, Richard Weinberg, and John Polson, the festival will offer:
- Workshops & masterclasses covering writing, production, AI and more
- Runways – a 12-month scholarship for finalists
- Tropfest Junior – returning in 2026 for under-15s
From a TV in a café to a global live stream backed by tech giants and Aussie icons — Tropfest has always been about one thing: Telling your story.
Tropfest 2026 isn’t just a comeback … it’s a revival of community, creativity, and cultural momentum.
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