Sydney, Australia – June 15, 2026 – The 15th annual Equity Ensemble Awards, hosted by the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s (MEAA) Equity Foundation, celebrated the best in Australian television tonight at the Sydney Theatre Company. The Family Next Door S1, Ghosts S1 and The Survivors received top honours for their outstanding ensemble performances in drama, comedy, and mini-series productions respectively.
More 200 industry luminaries attended the event, hosted by MEAA president Michael Balk, recognising the actors and creatives who bring Australia’s most compelling stories to life on the small screen. Finalists and winners were chosen by industry judging panels from 31 eligible Australian productions aired in 2025.
Of Ensemble Drama winner, The Family Next Door S1, the judges said: “The Family Next Door is anchored by a strong and cohesive ensemble. Performances across the core cast are consistently believable and well judged, giving the series depth and credibility. The actors work confidently both together and individually, handling large group scenes with ease while still sustaining distinct character journeys. As the story unfolds, the ensemble approach allows relationships and tensions to develop naturally, strengthening the impact of the work as a whole.”
Of Ensemble Comedy winner, Ghosts S1, the judges said: “A true, comedic tour de force, Ghosts: Australia takes us through a fun and quirky trip down various memory lanes via the existence of six ghosts and one unlikely homeowner. The characters are balanced and portrayed in a way that invokes nostalgia, history, and believability without being too over the top. Ghosts: Australia comes across as a heart warming, enjoyable, and well acted production.”
Of Ensemble Mini-Series/Telemovie winner, The Survivors, the judges said: “The Survivors demanded a great deal from its ensemble. The series navigates grief, guilt, and the corrosive weight of unspoken secrets with unflinching honesty. This was not easy material. The cast had to sit inside trauma – not perform it – and the result was some of the most restrained, emotionally true work seen on Australian screens in recent years. What made the ensemble exceptional was its range: from the young couple at the centre carrying fifteen years of guilt, to the older generation of parents hardened by loss and blame, every generation of Evelyn Bay felt fully inhabited.”
Tonight’s ceremony was also a chance to honour this year’s recipient of the 2026 Equity Lifetime Achievement Award, announced in March, to acclaimed Australian actor Don Bridges.
A highly respected and much-loved figure in the industry, Don has built an extensive body of work across television, film, and theatre in Australia and the United Kingdom over almost six decades.
His career includes more than 130 film and television credits, hundreds of short film performances, and more than 25 productions with the Melbourne Theatre Company.
Don’s screen credits include Judy and Punch, Romper Stomper, Evil Angels, Malcolm, Gettin’ Square, The Hard Word, The Oyster Farmer, Charlotte’s Web and the recent US production, Mr Irrelevant.
His television work spans generations of Australian storytelling, with roles in The Twelve, Nautilus, The Clearing, Jack Irish, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Blue Heelers, Neighbours, Something in the Air and Upper Middle Bogan, among many others.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
The Family Next Door S1 (ABC / Beyond Productions)
Maria Angelico, Catherine McClements, Bella Heathcote, Jane Harber, Daniel Henshall, Ming-Zhu Hii, Bob Morley, Philippa Northeast, Teresa Palmer, Tāne Williams Accra.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ghosts S1 (Paramount + & Network 10 / BBC Studios Productions Australia)
Tamala, Michelle Brasier, Ines English, Brent Hill, Mandy McElhinney, Jackson Tozer, Rowan Witt, George Zhao.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A MINI-SERIES/TELEMOVIE
The Survivors (Netflix / Tony Ayres Productions)
Shannon Berry, Johnny Carr, Jessica De Gouw, Damien Garvey, Thom Green, Yerin Ha, Robyn Malcolm, George Mason, Catherine McClements, Eloise Rothfield, Martin Sacks, Miriama Smith, Charlie Vickers, Julian Weeks.
EQUITY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2026
Don Bridges
The Equity Foundation warmly congratulates all finalists and winners and thanks our sponsors, Media Super, ABC TV, Showcast and MEAA.
