New Screen Australia research into the state of the Australian screen industry has revealed growing support for the sector, as well as an array of unique challenges affecting its sustainability and future growth.
With over 13,750 participants, including respondents to six surveys in Australia and in the global market, 40 stakeholder consultations, as well as forums, interviews, analysis of online reviews and video responses and other data analysis, the Screen Currency 2026 research is one of the most comprehensive studies of Australia’s screen industry to date.
The aim is to provide a complete picture of the contemporary screen market, its major stakeholders, how it contributes to the economy, and the level of belief in and support for the industry. It’s hoped the Screen Currency 2026 report will serve as a valuable source of information for future developments.
As shared by Screen Australia, the findings outline strong support for Australian-made screen media, with 84% of Australians agreeing that access to local screen content is important, and 75% saying they want to watch more of it.
Screen Currency 2026 report – quick links
Big challenges facing the Australian screen industry
Despite the support for the local Australian screen industry, there are major challenges when it comes to engagement with locally-made media. The Screen Currency 2026 report found nearly two-thirds of Australians spend less than 30% of their time watching Australian-made content, and only 36% believe it’s ‘easy’ to find in a sea of international options.
Discoverability is now one of the biggest challenges facing Australian-made screen content, according to this research. As Australians increasingly rely on algorithms, platforms and recommendations for viewing direction, this content can be difficult to find.
‘Content discovery is driven less by active search and more by algorithms, social recommendations and peer influence, making discoverability more important than audience demand,’ a spokesperson for Screen Australia says.
That’s despite 71% of respondents saying locally-made content was informative and inspiring and 67% that local screen stories ‘support feelings of belonging and connectedness and/or make them think about their place and identity as an Australian’.
A further 43% said local content sparked discussion, 36% that it promoted further research into important topics, and 22% that it created behaviour change.
ScreenHub: Australian screen industry news and reviews
Survey respondents agreed that Australian-made screen media had an impact on their sense of community and empathy, served to educate about challenges in society, and inspired social change. Three-quarters of respondents felt that local content was a fair reflection of the ‘breadth and diversity of contemporary Australia’, with this being essential to portraying people beyond surface-level stereotypes.
‘The vast majority of Australians acknowledge the broader social and cultural benefits of Australian screen content, including its role in engendering shared understanding and the preservation of stories for future generations,’ Screen Australia’s spokesperson said.
It’s not only the cultural impact of Australian-made media that’s important. It also has vast economic implications.
Opportunity for international growth
Per Screen Australia, the screen sector contributed over $11 billion to the economy in FY2023-24 and provided jobs for around 70,000 people in FY2024-25.
Video game exports and employment were noted as ‘growing faster than all screen sectors’, with the value contributed by games more than doubling since the 2016-17 period and increasing by an average of 15% year-on-year, although the research acknowledges this was growth from a ‘small base’.
‘Screen Currency 2026 reinforces the remarkable success of Australia’s digital games sector. Australian gamemakers continue to prove their resilience and creativity, creating internationally celebrated digital games, generating jobs and contributing significantly to national exports,’ Joey Egger, Screen Australia Head of Games says.
‘Games are a mainstream part of Australia’s cultural life; bringing people together across generations, communities and backgrounds that reflect our commonalities. Led by exceptional creative talent and backed by worldwide interest, our local industry will no doubt continue to punch above its weight, celebrating Australian stories here and around the world.’
ScreenHub: Australian spending on video games rose 12% in 2025 to $4.2 billion
Analysing the wider growth of the local screen industry, the Screen Australia research flags ‘significant’ opportunity for international expansion, particularly in the games sector, due to the value of its exports.
Around 50% of survey respondents from international markets believed that watching Australian film and TV increased their interest in visiting the country, marking out screen media as a valuable tool for tourism and the wider economy.
Local Australian games studios reportedly earn 95% of their revenue overseas, a key indicator of the impact of Australian exports on the global market.
Australian screen media is already in high demand, and that’s only growing as local creatives continue to produce new and more impactful content.
Beyond standalone exports, Screen Australia has also highlighted that growing interest in Australian media has sparked opportunities for new business, including co-productions and partnerships that ‘unlock scale and financing’, with 62% of respondents reportedly recognising this potential.
Respondents in China and India overwhelmingly agreed that Australian screen content is a good ambassador for the country, representing it favourably. They claimed that screen media allowed them to better understand local culture and increased a desire to visit.
Australian screen media reportedly had the strongest appeal in India, New Zealand, China and the UK, all of which showed ‘high engagement’ for Australian stories on screen.
‘Strong foundations’ for future screen industry success
In concluding its research, the Screen Australia report underscored how valuable Australia’s screen industry is, and how much potential it has to grow despite the challenges it currently faces.
The screen agency identified some need for greater support, particularly for small-to-medium businesses, to ‘adapt to new business models, drive development of high-quality IP and ensure emerging companies are sustainable over the long-term’.
But it has also confirmed that Australia is well-positioned in the global market, particularly given that it produces ‘world-class’ content thanks to globally-competitive skilled talent, that it has established internationally-connected activity through foreign co-productions and other support, and that there is strength in direct-to-audience content creating ‘creative value through dynamic self-management, audience engagement and diversified revenue streams’.
Minister for the Arts Tony Burke said: ‘Australians know how valuable it is to see our stories, experiences and talent on screen. Australian content shapes our culture, discussions and our understanding of each other, and gives us that all-important sense of belonging.
‘This is why our government is working to build on the momentum of Revive, and are developing a new National Cultural Policy to set a long-term vision for Australia’s creatives and support a vibrant, thriving cultural sector.’
ArtsHub: Building a new National Cultural Policy – Burke talks to ArtsHub
Burke added: ‘Our government backs local stories on our screens – passing laws to mandate an Australian content requirement on streaming services and investing strongly in local children’s and drama content. We’ll continue to celebrate Australian voices at every opportunity and ensure they are front and centre for Australian audiences.’
Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan outlined the importance of this continued support in light of the research and recent developments within the screen sector.
‘While audience choices become increasingly global and algorithm-led, Screen Currency 2026 confirms local TV, film, direct-to-audience content and games matter deeply to Australians and clearly resonate around the world,’ Brennan said.
‘Australia has extraordinary talent and internationally recognised capabilities, but there is no doubt we are in a pivotal moment of transformation for the sector. We want our communities and experiences reflected on all screens, but ensuring we reach people is now as important as producing that content. Future success will require support for Australian businesses to build enduring intellectual property, strengthen audience relationships, improve discoverability and compete confidently in global markets.
‘This is a creative industry worth investing in.’
