Winners for PAC Australia’s IMPACT Awards were announced on 9 September 2026 at The West End Electric, Brisbane as part of the Australian Performing Arts Exchange (APAX).

The annual national awards celebrate performing arts leadership and excellence, with a focus on impact on communities, and the broader performing arts sector.

Arts on Tour has been named the recipient of the 2026 Wendy Blacklock Industry Legend Award, the highest honour at PAC Australia’s IMPACT Awards, recognising its longstanding contribution to Australia’s performing arts touring sector.

The annual awards celebrate leadership and excellence across the performing arts, with a particular focus on the impact organisations and individuals have on communities and the broader sector. The winners were announced as part of the Australian Performing Arts Exchange (APAX) at The West End Electric.

Arts on Tour, one of Australia’s major performing arts touring service organisations and the peak body for touring in NSW, was recognised for its leadership across tour management and its response to some of the sector’s most pressing challenges.

Its initiatives have included programs addressing mental wellbeing on the road and sustainable touring practices, as well as Tour Ready, Tour Fit and ENGAGE!, which support tour readiness, workforce development and community-engaged practice. It also delivers market development platforms including Salon and Backroads.

PAC Australia Executive Director Katherine Connor said Arts on Tour “doesn’t shy away from challenges” and continually works to improve conditions across the sector through partnership and collaboration.

The 2026 Performing Arts Centre of the Year Award was presented to Frankston Arts Centre for its commitment to inclusion, accessibility and community connection.

The Victorian venue was recognised for extending its work beyond its building into schools, health settings and public spaces, while investing in artists, creative development and pathways for local practitioners.

The Innovator Award went to Theatre Royal, Hobart, for tunapri kani (Speaking Knowledge), an initiative that embeds Aboriginal cultural knowledge within the institution through a recording played before performances. Each play of the recording generates a royalty payment to a community-managed fund supporting Palawa/Tasmanian Aboriginal artists.

Ilbijerri Theatre Company’s Big Name, No Blankets. Photo supplied

Other IMPACT Award recipients included Ilbijerri Theatre Company for Big Name, No Blankets, GUTS Dance Central Australia, arts leader Harley Stumm and Virginia Winter of Portland Arts Centre.

Ilbijerri was recognised for taking Big Name, No Blankets to prisons and regional communities, including Alice Springs, Barunga, Gulkula, Townsville and Canberra, extending the production’s reach well beyond traditional theatre settings.

GUTS Dance accept an IMPACT Award. Photo © Alex Sibbison

GUTS was recognised for its contribution to arts and culture in Central Australia and its work providing dance opportunities for thousands of young people, alongside a strong commitment to fair remuneration for artists.
Winter was recognised for her leadership at Portland Arts Centre and for establishing Oceanside Pride, Portland’s first Pride event.

A further IMPACT Award went to performing arts company ROOKE and the Tasmanian Performing Arts Centres Network for Circus Across Tasmania, a collaborative touring initiative that has expanded access to contemporary circus in smaller communities while reducing financial and geographic barriers.

Paying triobute to Fiona Winning. Photo © Alex Sibbison

PAC Australia also bestowed a posthumous IMPACT Award on arts leader Fiona Winning, whose career included leadership roles at Urban Theatre Projects, Performance Space, Sydney Festival and Sydney Opera House, as well as work establishing NIDA’s Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership).

Connor said the awards provided an opportunity to celebrate the artists, producers, presenters and venues “driving that impact across the sector”.

APAX continues in Magandjin/Brisbane until 11 September, bringing together more than 500 live performance artists, producers and presenters for conversations, panels and networking.