Just one day after boss Hugh Marks used a National Press Club address to argue the ABC remains an essential piece of Australia’s civic machinery, the broadcaster has unveiled a sprawling content slate for 2026.
During his address, Marks warned that “any discussion about Australia’s long-term success must include the ABC,” acknowledging the fragmentation, political heat and shifting consumption habits reshaping Australian media.
He was blunt about the work still to do: “There are issues we still need to fix,” but argued “the ABC stands out as a precious national asset of a kind you won’t find in many other countries.”
And he was firm on independence. “We are not beholden to political patronage or commercial investment or touchy advertisers. We are a gathering place. A town square. A home for stories that help Australians understand who we are.”
His rebuttal to critics was equally direct: “Some people like to run this narrative that the ABC is in decline. They’re wrong.” It appears the 2026 slate is designed to prove that point.
During the Upfront, held at the ABC’s Sydney HQ in Ultimo, Marks reiterated that “the ABC is the home of Australian storytelling, and our 2026 slate takes that legacy to the next level.”
He continued: “Today’s announcements – featuring over 100 new and returning titles from our extraordinary talent – showcase the creativity and ambition that define the ABC.”
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In his Press Club remarks, he cited strong digital engagement across news, children’s content and podcasts, noting that dramas like “Fisk” continue to attract multimillion-viewing long tails long after broadcast.
In a multi-platform world, he said, overnight ratings capture only a fraction of the real picture. His broader message: public broadcasting remains national infrastructure, capable of binding Australians “across geography, culture and politics.”
Australian Drama, Big Biographies and High-Impact Factual
Screen director Jennifer Collins said the 2026 slate “features unmissable Australian drama and comedy, a premium arts line-up, and new factual titles designed to inform and enlighten,” stressing the ABC’s role as “the nation’s leading commissioner of Australian content.”
Headline dramas include “Treasure & Dirt,” “Dustfall” starring Anna Torv, political thriller “Shakedown,” and the major biography “Goolagong.”
New comedies like “Dog Park” and “Bad Company” broaden the tonal palette. Plus, Australia’s sweetheart Sam Pang will star in a new comedy about Tasmania finally getting its AFL team, called “Ground Up”.
Factual remains a competitive lever: Shaun Micallef on Australia’s love affair with gambling, Hamish Macdonald on misinformation, Sarah Ferguson revisiting the Tampa crisis, and “Judgment” examining landmark High Court cases.
After premiering at Melbourne International Film Festival, feature documentary “But Also John Clarke” comes to the ABC, weaving together personal anecdotes, and stories. And let’s not forget the resurrection of “Race Around the World.”
News: A Deeper Push Into Digital-Native Formats
News director Justin Stevens said the ABC will continue to deliver “impactful investigative journalism at a local and national level, with new content initiatives along with returning programs.”
The centrepiece is ABC News Loop, a mobile-first vertical-video service pushing explainer journalism directly into social feeds – an attempt to reclaim younger audiences who now graze news across countless platforms.
Meanwhile, ABC News Breakfast will tour the country, while “Australian Story” marks its 30th year.
Audio: Leaning Into Strength as Digital Listening Surges
ABC Audio ends 2025 as Australia’s No. 1 streaming audio network, a foundation director Ben Latimer is keen to defend. “No one reflects the breadth, depth and complexity of Australia quite like the ABC – our focus is on making sure what we create remains distinctive and essential.”
The 2026 audio lineup leans into true crime, business, culture and news analysis with new seasons of “Unravel,” “Alan Kohler: In Conversation,” Grace Tame’s autism-focused expansion of “Ladies, We Need to Talk,” and an expanded run of “If You’re Listening.” The ABC will also drop its first original audiobook collection.
Children’s, Family and Youth: Defending a Core Public-Service Mandate
Kids’ content remains both a mandate and a moat. “Play School” will turn 60, while “Flower & Flour,” “It’s Andrew!,” “Tales from Outer Suburbia” and “Caper Crew” will push into new creative worlds. First Nations storytelling has been expanded via “Dance with Tom” and a King Stingray lullaby, “Gurtha ŋhärana.”
For parents, “Bluey Listen Along” — a smart soothed-but-still-engaged audio format — will also return. On the youth side, triple j and ABC Classic have sharpened their identity through new music shows and major anniversaries going into the new year.
International: Regional Influence and Cultural Reach
The ABC’s international footprint holds steady with returning programs like “Culture by Design,” “Play On,” “The Pacific” and expanded Radio Australia formats.
It’s another plank in the argument Marks made at the Press Club: the ABC is one of the few Australian institutions still capable of exporting trust and cultural understanding outward. Ultimately, the breadth of the slate makes the case for relevance, but it also highlights the complexity of sustaining that breadth. It signals intent – not victory.
It’s an attempt to plant a flag in a shifting media landscape and to articulate why a publicly funded broadcaster still warrants space in it. Whether that argument cuts through with audiences, policymakers or a generation raised inside algorithmic feeds is a question that will hang over 2026 just as much as any new commission.