BRAINS ON TAP! wins the 6th AACTA Reg Grundy Award

BRAINS ON TAP! wins the 6th AACTA Reg Grundy Award, taking home $50,000 to bring their unscripted television idea to life.

The 2026 AACTA Reg Grundy Award has been awarded to Craig Smith and Kate Armon for their unscripted series concept Brains on Tap! Created by the husband-and-wife producing and writing team, the idea draws on their real-life experiences and passion for authentic, people-focused storytelling.

Brains on Tap! is a travelling trivia show that hits the road to find Australia’s sharpest minds and the most interesting locals. Each week, the hosts arrive in a new town where teams face off in a battle of brains, banter, and bragging rights, all for a place in the Spectacular Grand Final. Part quiz, part travel adventure, and full of heart, Brains on Tap! is smart, feel-good entertainment for the whole family. 

The AACTA Reg Grundy Award is the largest prize of its kind in the world and is presented by the Australian Academy in partnership with Grundy Media to champion bold new unscripted ideas and fast-track the development of original screen formats. 

Judge Sharon Wheeler shares, "This year’s finalists reflect the spirit of what Reg Grundy championed, bold originality, imaginative storytelling and formats that spark curiosity and connection. At its core, Brains on Tap! celebrates community, bringing people together through competition, camaraderie and great Australian storytelling."

"Winning the Reg Grundy Award is an extraordinary honour for us and we are still wrapping our heads around it. The experience has genuinely been transformative. The mentoring, the feedback and the generosity of the judges have lifted our project and lifted us as creators. It is something we will carry with us for a very long time. This opportunity has given us the confidence to dream bigger, work harder and believe that Brains on Tap! can become something truly special for audiences across Australia." Said winners Kate Armon and Craig Smith.

This year’s esteemed panel of judges including some of the biggest names in Australian television, chose Brains on Tap! fiercely competitive field. Wes Dening, Head of Global Formats at Eureka, (Holey Moley and Australian Idol). Returning to the judging panel is Paul Hardy (Alone, Beauty and The Geek), Marion Farrelly (Big Brother, X Factor), media leader and former Fremantle Regional CEO for Australia Asia Pacific Ian Hogg, and U.S-based executive Sharon Wheeler who helped develop and adapt Grundy International Series for American audiences. 

Ivan Vukusic, Awards and Industry Development Manager at AACTA said “Brains On Tap presents a unique mix of quiz, reality and travel show. It’s a really fresh idea and one that is quintessential Aussie. It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know Kate and Craig and we look forward to seeing where this journey takes them. With thanks as always to our amazing judges and to Grundy Media”

This initiative honours Reg Grundy, a pioneer of television whose entrepreneurial vision reshaped the industry. His creations and adaptations include Sale of the Century, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, The Price is Right and Perfect Match, as well as long-running dramas Sons & Daughters, Prisoner and Neighbours, the latter becoming Australia’s longest-running drama and a launchpad for international stars including Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie and Liam Hemsworth. 

Craig Smith and Kate Armon will be formally celebrated as the winners of the 2026 AACTA Reg Grundy Award at the AACTA Awards Ceremony on Friday, 6 February, where they will be acknowledged alongside Australia’s leading screen creatives.

Established in partnership with Grundy’s wife, Joy Chambers-Grundy, former chairman of RG Capital, author and businesswoman, the AACTA Reg Grundy Award proudly continues Grundy’s heritage of hard work and entrepreneurial spirit by seeking out formats that can become the next big hit in Australian entertainment.

For more information on the initiative click here.

Upcoming Key Dates:

Location: HOTA, Home of the Arts - Gold Coast

AACTA Festival: Wednesday 4 February – Sunday 8 February 

AACTA Awards Industry Gala: Wednesday 4 February 2026

AACTA Festival Industry Conference Day: Thursday 5 February 2026

AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by Foxtel Group & Official After Party: Friday 6 February 2026

AACTA Screen Careers Expo: Saturday 7 February 2026

For information on the AACTA Festival, click here.