The Gold Coast has cemented its place as one of the world’s hottest film destinations, earning international recognition at the prestigious 2026 Global Production Awards in France.
Announced during the Cannes Film Festival overnight, the Gold Coast was named the only highly commended finalist in the City of Film category, standing alongside major global screen hubs including Toronto, Calgary and Zagreb.
The award celebrates cities leading the way in attracting blockbuster productions while boosting local jobs, skills and economic growth.
The recognition follows a boom in screen production across the Coast, with recent film and television projects injecting more than $316 million into the local economy and supporting over 3,800 local jobs.
Major productions filmed on the Gold Coast include Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2, Anaconda, Nautilus, The Bluff and Black Snow Season 2.
Monarch Legacy of Monsters | PHOTO: Supplied – Invest Gold Coast
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the honour reinforced the city’s reputation as Australia’s screen production powerhouse.
“This is a proud moment for the Gold Coast and a powerful endorsement of our screen industry on the world stage. This is what happens when a city says yes to bold ideas,” Mayor Tate said.
“Being recognised alongside some of the world’s most exciting screen destinations shows how far the Gold Coast has come.
“We have the locations, the facilities, the crew, the incentives and the city-wide support for major international productions to land here with confidence.”
The city is continuing to invest heavily in the industry, including plans to expand studio capacity through a deal with Shadowbox Studios and upgrades to creative facilities at the Miami Arts Depot.
