Tropfest back in 2026 with government backing

Nathan Jolly

September 1, 2025 11:04

The world’s largest short film festival will return to Sydney after a seven-year hibernation, with Tropfest set to take place in Centennial Park in February 2026.

The NSW Government has entered into a commercial partnership with the film festival, which will also include a discount on venue hire, and the expansion of the Tropfest brand into a year-round series of events, culminating in the main festival.

NSW Premier Chris Minns called Tropfest “an Australian cultural institution”, in a ministerial media release issued on Monday morning.

“It’s fantastic to see it return to its home in Sydney,” Minns said. “This festival has been a launchpad for generations of talented filmmakers and it’s a major drawcard for our city.

“Our government is committed to backing events that not only celebrate our creative talent but also put NSW on the world stage.”

Tropfest once drew more than 100,000 each year.

Tropfest was founded in 1993 by director John Polson at the Tropicana Caffe in Darlinghurst, Sydney, and initially screened a handful of films created by Polson’s close circle of creatives.

It quickly outgrew its cafe venue, but kept the distinctive name. By the 2010s, the festival was drawing crowds of over 100,000 to Sydney’s Domain each summer.

In 2015, the festival ran into financial trouble and was cancelled, before being revived the following year. Following the 2019 edition, the festival paused during the pandemic, but failed to return, with Polson’s plans for a 30th anniversary event in 2023 ultimately unfulfilled.

The arts minister John Graham called the return of Tropfest “amazing news for film makers and for Sydney”, and a reminder to the world “that NSW is Australia’s screen industry powerhouse and home to incredible story tellers.”

He continued: “Tropfest has been a hotbed for local film making talent, catapulting the careers of many actors, writers and directors. It is exciting to see it back in action.”

John Polson

Polson has been hinting at Tropfest’s return for months.

In April, the Tropfest Instagram account posted: “We’ve been quiet. But not idle.”

The following month, Polson wrote on Tropfest’s official Instagram page, as well as on his personal account: “We’re not saying Tropfest is about to make an epic comeback. We’re just saying if something big were brewing behind the scenes, you might want to stay tuned.”

The jobs and tourism minister, Steve Kamper, called the government’s support for Tropfest “an investment in the future of our screen industry”, adding it provides “a boost to our local creative economy and [reinforces] Sydney’s reputation as a global hub for film and culture.”

Mumbrella has reached out to Polson for more details on the return of Tropfest.