Taking Australian stories to the world: YouTube returns as Tropfest’s Official Streaming Partner for 2027

YouTube standing alongside the Tropfest team at The Domain this morning was a truly special moment. Hearing that Tropfest is returning to its spiritual home — and for the first time ever, moving to a Saturday night on 13 February 2027 — marks an exciting milestone for Australian storytelling. At YouTube, we are proud to return for a second year as Tropfest’s Official Streaming and Video Platform, united by a shared belief: anyone with a camera and a story deserves a direct pipeline to a global stage.

Today, YouTube is where homegrown stories meet the world. Since partnering, the Tropfest YouTube channel has added more than 128,000 new subscribers and generated over three million hours of watch time. Incredibly, over 95 percent of watch time on the 2026 finalist films came from outside of Australia — proving that local, diverse stories have a hungry global audience waiting for them.

Our partnership isn’t just about livestreaming a single night; it’s a year-round investment in the future of our local screen industry. Alongside supporting Tropfest Roughcut — a multi-day event of big ideas and creative insights — we are launching hands-on creator skilling workshops in Sydney, Brisbane, and virtually to equip emerging filmmakers with the platform strategies and business tools needed to turn their craft into sustainable careers.

We can’t wait to see how filmmakers bring this year’s Tropfest Signature Item, 'Necklace', to life. Until our exclusive global livestream on Saturday, 13 February 2027, you can catch up on the 2026 finalist films and classic short film library on Tropfest’s official YouTube channel.