Impact Awards

The PAC Australia IMPACT Awards celebrate excellence in the performing arts, leadership, new thinking and best practices, with a special focus on creating a lasting impact in communities. 

The awards feature several categories, including Performing Arts Centre of the Year, Innovator Awards, and the prestigious IMPACT Awards. The highest achievement bestowed each year is the Wendy Blacklock Industry Legend Award which recognises exceptional service to the performing arts industry.

This award is named in honour of Wendy Blacklock AM, a trailblazer in national touring in Australia, whose exceptional career and service continue to inspire the arts community.

The award ceremony will be held at APAX on 9 September 2026.

International venue and acoustic consultants Charcoalblue and longtime partners of our IMPACT Awards have a special bonus for the winner of the prestigious Performing Arts Centre of the Year Award. For the first time, the winner will receive 16 hours of pro-bono consultancy from Charcoalblue.

Led by the winner’s needs, this partnership is designed to get important ideas started. If you need to tackle those acoustic gremlins, have a ‘we’ll get to it one day’ project that has been sitting backstage for too long, or if you’re not sure where to start on a venue upgrade, refurbishment or future redevelopment vision then make sure you submit your nomination for Performing Arts Centre of the Year.

Nominations for the 2026 IMPACT Awards have now closed.

Merindah Donnelly accepting the Wendy Blacklock Industry Legend Award 2025 on behalf of Rhoda Roberts AO. Photo by Alex Sibbison