In the spotlight
Austin stars as one of the 5 best cities for filmmakers in 2026
Austin is back in the top five best places for filmmakers to live and work in North America.
Austin has just snapped up new recognition as the No. 5 best place to live and work as a filmmaker in North America, according to MovieMaker Magazine's annual report, "The Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2026."
Austin improved its livability for filmmakers this year after ranking eighth in the magazine's 2025 list, and it is just one spot away from reclaiming the No. 4 spot it held in 2024.
The annual list ranks the best cities in the U.S. and Canada for individuals to live while working in the film industry, based on production spending, tax incentives, cost of living, the prevalence of "local film scenes," and additional factors. The list is divided into two categories: 25 big cities and 10 smaller cities or towns.
The final list of highlighted cities are the places where the publication believes filmmakers "have the best chance of both succeeding in the famously difficult entertainment industry, and making [their] own art."
Austin was dubbed "the best city of all for festivals" thanks to South by Southwest (SXSW), the Austin Film Festival, and the ATX TV Festival. The report also praised the 20-acre Austin Studios complex as "one of the [city's] best attributes."
"Austin Studios’ production facilities currently feature two sound stages, a mill/wardrobe facility, two vendor warehouses, two flex stages, production offices, and a dedicated parking area for base camp," the studio's website says. "In addition to the 200,000 [square feet] of production space, Austin Studios is home to filmmakers, production vendors, and small businesses, including Richard Linklater’s Detour Filmproduction, Miscellaneous Rentals, MPS Camera & Lighting Austin, Beth Sepko Casting, Vicky Boone Casting, and more."
MovieMaker also gave a special shout-out to local gems and stars like Austin Film Society founder Richard Linklater, the film school at the University of Texas at Austin, and the city's general lifestyle, music, restaurant, and nightlife scenes.
Austin filmmakers also benefit from the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, which increased its production grant rebate from 22.5 percent to up to 31 percent for qualified in-state spending.
Elsewhere in Texas, Dallas was ranked the No. 7 best place to live and work as a filmmaker in North America, while neighboring Fort Worth ranked 12th. Houston ranked 10th, San Antonio appeared as No. 14, and El Paso landed at No. 25 on the list.
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