The 2026 Actor Awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, are shaping up to be one of the most hotly anticipated nights in Hollywood this year. With the nominations announced on January 7, 2026, by Abbott Elementary’s Janelle James and Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storrie in a live Los Angeles broadcast, the industry is abuzz with excitement, surprises, and a fair share of snubs. The ceremony is set for Sunday, March 1, at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, streaming live on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT—a new era for the show, which has just undergone a significant rebranding.
After more than three decades as the SAG Awards, the event now officially bears the name Actor Awards. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the change was spearheaded in November 2025 by showrunner Jon Brockett and JoBeth Williams, chair of SAG-AFTRA’s Awards Committee. In a joint statement, they explained, “Since the show started over 30 years ago, our iconic statuette has always been called The Actor, and simply evolving the show’s name to align with the award itself made obvious sense.” The goal, they said, was to provide clearer recognition for both domestic and global audiences, laser-focusing the brand on honoring actors in film and television.
As the curtain rises on this new chapter, the competition is fierce. Leading the pack in film is One Battle After Another, which made history by scoring seven nominations—the most ever for a single movie at the ceremony, as noted by E! News. Not far behind is Sinners with five nods, followed by Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme, all of which are in the running for the coveted best cast award. On the television side, The Studio leads with five nominations, while Adolescence and The White Lotus each earned four.
The nominations, presented in a livestream on Netflix’s YouTube channel, highlighted a broad range of performances across both film and television. Standout categories include Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, with Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia) vying for the honor. For female leads, Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), and Emma Stone (Bugonia) are all in contention.
This year’s nominations brought a cascade of surprises and a few notable omissions. Kate Hudson’s nod for Song Sung Blue marks her first at the Actor Awards since 2010, despite the film’s mixed critical reception. As E! News points out, Hudson’s portrayal of Claire Sardina struck a chord with SAG-AFTRA voters. Likewise, Chase Infiniti’s breakout performance as Leonardo DiCaprio’s onscreen daughter in One Battle After Another earned her a Best Actress nomination—her second major nod after a debut in Presumed Innocent.
Odessa A’Zion’s nomination for her role in Marty Supreme also turned heads, as did Kristen Wiig’s recognition for Palm Royale in the Female Actor in a Comedy Series category. Meanwhile, Miles Caton, fresh off a Best Young Actor/Actress win at the Critics Choice Awards, picked up a Supporting Actor nod for his debut in Sinners. Ariana Grande’s performance in Wicked: For Good landed her a Supporting Actress nomination, even as her co-star Cynthia Erivo was left off the list for the sequel.
But not everyone got their moment in the spotlight. Gwyneth Paltrow, returning to acting after a seven-year hiatus for Marty Supreme, was expected to be a front-runner, yet did not receive a nomination. Sentimental Value, a critical darling at the Critics Choice Awards with seven nominations, was completely shut out. Jeremy Allen White, a previous winner for The Bear and a star in the Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, was also snubbed. Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love) and Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good) joined the list of notable omissions.
Ensemble categories are always a highlight, and this year is no exception. For film, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, and Sinners will compete for the top prize. In television, the best comedy series ensemble nominees are Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Only Murders in the Building, and The Studio. The drama ensemble race includes The Diplomat, Landman, The Pitt, Severance, and The White Lotus.
Stunt performers also get their due, with categories for Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in both motion picture and television series. This year’s film nominees include F1, Frankenstein, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, One Battle After Another, and Sinners. On the TV side, Andor, Landman, The Last of Us, Squid Game, and Stranger Things are all recognized.
Beyond the competitive awards, the ceremony will also honor a true industry legend. Harrison Ford is set to receive the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, a recognition of his decades-long career and enduring influence on the craft. The announcement has added an extra layer of anticipation to the evening, which, as of yet, does not have a confirmed host.
As the awards night approaches, the industry is reflecting not only on the performances of the past year but also on the show’s evolution. Last year’s winners, as highlighted by The Hollywood Reporter, included Conclave for best cast, Timothée Chalamet and Demi Moore for best actor and actress, and Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña for supporting roles. On television, Shogun and Only Murders in the Building took home the top ensemble honors. The Actor Awards’ rebranding, coupled with the diversity and depth of this year’s nominees, signals a fresh chapter for an institution that continues to celebrate the very best in acting.
With the red carpet soon to be rolled out at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall and millions expected to tune in on Netflix, the 2026 Actor Awards are poised to deliver both glamour and genuine recognition for the art of performance. For nominees and fans alike, March 1 can’t come soon enough.
