SAG Awards Rebranded as “The Actor Awards” for 2026 Ceremony

The Screen Actors Guild Awards will undergo a significant rebranding, officially becoming “The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA” starting in 2026. This change, announced by the performers’ union on Friday, aims to align the awards ceremony’s name with its trophy, enhancing its appeal to a global audience. The 32nd edition of the awards is scheduled to stream live on Netflix on March 1, 2026.

The rebrand reflects the ceremony’s core focus on celebrating actors, according to Jon Brockett, the showrunner and executive producer. He noted that the award statue has always been known as “The Actor” since the inaugural ceremony in 1995. “This new name is a perfect next step in the show’s evolution,” he told Variety.

Previously, the awards maintained the SAG Awards title even after the 2012 merger between the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. JoBeth Williams, chair of the SAG-AFTRA awards committee, emphasized that the new name will clarify the ceremony’s purpose for international viewers. “Now that our global audience is really growing, people don’t always understand what the union name is,” she explained to the Los Angeles Times. “But ‘the Actor Awards’ they recognize, and they know they’re going to see their favorite actors when they tune in.”

The transition to Netflix in 2024 marked a new chapter for the awards, which were previously broadcast on TNT and TBS. The streaming platform now reaches over 190 countries, allowing for a broader viewership.

For the current awards season, SAG-AFTRA stated that campaign materials will still refer to the event as the SAG Awards throughout the pre-nomination voting phase, ending on January 5. After nominations are announced on January 7, studios and networks will be encouraged to adopt the new title.

The union acknowledged that a period of adjustment would follow the rebranding, recognizing that many past winners and audience members might continue to use the SAG Awards name. “That’s OK,” SAG-AFTRA noted, indicating an understanding of the transition process.

The Actor Awards have become key indicators for the acting categories at the Academy Awards, with SAG-AFTRA members being the largest voting bloc within the Motion Picture Academy. This rebranding not only enhances the awards’ identity but also positions them as a more recognizable and inclusive celebration of talent in the entertainment industry.