One of Hollywood's most prominent awards ceremonies is getting a new name. The Screen Actors Guild Awards, a key event in the film and television calendar, will officially be known as The Actor Awards starting from 2026.
A New Name for a Prestigious Ceremony
The significant rebranding was announced to the board of SAG-AFTRA, the union representing US film and television performers, on Friday 14 November 2025. The ceremony, long known as the SAG Awards, will officially become The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA in its next incarnation on 1 March 2026.
As has been the case since 2023, the event will be streamed globally by Netflix, making it accessible to a worldwide audience. The awards were first established in 1995 to honour outstanding performances in movies and primetime television.
Why the Change Was Made
SAG-AFTRA clarified the reasoning behind the name change on its official website. The organisation stated that the iconic statuette presented to winners has always been called 'The Actor'. The decision to evolve the show's name to align with the award itself was described as making 'obvious sense'.
The union explained that the move is intended to provide clearer recognition for both domestic and global audiences about the show's purpose: to honour actors in film and television. A spokesperson confirmed that the change had been under discussion for some time, though no specific timeline for these internal conversations was provided.
The Role in Awards Season
The SAG Awards, soon to be The Actor Awards, have grown into an increasingly prominent fixture in Hollywood's awards season. Their importance is amplified because all nominees and winners are typically well-known faces from the screen.
The ceremony generally takes place just before the Academy Awards and is widely considered a key Oscar bellwether, often predicting the outcomes of the film industry's most coveted honours. This new chapter as The Actor Awards marks the latest evolution for an institution that has celebrated acting excellence for over three decades.
