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SAG Awards rebranded as Actor Awards ahead of 2026 ceremony
The Screen Actors Guild Awards, long known as the SAG Awards, will now be called the Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA, the union announced Friday. The change takes effect before the 32nd edition of the ceremony, scheduled for 1 March 2026.
Union cites global recognition and statuette alignment
Executive producer Jon Brockett described the new name as a "perfect next step" in the show's evolution, noting that the event's trophy has always been called The Actor. "This gives viewers in over 190 countries an immediate understanding of who we are-a show by actors, for actors," he told the BBC.
Awards committee chair JoBeth Williams added that while the union's full name, SAG-AFTRA, may not be widely recognized internationally, "'The Actor Awards' is instantly clear. Audiences know they'll see their favorite performers when they tune in."
Strategic shift mirrors other major awards
The rebrand aligns the ceremony with industry peers like the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Golden Globes-all of which are colloquially known by their trophy names rather than their governing bodies. SAG-AFTRA, formed in 2012 by the merger of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), represents roughly 160,000 members.
The name change also underscores the awards' influence on the Academy Awards race, as winners often gain momentum in the Oscars campaign season.
Leadership transition precedes rebrand
The announcement follows the election of Sean Astin (*The Lord of the Rings*) as SAG-AFTRA's new president last month. Astin succeeds Fran Drescher (*The Nanny*), who led the union through the contentious 2023 Hollywood strikes during her four-year term.
"Since the beginning, our statue has been called 'The Actor,' and we're a show entirely about actors. This new name is a perfect next step in the show's evolution."
Jon Brockett, executive producer of the Actor Awards
