The Screen Actors Guild Awards will be rebranded as “The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA” starting in 2026, according to an announcement made by the performers’ union on Friday. This change aims to align the awards’ name with its iconic trophy and to enhance its appeal to a global audience. The new branding will be implemented for the 32nd edition of the awards, which is set to stream live on Netflix on March 1, 2026.
The decision to rename the awards reflects the union’s goal to make the ceremony more accessible to viewers worldwide. Jon Brockett, the showrunner and executive producer of the telecast, emphasized the significance of the new name, stating, “Since the beginning, our statue has been called ‘The Actor,’ and we’re a show that’s entirely about actors, so this new name is a perfect next step in the show’s evolution.”
The award, which has been known as “The Actor” since its inception in 1995, has maintained its original name even after the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in 2012. JoBeth Williams, chair of the SAG-AFTRA awards committee, noted that the rebranding clarifies the ceremony’s purpose for a growing international audience unfamiliar with the union’s name. “Now that our global audience is really growing, people don’t always understand what the union name is,” Williams told 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 awards ceremony transitioned to Netflix in 2024, leaving behind its previous broadcasts on TNT and TBS. The streaming platform currently reaches more than 190 countries, providing a broader platform for the event. SAG-AFTRA has stated that promotional materials for the current awards season will continue to reference “SAG Awards” until the conclusion of pre-nomination voting on January 5, 2026. After nominations are announced on January 7, studios and networks will be encouraged to adopt the new name.
Recognizing that change takes time, the union acknowledged that there would be a transition period where past winners and audiences may still refer to the awards as the SAG Awards. “We understand there will be a period of transition where people — past winners and audiences included — will still refer to their award and the show as the SAG Awards, and that’s OK,” the union stated.
The Actor Awards are often viewed as strong indicators for the acting categories at the Academy Awards, given that SAG-AFTRA members represent the largest voting bloc in the Motion Picture Academy. As the rebranding takes effect, the union aims to reinforce the significance of actors in the entertainment industry while expanding its recognition on a global scale.
