Why SAG Awards Changed Its Name to Actor Awards

Union leaders opted to change the Screen Actors Guild Awards to the Actor Awards beginning with the Mar. 1 ceremony hoping for the award show’s name to make “obvious sense” to new viewers. 

By Sasha Wayman Jan 07, 2026 12:00 PM
| Updated 4 days ago
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Watch: Why SAG Awards Changed Its Name to Actor Awards Moving Forward

That’s a wrap on the SAG Awards. Well, kind of. 

The Screen Actors Guild Awards are being renamed to the Actors Awards, with the official name change going into effect starting with the 32nd annual event Mar. 1. 

And it seems union leaders had a good reason for the modified moniker, aiming to make the ceremony’s title make “obvious sense” to new viewers following the show's move to Netflix in 2024.

"We wanted to provide clearer recognition in terms of what the show is about for our domestic and global audiences," Jon Brockett—showrunner and executive producer of the award show—and JoBeth Williams—chair of SAG-AFTRA’s Awards Committee—shared in a joint announcement on Nov. 14. "We honor actors in film and television. Laser-focusing the name on those two things became the clearest and most straightforward path for this new chapter of the show."

Ceremony execs went on to explain that their iconic logo and statuette has always been called "The Actor," and it felt like the right time to "make the alignment official."

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SAG Awards Is Changing Its Name

However, there will be no change to the award show itself, which will continue to be presented by SAG-AFTRA.

As they added, "Only the show name is changing. The foundation remains the same, it’s actors honoring actors."

As for how past recipients like nine-time winner and record holder Julia Louis-Dreyfus and eight-time winner Alec Baldwin will refer to their awards? It seems the camera will keep rolling on the previous name. 

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"Past winners and audiences included will still refer to their award and the show as the SAG Awards, and that’s OK," they explained. "We know it’ll take time to adjust to the change."

Ahead of the Actors Awards’ Jan. 7 nomination announcements, they concluded by emphasizing their confidence in the decision. 

"Our goal is, and has always been, to bring greater clarity and global visibility to every performer the union represents," they added, "and we’re confident the new name does exactly that."

For a look back at 2025’s SAG winners, read on…

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

A Complete Unknown

Anora

WINNER: Conclave

Emilia Pérez

Wicked

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Pamela Anderson—The Last Showgirl

Cynthia Erivo—Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón—Emilia Pérez

Mikey Madison—Anora

WINNER: Demi Moore—The Substance

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Adrien Brody—The Brutalist

WINNER: Timothée Chalamet—A Complete Unknown

Daniel Craig—Queer

Colman Domingo—Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes—Conclave

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Monica Barbaro—A Complete Unknown

Jamie Lee Curtis—The Last Showgirl

Danielle Deadwyler—The Piano Lesson

Ariana Grande—Wicked

WINNER: Zoe Saldaña— Emilia Pérez

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Jonathan Bailey—Wicked

Yura Borisov—Anora

WINNER: Kieran Culkin—A Real Pain

Edward Norton— A Complete Unknown

Jeremy Strong—The Apprentice

Outstanding Action Performance By a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

Deadpool & Wolverine

Dune: Part Two

WINNER: The Fall Guy

Gladiator II

Wicked

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Bridgerton

The Day of The Jackal

The Diplomat

WINNER: Shogun

Slow Horses

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Kathy Bates—Matlock

Nicola Coughlan—Bridgerton

Allison Janney—The Diplomat

Keri Russell—The Diplomat

WINNER: Anna Sawai—Shogun

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Tadanobu Asano—Shogun

Jeff Bridges—The Old Man

Gary Oldman—Slow Horses

Eddie Redmayne—The Day of The Jackal

WINNER: Hiroyuki Sanada—Shogun

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Hacks

WINNER: Only Murders in The Building

Shrinking

 

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Kristen Bell—Nobody Wants This

Quinta Brunson—Abbott Elementary

Liza Colón-Zayas—The Bear

Ayo Edebiri—The Bear

WINNER: Jean Smart—Hacks

 

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Adam Brody—Nobody Wants This

Ted Danson —A Man on The Inside

Harrison Ford—Shrinking

WINNER: Martin Short—Only Murders in The Building

Jeremy Allen White—The Bear

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

Javier Bardem—Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

WINNER: Colin Farrell—The Penguin

Richard Gadd—Baby Reindeer

Kevin Kline—Disclaimer

Andrew Scott—Ripley

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

Kathy Bates—The Great Lillian Hall

Cate Blanchett—Disclaimer

Jodie Foster— True Detective: Night Country

Lily Gladstone—Under the Bridge

WINNER: Jessica Gunning—Baby Reindeer

Cristin Milioti—The Penguin

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

The Boys

Fallout

House of the Dragon

The Penguin

WINNER: Shogun

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