After Three Decades SAG Awards Officially Change Name To ‘The Actor Awards Presented By SAG-AFTRA’

After 30 years the Screen Actors Guild Awards is making a big name change. Effective this year the formerly titled SAG Awards will be called The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA.

Guild and show officials point out that their statuette has always been called ‘The Actor’, so this is a move to simply evolve the show’s name to align itself with the actual award. It also enables the guild to fully acknowledge it is now SAG-AFTRA after its 2012 merger, with the show fully representing all 160,000 members of the joined unions who vote on the winners.

“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 Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA gives viewers in 190-plus countries an immediate understanding of who we are and what we’re about,” said Jon Brockett, The Actor Awards Showrunner and Executive Producer.

They emphasize other than formally changing the name, this is all that is changing about the guild’s premiere awards show, either in presentation or in how it is administered in terms of voting, submissions,and eligibility. That all remains the same. However in terms of campaigns they are being flexible this year. To help ease the transition for reps at studio and network, FYC campaign materials will continue using Screen Actors Guild Awards through this season’s pre-nomination voting period ending on January 5, 2026. Moving forward, post-nominations, SAG will be advising everyone to use ‘The Actor Awards’.

“As an actor and a longtime SAG-AFTRA member and Chair of the Awards Committee, I’ve always loved that our show is actor focused – actors voting for actors – because we understand innately the work that goes into a performance,” said JoBeth Williams. “The Actor Awards makes that crystal clear to audiences everywhere: when they tune in, they know they’re going to see their favorite actors celebrated by those who truly know the craft.”

This change has been in the works for a while and Williams’ Awards Committee has been closely involved throughout. The decision to formally change the name was guided by the committee, who represent the membership as well as SAG-AFTRA leadership. Past winners are free to still refer to their statuette as a SAG Award, but the producers hope with time everyone will be calling it ‘The Actor’. This is much the same way The Academy Award may be the official name but everyone knows it as Oscar.

The 32nd Annual The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA will announce nominations in film and TV on January 7, 2026, and the show will take place airing on Netflix on March 1, 2026.