SAG Awards Rebrand: Ceremony Officially Renamed The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA

The long-running Hollywood awards ceremony adopts a new name that puts its iconic statuette front and center.

After three decades as one of Hollywood's most respected honors, it was announced that the Screen Actors Guild Awards will be making a big change. Effective immediately, the ceremony formerly known as the SAG Awards will adopt a new title: The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA. The name reflects the award's iconic statuette, which has always been officially known as The Actor.

“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.

SAG-AFTRA and awards show officials emphasized that the renaming allows the ceremony to fully align with the unified identity of the guild itself. Following the 2012 merger of SAG and AFTRA, the reorganized union now represents approximately 160,000 performers across film, television, voiceover, broadcast, and additional media. With members from both predecessor unions voting annually, leaders say the new name more accurately represents the breadth of professionals behind the awards.

Organizers want to make clear that the rebrand does not alter any core aspects of the ceremony. Voting rules, submissions, eligibility requirements, and the overall presentation will remain exactly the same.

One area related to the ceremony will see a slight adjustment: awards campaigns. To ease the transition for studios, networks, and publicists, For Your Consideration (FYC) materials may continue using the legacy name “Screen Actors Guild Awards” through the end of the 2026 pre-nomination voting window, which closes January 5. After nominations are announced, all parties will shift to the new title.

Actress JoBeth Williams said, “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. 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.”

According to organizers, the name change has been under consideration for some time. Williams and the Awards Committee have been integral in guiding the transition, working closely with union leadership to ensure the new branding honors both tradition and the evolving identity of SAG-AFTRA.

The 32nd annual The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA will announce nominations for film and television categories on January 7, 2026. The ceremony will then return to Netflix for its live broadcast on March 1, 2026.