SAG Awards officially rebranded as The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA

After 30 years, the SAG Awards are now The Actor Awards by SAG-AFTRA, aligning the show with its iconic statuette

SAG-AFTRA has officially rebranded the long-running Screen Actors Guild Awards after three decades, introducing its new title: The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA.

The shift aligns the ceremony with its iconic trophy, which has always been known as The Actor, and acknowledges the union’s evolution since the SAG-AFTRA merger in 2012.

Showrunner and executive producer Jon Brockett explained that the new name offers instant clarity for global audiences, emphasizing that the ceremony celebrates actors and their craft. With more than 160,000 union members voting on the winners, the change brings the award’s identity and the organization’s name into full alignment.

Organizers stress that aside from the title, nothing else about the awards process is changing. Voting, eligibility rules, submissions, and overall presentation will remain exactly as before. For the current awards season, studios and networks can still use “SAG Awards” in FYC campaigns until the pre-nomination period ends on January 5, 2026. After nominations are announced, all materials will transition to the new title.

JoBeth Williams, chair of the Awards Committee, noted that the new name highlights the unique nature of the show—actors voting for actors, celebrating performances through the lens of those who understand the craft best. Past winners are still welcome to refer to their statuettes as SAG Awards, though producers anticipate that “The Actor” will become the common term in time, much like “Oscar” did for the Academy Awards.

The 32nd annual The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA will announce nominations on January 7, 2026, and the ceremony will stream live on Netflix on March 1.