The 2026 Writers Guild Awards ceremony took place in New York City, showcasing the best writing achievements in film, television, and documentary. Despite the ongoing Writers Guild strike affecting the West Coast, the event was hosted at the Edison Ballroom by comedian Roy Wood, Jr., with Stephen Colbert honored with the Walter Bernstein Award.
In the Original Screenplay category, nominated works included “Sinners,” a supernatural horror film directed by Ryan Coogler, and the ping-pong drama “Marty Supreme,” written by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein. Other contenders were “Black Bag” by David Koepp, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” by Mary Bronstein, and “Weapons” by Zach Cregger.
The Adapted Screenplay nominees featured Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” “Bugonia,” “Hamnet,” and “Train Dreams.” These films drew from diverse source materials, including novels, novellas, and classic literature.
Documentary Screenplay nominees included “2,000 Meters to Andriivka” written by Mstyslav Chernov, “Becoming Led Zeppelin” by Bernard MacMahon and Allison McGourty, and “White with Fear” by Andrew Goldberg.
In television categories, “Pluribus” led nominations with four nods, followed closely by “The Pitt” and “The Studio,” each with three. “Pluribus” and “The Pitt” were recognized for drama series, while “The Studio” competed in the comedy series category. All three shows also received nominations for best new series.
Winners were selected in various categories, including episodic drama and comedy. “7:00 A.M.” from “The Pitt” won for episodic drama, and “Prelude” from “The Righteous Gemstones” won for episodic comedy. In comedy/variety series, “The Daily Show” was recognized for its writing team.
The annual West Coast ceremony was canceled this year due to the Writers Guild West staff strike, which began on February 17, with demands including higher wages and enhanced job security protections.
Below is a selection of notable winners and nominees across key categories:
Original Screenplay nominees: “Black Bag” (David Koepp), “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (Mary Bronstein), “Marty Supreme” (Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie), “Sinners” (Ryan Coogler), “Weapons” (Zach Cregger).
Adapted Screenplay nominees: “Bugonia” (Will Tracy), “Frankenstein” (Guillermo del Toro), “Hamnet” (Chloe Zhao & Maggie O’Farrell), “One Battle After Another” (Paul Thomas Anderson), “Train Dreams” (Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar).
Television Drama Series nominees: “Andor” (Disney+), “The Pitt” (HBO Max), “Pluribus” (Apple TV+), “Severance” (Apple TV+), “The White Lotus” (HBO Max).
Television Comedy Series nominees: “Abbott Elementary” (ABC), “The Chair Company” (HBO Max), “Hacks” (HBO Max), “The Rehearsal” (HBO Max), “The Studio” (Apple TV+).
New Series nominees: “The Chair Company,” “The Pitt,” “Pluribus,” “The Studio,” and “Task” (all on various streaming platforms).
Limited Series nominees included “The Beast in Me,” “Black Rabbit,” “Death by Lightning,” “Dying for Sex,” and “Sirens.”
Furthermore, the animation category featured episodes from “The Simpsons,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and “The Great North,” while written works for episodic television ranged broadly across genres and platforms.
The Writers Guild Awards 2026 celebrated a wide spectrum of storytelling and writing talent, highlighting both established names and emerging voices in the entertainment industry amid challenging circumstances.