2026 Actor Awards Celebrate Excellence in Film and Television
The 2026 Actor Awards, presented by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, were held on Sunday, honoring the year's most outstanding performances in both film and television. The ceremony, hosted by Kristen Bell, took place at the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles and was streamed live on Netflix, offering viewers an ad-free experience for the prestigious event.
Film Category Surprises and Standout Wins
In a series of unexpected turns, the film categories delivered major surprises. Michael B. Jordan clinched the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his role in Sinners, beating out favorite Timothée Chalamet, who had been anticipated to win for Marty Supreme after earlier victories at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes. This win marked a significant comeback for Jordan, who had missed out on major awards earlier in the season.
Jessie Buckley continued her dominant awards run by winning Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Hamnet, following previous wins at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and BAFTAs, positioning her as a strong contender for the upcoming Oscars. In supporting roles, Amy Madigan triumphed over favorite Teyana Taylor from One Battle After Another to win for her performance in Weapons, while Sean Penn secured the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, outperforming his co-star Benicio Del Toro in One Battle After Another.
Television Honors and Comedy Dominance
The television categories saw notable achievements, with the medical drama The Pitt winning the top honor for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, and its lead star Noah Wyle earning Best Male Actor in a Drama Series. In comedy, The Studio emerged as the night's biggest winner, taking home the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Seth Rogen won Best Male Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in the show, and Catherine O'Hara received a posthumous award for Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series.
Owen Cooper maintained his awards-season momentum by winning the Actor Award for Best Male Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie for his performance in Adolescence. Additionally, the stunt ensembles of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning and The Last of Us were recognized with action performance honors, highlighting the critical role of stunt work in entertainment.
Complete Winners' List
Film Categories:
- Cast Ensemble in a Motion Picture: Sinners - WINNER
- Male Actor in a Leading Role: Michael B. Jordan - Sinners - WINNER
- Female Actor in a Leading Role: Jessie Buckley - Hamnet - WINNER
- Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Sean Penn - One Battle After Another - WINNER
- Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Amy Madigan - Weapons - WINNER
- Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture: Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - WINNER
TV Categories:
- Cast Ensemble in a Drama Series: The Pitt - WINNER
- Cast Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Studio - WINNER
- Male Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle - The Pitt - WINNER
- Female Actor in a Drama Series: Keri Russell - The Diplomat - WINNER
- Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen - The Studio - WINNER
- Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Catherine O'Hara - The Studio - WINNER
- Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series: Owen Cooper - Adolescence - WINNER
- Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series: Michelle Williams - Dying for Sex - WINNER
- Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series: The Last of Us - WINNER
This year's Actor Awards highlighted the diverse talent and hard work across the entertainment industry, setting the stage for future accolades and celebrations.
