Writers Guild of America Announces 2026 Awards Nominees
The Writers Guild of America has officially revealed the list of nominees for the prestigious 2026 Writers Guild Awards. This announcement comes just four days after the Academy Award nominations, creating a significant buzz in the entertainment industry. The Guild made the announcement on Tuesday, highlighting the films and television shows competing for top honors in various writing categories.
Film Categories: Oscar Overlap and Eligibility Challenges
Among the extensive list of nominees spanning film and television, seven Oscar-nominated screenplays have secured spots in the top film categories. However, several notable scripts were barred from consideration due to the Guild's strict eligibility rules. The Best Adapted Screenplay category presents a rare instance of complete alignment between the Writers Guild Awards and the Oscars. All five Academy Award nominees—Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, and Train Dreams—will compete for the WGA award.
In contrast, the Best Original Screenplay race underscores the Guild's long-standing eligibility limitations. Out of the five Oscar nominees, only Sinners and Marty Supreme qualified under WGA regulations. They are joined by Black Bag, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and Weapons in the original screenplay lineup. Three Oscar-nominated original screenplays—Blue Moon, It Was Just an Accident, and Sentimental Value—were deemed ineligible. This exclusion occurs because these films were not written by Guild members or under a WGA collective bargaining agreement, as mandated by the United States-based guild. Historically, the Guild's awards have provided limited insight into Oscar outcomes due to these restrictive eligibility criteria.
Television and Streaming Nominees: New Series Shine
In the television categories, the new series Pluribus emerged as a frontrunner with four nominations. It is closely followed by The Pitt and The Studio, each earning three nominations. Other notable contenders include Task, The Chair Company, and The Rehearsal, which each received two nods. The nominees span a diverse range of genres and platforms, reflecting the evolving landscape of scripted content.
Complete List of Nominees
Film Categories
- Original Screenplay: Black Bag (Written by David Koepp), If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (Written by Mary Bronstein), Marty Supreme (Written by Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie), Sinners (Written by Ryan Coogler), Weapons (Written by Zach Cregger)
- Adapted Screenplay: Bugonia (Screenplay by Will Tracy), Frankenstein (Screenplay by Guillermo del Toro), Hamnet (Screenplay by Chloe Zhao & Maggie O’Farrell), One Battle After Another (Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson), Train Dreams (Screenplay by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar)
- Documentary Screenplay: 2,000 Meters to Andriivka (Written by Mstyslav Chernov), Becoming Led Zeppelin (Written by Bernard MacMahon & Allison McGourty), White with Fear (Written by Andrew Goldberg)
Television, Streaming, and News Nominees
- Drama Series: Andor, The Pitt, Pluribus, Severance, The White Lotus
- Comedy Series: Abbott Elementary, The Chair Company, Hacks, The Rehearsal, The Studio
- New Series: The Chair Company, The Pitt, Pluribus, The Studio, Task
- Limited Series: The Beast in Me, Black Rabbit, Death by Lightning, Dying for Sex, Sirens
- TV & Streaming Motion Pictures: The Best You Can, Deep Cover, The Life List, Swiped
- Animation: Abe League of Their Moe, Don’t Worry, Be Hoopy, It’s a Beef-derful Life, Parahormonal Activity, Scared Screenless, Shira Can’t Cook
- Episodic Drama: 7:00 A.M. (The Pitt), A Still Small Voice (Task), Charm Offensive (Pluribus), Execution (The Handmaid’s Tale), Got Milk (Pluribus), Reunion (Forever)
- Episodic Comedy: A Call from God (Mo), Pilot’s Code (The Rehearsal), Prelude (The Righteous Gemstones), The Promotion (The Studio), The Sleazy Georgian (Poker Face), Worms (The Bear)
- Comedy/Variety Series – Talk or Sketch: The Daily Show, Have I Got News for You, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Saturday Night Live, They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce
- Comedy/Variety Specials: 82nd Annual Golden Globes, The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: MAGA: The Next Generation, Marc Maron: Panicked, Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, SNL50: The Anniversary Special
- Quiz and Audience Participation: Celebrity Jeopardy!, Jeopardy!
- Daytime Drama: Beyond the Gates, General Hospital, The Young and the Restless
- Children’s Episodic, Long Form and Specials: The First Snow of Fraggle Rock, Stay Out of the Basement: Part I (Goosebumps), Merry Giftmas, I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), When We Lose Someone (Tab Time)
- Short Form Streaming: The Rabbit Hole with Jimmy Kimmel, Sesame Street YouTube: Take a Moment with Jonathan Bailey
- Documentary Script – Current Events: Syria After Assad (Frontline), The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram (Frontline), The Rise of RFK Jr. (Frontline), Trump’s Power & the Rule of Law (Frontline)
- Documentary Script – Other Than Current Events: Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act (American Experience), Clearing the Air: The War on Smog (American Experience), Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP (American Experience), Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s, Mr. Polaroid (American Experience)
- Promotional Writing Nominees: Behind the Crown: King & Conqueror EPK, CBS Comedy
Awards Timeline and Ceremony Details
Final voting for the 2026 Writers Guild Awards will commence on Friday and continue for a two-week period. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, 2026. The event will be held simultaneously at two prestigious venues: the JW Marriott in Los Angeles and the Edison Ballroom in New York City. This dual-location format ensures broad participation from the writing community across the United States.
The Writers Guild Awards recognize excellence in writing for film, television, radio, and new media. They serve as a key indicator of creative achievement in the entertainment industry, though their predictive value for the Oscars is often tempered by eligibility restrictions. This year's nominations highlight both the convergence with major award shows like the Oscars and the unique criteria that define the Guild's recognition process.
