A key Oscar predictor that highlights the year’s standout film and television performances
Presented by SAG-AFTRA, the 2026 Actor Awards took place on March 1, once again placing actors at the center of the awards season conversation. Voted on by approximately 118,000 working performers, the ceremony is widely seen as a strong indicator of Oscar momentum ahead of the Academy Awards on March 16, particularly given the significant overlap between SAG-AFTRA voters and the Academy’s acting branch.
On the film side, vampire horror-thriller Sinners emerged as the standout, winning Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Michael B. Jordan further strengthened the film’s awards-season run by taking Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his dual portrayal of the Smokestack twins. His win came in a highly competitive category that included Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, underscoring how competitive this year’s race has been.
In the leading actress category, Jessie Buckley earned Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Hamnet, adding to her recent BAFTA victory and reinforcing her position as one of the season’s most celebrated performers.
On the television side, ensemble storytelling remained central. Apple TV+’s The Studio dominated the comedy categories, earning both Ensemble honors and individual acting wins, while HBO’s The Pitt led the drama field with Ensemble recognition alongside Noah Wyle’s individual victory. Together, the wins underscored the continued strength of character-driven series across platforms.
With peer recognition at its core, the 2026 Actor Awards highlighted the performances shaping this year’s awards race. Below is the full list of winners.
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Sinners
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Amy Madigan – Weapons
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: The Pitt
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle – The Pitt
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Keri Russell – The Diplomat
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Studio
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen – The Studio
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Catherine O’Hara – The Studio
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Owen Cooper – Adolescence
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Michelle Williams – Dying For Sex
Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture: Mission:Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series: The Last of Us
SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award: Harrison Ford
Also see: Who won at the 2026 Brit Awards?
