The 2026 Actor Awards, formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards, delivered the kind of chaos this awards season desperately needed. With Oscar voting closing and the Academy Awards set for March 16, the night turned into a full-blown momentum shifter. Michael B. Jordan pulled off a stunning Best Actor upset, Sinners dominated the ceremony, and the late Catherine O’Hara was honored in one of the evening’s most emotional moments.

Now streaming in its new Netflix home and rebranded with fresh energy, the Actor Awards didn’t just hand out trophies — they reshaped the Oscar race. From surprise wins to career-defining speeches, here are the eight biggest moments that could change everything on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Below is the complete list of 2026 Actor Awards winners, plus analysis of the biggest surprises, Oscar implications, and how the former SAG Awards reshaped the Academy Awards race just weeks before Hollywood’s biggest night.

The 2026 Actor Awards winners list includes major victories for Sinners, Michael B. Jordan, Jessie Buckley, and Amy Madigan — results that could significantly impact the 2026 Academy Awards race. As the final major precursor before the Oscars, the former SAG Awards have historically influenced acting categories more than any other guild ceremony.

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Kristen Bell Opens 2026 Actor Awards With Musical Monologue

2026 Actor Awards winners

Kristen Bell opened the 2026 Actor Awards with a monologue that balanced warmth, timing, and just enough insider bite. Taking advantage of her musical roots, the Frozen star poked fun at celebrity stage names and turned it into a cheeky, Disney-esque song. Her playful energy gave the show a breezy kickoff that set the room at ease.

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Catherine O’Hara Gets Touching Tribute After Posthumous Win

2026 Actor Awards winners

Legendary comedienne Catherine O’Hara, who died on January 30 at 71, took home Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her work in The Studio, a role that had earned widespread acclaim during the season and served as one of her final screen performances. When her name was called, the audience rose to give the late actress a standing ovation.

Her The Studio co-star and series co-creator, Seth Rogen, accepted the trophy on her behalf and delivered a heartfelt tribute that drew visible emotion from attendees. Rogen recounted O’Hara’s generosity and devotion to her craft, recalling how she would often send thoughtful scene suggestions that enriched the work. He said she “showed that you can be a genius and be kind,” a sentiment that resonated with many in the room.

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Michael B. Jordan Wins Best Actor at 2026 Actor Awards in Major Upset

In a game-changing upset, Sinners’ Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his dual roles as twin hustlers Smoke and Stack. The win gives Jordan a critical last-minute push for his chance at nabbing the Oscars Best Actor in a race that, until last week, heavily favored Marty Supreme’s Timothée Chalamet.

This is Jordan’s first major win in the category, signaling an upward momentum for the supernatural action blockbuster that couldn’t have come at a better time, just as voters are turning in their ballots.

The upset dramatically tightens what had been viewed as a Chalamet-led race, injecting real uncertainty into the Best Actor Oscar contest. While recent Actor Awards winners have not always aligned with the Academy’s final vote, the ceremony remains the strongest acting predictor of the Oscar season. (something Chalamet himself experienced last year). With no clear frontrunner, the Best Actor trophy remains up for grabs.

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Amy Madigan Shakes Up Supporting Actress Race

Speaking of upset, Amy Madigan’s win in the Best Supporting Actress category signals that this category will also be a nailbiter at the Academy Awards. Madigan has a slight edge now, having won at the Actor Awards and earlier at Critics Choice – but don’t count out Wunmi Mosaku and Teyana Taylor just yet. The latter two have secured important wins at the BAFTA and the Golden Globes, respectively, and the advantages of being among the biggest film contenders of the season. 

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Jessie Buckley Wins Again, Seals Oscar Future

2026 Actor Awards winners

That leaves Jessie Buckley as the only solid lock as the Irish actress took home Best Actress for Hamnet. With victories across every major precursor, Buckley now enters the Academy Awards as the overwhelming Best Actress frontrunner, Buckley now enters the Academy Awards as the overwhelming Best Actress frontrunner.

The Studio and The Pitt Triumphant on TV Categories

Over on the Television categories (can we still call it TV at this point, though?), The Pitt and The Studio took home top honors in their respective categories. The Pitts’ ensemble captured Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, a win that recognized the show’s potent mix of commentaries on American healthcare and the terrific large ensemble led by Noah Wyle. Across genres, The Studio won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, with actors credited for bringing layered, nuanced portrayals of behind-the-scenes Hollywood life. 

Harrison Ford Receives Lifetime Achievement Honor

Harrison Ford at the Actor Awards on March 1, 2026. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Set to the tune of John Williams’ iconic Indiana Jones theme song, Ford walked up the stage to receive the Life Achievement Award recognizing his five-decade-plus Hollywood career – a feat that includes seminal works in Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Blade Runner, to name a few. In his touching speech, the 83-year-old actor credited acting for pulling him out of a wayward youth and urged his cohorts to use their crafts to lift up the next generation of actors. 

Sinners Wins Outstanding Cast at 2026 Actor Awards

2026 Actor Awards winners

Sinners won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the ceremony, cementing its position as a front-runner in this season’s awards races. The ensemble — which includes Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, Wunmi Mosaku, Hailee Steinfeld, and others — was celebrated for its cohesive, emotionally rich performances in the Ryan Coogler-directed drama.

Members of the cast shared the stage to accept the honor, with Lindo taking the mic to deliver a rousing acceptance speech. The victory adds to Sinners’ impressive awards run and is widely seen as boosting its prospects in the upcoming Academy Awards, where it notches a record-breaking nomination tally with 16. 

2026 Actor Awards winners

Actor Awards Winners – Motion Picture

• Outstanding Cast: Sinners

• Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

• Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

• Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)

• Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)

• Stunt Ensemble: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Actor Awards Winners – Television

• Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series: The Pitt (HBO Max)

  • Other Nominees: The Diplomat (Netflix), Landman (Paramount+), Severance (Apple TV+), The White Lotus (HBO)

• Best Male Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle (The Pitt, HBO Max)

  • Other Nominees: Sterling K. Brown (Paradise, Hulu), Billy Crudup (The Morning Show, Apple TV+), Walton Goggins (The White Lotus, HBO), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses, Apple TV+)

• Best Female Actor in a Drama Series: Keri Russell (The Diplomat, Netflix)

  • Other Nominees: Britt Lower (Severance, Apple TV+), Parker Posey (The White Lotus, HBO Max), Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus, Apple TV+), Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus, HBO Max)

• Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series: The Studio (Apple TV+)

  • Other Nominees: Abbott Elementary (ABC), The Bear (FX), Hacks (HBO Max), Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

• Best Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Seth Rogen (The Studio, Apple TV+)

  • Other Nominees: Ike Barinholtz (The Studio, Apple TV+), Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This, Netflix), Ted Danson (A Man on the Inside, Netflix), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu)

• Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Catherine O’Hara (The Studio, Apple TV+)

  • Other Nominees: Kathryn Hahn (The Studio, Apple TV+), Jenna Ortega (Wednesday, Netflix), Jean Smart (Hacks, HBO Max), Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale, Apple TV+)

• Best Male Actor in a Limited Series: Owen Cooper (Adolescence, Netflix)

  • Other Nominees: Jason Bateman (Black Rabbit, Netflix), Stephen Graham (Adolescence, Netflix), Charlie Hunnam (Monster: The Ed Gein Story, Netflix), Matthew Rhys (The Beast in Me, Netflix)

• Best Female Actor in a Limited Series: Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex, FX)

  • Other Nominees: Claire Danes (The Beast in Me, Netflix), Erin Doherty (Adolescence, Netflix), Sarah Snook (All Her Fault, Peacock), Christine Tremarco (Adolescence, Netflix)

• Outstanding Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series: The Last of Us (HBO)

  • Other Nominees: Andor (Disney+), Landman (Paramount+), Squid Game (Netflix), Stranger Things (Netflix)

2026 Actor Awards winners

With the Academy Awards just weeks away, the 2026 Actor Awards have reshaped several major Oscar races. Michael B. Jordan’s upset injects volatility into Best Actor, Amy Madigan’s momentum complicates Supporting Actress, and Jessie Buckley has solidified her position as the Best Actress frontrunner. Meanwhile, Sinners winning Outstanding Cast significantly strengthens its Best Picture trajectory.

Historically, SAG acting winners frequently go on to claim Oscar gold. If that pattern holds, the 2026 Academy Awards could look very similar to tonight’s results — but in a season defined by surprises, nothing is locked until envelopes are opened.

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2026 Actor Awards winners

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