The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in the United States has announced the nominees for 2025.
The inaugural Actor Awards have unveiled the leading nominees for the 2025–2026 film and television awards season, marking a fresh chapter in recognizing acting excellence.
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the Screen Actors Guild of the United States announced the nominees for its newly rebranded awards—now called the Actor Awards, replacing the longtime SAG Awards. As Hollywood’s largest actors’ guild, this voting event remains a crucial indicator of the awards season’s trajectory and often forecasts the key frontrunners moving forward.
Revamped Identity and Expanded Ceremony
The awards’ new name underscores a renewed dedication to honoring the art of acting. This first ceremony under the refreshed branding will honor 15 categories in total: six awards for outstanding achievements in feature films and nine celebrating excellence in television series.
The nominees revealed have already begun to shape the conversation around the primary contenders for top acting honors throughout the 2025–2026 season.
Top Film Ensemble Nominations
In the prestigious film category of Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture, the nominated projects have garnered significant buzz among critics and industry insiders over recent months.
The contenders include:
- Frankenstein (Netflix)
- Hamnet (Focus Features)
- Marty the Magnificent (A24)
- Battle by Battle (Warner Bros.)
- The Sinners (Warner Bros.)
This selection highlights the strong presence of auteur-driven and studio-backed films emphasizing exceptional acting ensembles.
Leading Individual Acting Nominees
The race for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role is particularly competitive, featuring:
- Timothée Chalamet for Marty the Magnificent
- Leonardo DiCaprio for Battle by Battle
- Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon
- Michael B. Jordan for The Sinners
- Jesse Plemons for Bugonia
On the female side, contenders for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role include:
- Jessie Buckley in Hamnet
- Rose Byrne in I Would Kick You If I Could
- Kate Hudson in Sadness Song
- Chase Infinity in Battle by Battle
- Emma Stone in Bugonia
Television’s Standout Series
Leading the television nominations is Apple TV+’s comedy series The Studio with five nods. It is nominated in the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series category alongside notable programs such as:
- Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- The Bear (Hulu)
- Hacks (HBO Max)
- Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
For Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, the nominees are:
- The Diplomat (Netflix)
- Landlord (Paramount+)
- The Pitt (HBO Max)
- Severance (Apple TV+)
- The White Lotus (HBO)
Announcement of Winners
The winners of the first-ever Actor Awards will be announced on March 1, 2026. Historically, the results from the Screen Actors Guild’s voting serve as a significant indicator ahead of the year’s major film awards, often shaping the momentum and dynamics throughout the entire awards season.
