The newly rebranded Actor Awards delivered surprise wins, shifting Oscar momentum, and a red carpet that reimagined old Hollywood glamour.

Awards season loves a clear frontrunner, but on Sunday night in Los Angeles, the 2026 Actor Awards proved that certainty is a myth. The ceremony, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, is now simply called the Actor Awards—and the name change came with a few surprises.

Held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, with Nobody Wants This star Kristen Bell as the host, the ceremony honored the year’s standout performances in film and television. It also reshuffled a few Oscar predictions just weeks before the Academy Awards.

*Kristen Bell hosted the night | Photos from Getty Images*

A surprise ensemble win shakes up Best Picture momentum

After dominating most of the awards season, One Battle After Another finally hit a bump. The Actor Awards’ top prize for outstanding cast went to Sinners, opening up new possibilities in the best picture race.

While the guild’s ensemble award is not always a perfect best-picture predictor, it has signaled major wins before. Both Parasite and Spotlight took this prize before winning best picture. Still, One Battle After Another remains formidable, especially after securing the Producers Guild Award, which has historically been a stronger indicator.

*The cast of Sinners: Delroy Lindo, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, Li Jun Li, Lola Kirke, Francine Maisler, Michael B. Jordan, and Jack O’Connell*

The Lead Actor Category delivers the night’s shock

Timothée Chalamet, who had been riding strong momentum for Marty Supreme, was defeated by Michael B. Jordan, who won the Best Actor award for his performance in Sinners. The result instantly reframed the category just weeks before the Oscars.

In his speech, Jordan reflected on a career that began in childhood and spoke about standing in a ballroom filled with people who had watched him grow up in front of the camera. Remember, these awards are voted on by fellow actors, and that peer validation carries real weight during awards season.

Jessie Buckley continued her streak for Hamnet, reinforcing her position in the Best Actress race. In the supporting actor category, Sean Penn won for One Battle After Another. He has skipped previous ceremonies he’s won this season, adding a small layer of suspense about whether he’ll show up at the Oscars.

Amy Madigan won supporting actress for Weapons, beating recent Globe and BAFTA winners. While examining the guild’s statuette on stage, she joked about its smooth physique and compared it to childhood dolls. It was funny, off-the-cuff, but also quite refreshing.

Television wins and a career-spanning tribute

On the TV side, Catherine O’Hara’s win carried special emotional weight. The beloved actor, known for Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, Beetlejuice and more, passed away on January 30 at age 71 after a brief illness. At the Actor Awards, she was honored posthumously with the award for best female actor in a comedy series for her role in The Studio. Seth Rogen accepted on her behalf and delivered an emotional tribute, highlighting not just her brilliance but also her kindness and collaborative spirit

The Pitt won best ensemble in a drama series, further cementing its awards season presence.

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Then came Harrison Ford, who received the guild’s Lifetime Achievement Qward. At 83, he joked that it felt strange to receive such recognition at the “half-point” of his career. The room laughed, but his speech soon turned emotional. “I’m still a working actor,” he said, grounding the moment in humility and gratitude.

The 2026 Actor Awards delivered shifts, emotional tributes, and style moments that will be talked about all the way to the Oscars. If you missed the ceremony, or just want to relive the speeche, the full show is now streaming on Netflix.

Red carpet highlights

Before the trophies were handed out, the red carpet delivered its own spectacle. This year’s theme, “Reimagining Hollywood Glamour from the ’20s and ’30s,” shaped the night’s fashion choices, with stars offering modern takes instead of literal throwbacks.

Below are our favorite looks from the 2026 SAG Actor Awards: