Actors Celebrate Themselves with a New Name

The Screen Actors Guild Awards is changing its name to The Actor Awards. This shift highlights the focus on actors, as the trophy itself is called "The Actor. " The change aims to make the show's purpose clearer to a global audience. The rebranding was announced ahead of the 32nd ceremony, scheduled for 1 March 2026. The executive producer, Jon Brockett, explained that the new name helps viewers instantly understand the show's focus. JoBeth Williams, awards committee chair, added that the name change makes it easier for international audiences to recognize the event. The Actor Awards trophy boosts its winners' visibility before the Oscars. Like the Emmys, Grammys, and Golden Globes, the Oscars are more famous by their trophy names than the organizations behind them. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Aftra) merged in 2012. The new name reflects this merger and aligns with the trophy's name. The union represents about 160, 000 members. Recently, Sean Astin, known for "The Lord of the Rings, " was elected as the new leader of Sag-Aftra. He takes over from Fran Drescher, who led the organization through the Hollywood strikes of 2023.