The 2026 Writers Guild Awards honoured some of the best writing in film, television, and media. The ceremony was held Sunday night in New York and hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr. This annual event celebrates the writers behind powerful stories in movies, TV shows, documentaries, and news programs.
One of the night’s biggest winners was the film Sinners, which took home the award for Best Original Screenplay, written by director Ryan Coogler. Actor Miles Caton accepted the award on Coogler’s behalf and shared a brief message from him. The film stars Michael B. Jordan and has been praised for its storytelling and emotional depth.
Another big winner was One Battle After Another, which won Best Adapted Screenplay. The script, written by Paul Thomas Anderson, is based on the novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon. Since Anderson couldn’t attend, actress Shayna McHayle accepted the award and read his prepared statement.
Television also saw several big winners. The drama series The Pitt had a great night, winning Best Drama Series, Best New Series, and Best Episodic Drama for its episode “7:00 A.M.” The writing team was praised for strong characters and gripping storytelling.
In comedy, The Studio won Best Comedy Series, with its writers praised for sharp humor and clever dialogue. The Righteous Gemstones won Best Episodic Comedy for the episode “Prelude.” Meanwhile, Dying for Sex earned the award for Best Limited Series.
This year’s ceremony was a bit different. Usually, the Writers Guild holds two events at once, one in New York and one in Los Angeles. But the Los Angeles event was cancelled due to a strike by the Writers Guild of America West. So, only the East Coast ceremony took place in New York at the Edison Ballroom.
Despite the behind-the-scenes challenges, the ceremony still celebrated the creative work of writers across many fields. Roy Wood Jr. opened the show with jokes about politics, media, and the entertainment industry. His humour helped keep the night lively while honouring the writers whose work shapes movies, television, and news stories.
The Writers Guild Awards keep showing how important writers are in entertainment. From blockbuster films to TV series and documentaries, great writing is the foundation of every powerful story.