Writers Guild Awards Held in New York After L.A. Ceremony Canceled

'Sinners' and 'The Pitt' among top winners as labor dispute disrupts annual event.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 78th Writers Guild Awards ceremony took place in New York City on Sunday after the Los Angeles event was canceled due to an ongoing labor strike by the guild's own staff union. The acclaimed films 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another' won for original and adapted screenplays, respectively, while the TV series 'The Pitt' dominated the television categories. Several lifetime achievement honors were also presented, though the cancelation of the L.A. ceremony meant the planned tributes to James Cameron, Don Reo, and Mstyslav Chernov did not occur.

Why it matters

The Writers Guild Awards are a prestigious annual event honoring excellence in screenwriting across film, television, and other media. The cancelation of the Los Angeles ceremony due to a labor dispute between the guild's management and its own staff union highlights ongoing tensions in the entertainment industry around issues of worker rights and compensation. It also raises questions about the future of the awards show and whether the Writers Guild can resolve its internal conflicts ahead of upcoming contract negotiations with Hollywood studios.

The details

The Writers Guild Awards ceremony in New York City proceeded as planned on Sunday evening, with several high-profile winners. The horror film 'Sinners' won for original screenplay, while 'One Battle After Another' took the adapted screenplay award. In television, the HBO Max series 'The Pitt' dominated, winning for drama series, new series, and episodic drama. Lifetime achievement honors were presented to Stephen Colbert, Terry George, and Diana Son. However, the cancelation of the Los Angeles ceremony meant the planned tributes to James Cameron, Don Reo, and Mstyslav Chernov did not occur.

  • The 78th Writers Guild Awards ceremony took place on Sunday, March 9, 2026 in New York City.
  • The Writers Guild of America West canceled its Los Angeles ceremony amid an ongoing labor strike by its own staff union.

The players

Ryan Coogler

The director of the film 'Sinners', which won the award for original screenplay.

Paul Thomas Anderson

The writer of 'One Battle After Another', which won the award for adapted screenplay.

The Writers Guild Staff Union

The union representing the Writers Guild's own staff, who were on strike and claimed the guild's management had "surveilled workers for union activity, terminated union supporters, and engaged in bad faith surface bargaining."

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers

The organization that represents Hollywood studios and streamers, and will be negotiating an upcoming contract with the Writers Guild.

Roy Wood Jr.

The comedian and Emmy-nominated producer who hosted the Writers Guild Awards ceremony in New York City for the third time.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“First, I predict somebody's gonna lose their s—. Cooler heads are gonna prevail, and then somebody else is gonna lose their s—.”

— Roy Wood Jr., Comedian and Emmy-nominated producer (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will begin contract negotiations later this month, with the potential for further labor disputes on the horizon.

The takeaway

The cancelation of the Writers Guild Awards ceremony in Los Angeles underscores the ongoing tensions between the guild's management and its own unionized staff, as well as the broader challenges facing the entertainment industry in balancing the interests of workers, studios, and creative talent. The outcome of the upcoming contract negotiations will be closely watched as a barometer of the industry's ability to find common ground and avoid disruptive labor disputes.