WGA Awards Honor 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another'

HBO's 'The Pitt' dominates TV categories at the 2026 Writers Guild of America Awards ceremony in New York City.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 2026 Writers Guild of America Awards ceremony held in Manhattan on Sunday night saw the film awards split between Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' for Original Screenplay and Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' for Adapted Screenplay. On the television side, HBO's medical drama 'The Pitt' swept the Drama Series, Episodic Drama, and New Series categories. Other notable winners included 'The Studio' for Comedy Series, 'The Righteous Gemstones' for Episodic Comedy, and 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' for Comedy/Variety Series.

Why it matters

The WGA Awards are seen as an important precursor to the Academy Awards, as they honor the best screenwriting across film and television. The split between Coogler and Anderson in the film categories could signal a tight race at the Oscars, while 'The Pitt's' dominance in the TV categories solidifies its status as a frontrunner for major Emmy nominations.

The details

In the film categories, Ryan Coogler won Original Screenplay for his Warner Bros. drama 'Sinners,' while Paul Thomas Anderson took Adapted Screenplay for 'One Battle After Another.' Both writer-directors have been competing against each other all awards season. On the TV side, HBO's 'The Pitt' won Drama Series, Episodic Drama for its pilot episode '7:00 A.M.,' and New Series. Other winners included 'The Studio' for Comedy Series, 'The Righteous Gemstones' for Episodic Comedy, and 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' for Comedy/Variety Series. The ceremony also included career achievement awards for Stephen Colbert and screenwriter Terry George.

  • The 2026 Writers Guild of America Awards ceremony took place on Sunday, March 9, 2026 in Manhattan, New York.
  • The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026.

The players

Ryan Coogler

An American film director, producer, and screenwriter who won the Original Screenplay award for his film 'Sinners.'

Paul Thomas Anderson

An American filmmaker who won the Adapted Screenplay award for his film 'One Battle After Another.'

HBO

An American pay television network that aired the award-winning drama series 'The Pitt.'

Noah Wyle

An American actor who stars in the HBO drama series 'The Pitt.'

Stephen Colbert

An American comedian, television host, and writer who received the Walter Bernstein Award for career achievement from the WGA East.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026, where the winners of the Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay Oscars will be announced.

The takeaway

The WGA Awards have set the stage for a tight race at the upcoming Oscars, with the split between Coogler and Anderson in the film categories and HBO's 'The Pitt' emerging as a dominant force in television. These results highlight the continued importance of the Writers Guild of America in recognizing excellence in screenwriting across the industry.