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LOS ANGELES, CA: The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) Board of
Directors has cancelled the 2026 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles
ceremony, as the WGAW staff union’s strike continues. The show was
scheduled to take place at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE on
Sunday, March 8.
Non-supervisory staff of the WGAW, organized under the Pacific Northwest
Staff Union (PNWSU), have been on strike since February 17, 2026. Since
the start of PNWSU strike, bargaining unit staff have picketed outside
the WGAW headquarters at 3rd & Fairfax and the Writers Guild Theater.
All member events have been cancelled and the building has been closed
to members and the public, including the Foundation, library, and member
lounge.
“As a labor union, we would not ask our guests to cross a picket line to
attend the awards show,” said WGAW President Michele Mulroney. “The WGAW
staff union has the right to strike, and our exceptional nominees and
honorees deserve an uncomplicated celebration of their achievements.”
The Los Angeles ceremony was to honor James Cameron as the recipient of
the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement, Don Reo as the recipient
of the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement,
and Mstyslav Chernov as the recipient of the Paul Selvin Award for
_2,000 Meters to Andriivka_.
Comedian and WGAW member Atsuko Okatsuka was slated to host. Benn
Fleishman and Augie Max Vargas returned as Executive Producers, along
with Talent Producer Deborah Byrd, Head Writer Steven Murphy and writer
Julian Kiani, Director Richard A. Preuss, Supervising Producer Jeremy
Tominberg, Production Designer Patrick Adair, Production Managers Jon
Rosenberg and Jimmy Ng, Post Producer Simon Fuchs, Editor Josh Cregg,
and Associate Producer Phil Rosenberg. Sponsorship and front-of-house
management was led by Harvin Rogas of 5B Events.
“I would like to thank the talented WGAW staff, WGAW Awards Committee,
producers, writers, event planning professionals, presenters, host
Atsuko Okatsuka, and crew who all poured their creativity into what was
certain to be an incredible event,” Mulroney continued. “I look forward
to celebrating our 2026 nominees later this year, and returning next
year with a great show.”
The 2026 Writers Guild Awards New York ceremony, presented by the
Writers Guild of America East–a separate union from Writers Guild of
America West–will move forward with all film, television and news
awards being presented live on Sunday, March 8, at the Edison Ballroom
in Manhattan. While the WGAW and WGAE work jointly on contracts,
including the Minimum Basic Agreement, they are two separate unions. The
WGAE’s staff union is organized with United Steelworkers and is not on
strike.
This announcement from the WGAW comes in time for nominees to purchase
tickets to attend the WGAE ceremony, by end of day Monday March 2.
All sponsorship and ticket sales for the canceled show will be refunded,
and the guild will plan a later celebration for 2026 honorees and
nominees.
The Writers Guild Awards honor outstanding writing in film,
television, streaming, news (broadcast and digital), radio/audio, and
promotional categories. For more information about the 2026 Writers
Guild Awards, please visit awards.wga.org or wgaeast.org/awards.
Please direct Los Angeles-based media inquiries regarding the 2026
Writers Guild Awards to Sheva Diagne in the WGAW Communications
Department at sdiagne@wga.org.
Please direct New York-based media inquiries regarding the 2026 Writers
Guild Awards to Jason Gordon in the WGAE Communications Department at
(212) 767-7809 or email: jgordon@wgaeast.org. Inquiries about attending
the New York show should go to Dana Weissman at (212) 767-7835 or email:
awards@wgaeast.org.
The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of
America East (WGAE) are labor unions representing writers in motion
pictures, television, cable, digital media, and broadcast news. The
Guilds negotiate and administer contracts that protect the creative and
economic rights of their members; conduct programs, seminars, and events
on issues of interest to writers; and present writers’ views to various
bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of
America West, visit www.wga.org. For more information on the Writers
Guild of America East, visit www.wgaeast.org.
RECAP: Writers Guild of America West Cancels Los Angeles Awards Show
and WGAW would not ask attendees to cross a picket line.
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