Members
Los Angeles - 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.
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: Jason Gordon. 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.