Celebrating Excellence in Writing: Highlights from the 78th Annual Writers Guild of America (WGA) Awards
The 78th annual Writers Guild of America (WGA) Awards are currently taking place in New York, with the winners being announced live. Due to a strike by unionized staffers against WGA West's management, the West Coast ceremony was canceled. The guild is set to begin contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on March 16. Several high-profile screenplays this season are ineligible for WGA Awards due to strict eligibility rules, including scripts from Best International Feature Film Oscar nominees. The winners of the 2026 WGA Awards have been revealed, with more nominees yet to be announced.
In the Original Screenplay category, films like "Black Bag," "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You," "Marty Supreme," "Sinners," and "Weapons" have been recognized. The Adapted Screenplay category includes works like "Bugonia," "Frankenstein," "Hamnet," "One Battle After Another," and "Train Dreams." The Documentary Screenplay category features works like "2,000 Meters to Andriivka," "Becoming Led Zeppelin," and "White with Fear."
In the Drama Series category, shows like "Andor," "The Pitt," "Pluribus," "Severance," and "The White Lotus" have been acknowledged. The Comedy Series category includes shows like "Abbott Elementary," "The Chair Company," "Hacks," "The Rehearsal," and "The Studio." New Series like "The Chair Company," "The Pitt," "Pluribus," "The Studio," and "Task" have also been recognized.
The Limited Series category features works like "The Beast in Me," "Black Rabbit," "Death by Lightning," "Dying for Sex," and "Sirens." TV & Streaming Motion Pictures like "The Best You Can," "Deep Cover," "The Life List," and "Swiped" have been acknowledged. The Animation category includes episodes from shows like "The Simpsons," "Bob's Burgers," "The Great North," "Futurama," and "Long Story Short."
Episodic Drama and Episodic Comedy categories recognize individual episodes from various series. Comedy/Variety Series like "The Daily Show," "Have I Got News for You," "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," "Late Night with Seth Meyers," and "Saturday Night Live" have been acknowledged. Comedy/Variety Specials like the "82nd Annual Golden Globes" and "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" have also been recognized.
Quiz and Audience Participation shows like "Celebrity Jeopardy!" and "Jeopardy!" have been acknowledged. Daytime Drama series like "Beyond the Gates," "General Hospital," and "The Young and the Restless" have been recognized. Children's Episodic, Long Form, and Specials like "The First Snow of Fraggle Rock" and "Merry Giftmas" have also been acknowledged.
Short Form Streaming works like "The Rabbit Hole with Jimmy Kimmel" and "Sesame Street YouTube: Take a Moment with Jonathan Bailey" have been recognized. Documentary Script categories include works on current events and other topics. News Script categories recognize regular scheduled, bulletin, breaking reports, analysis, feature, commentary, and digital news content.
The WGA Awards celebrate outstanding writing in various categories across film, television, and digital platforms, honoring the creative talent behind the scenes.