Sinners and One Battle After Another Lead 2026 WGA Awards

The 2026 Writers Guild of America Awards recognized exceptional screenwriting talent on Sunday, with strong showings from the films Sinners and One Battle After Another. The ceremony took place at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan, celebrating achievements in film, television, and digital media over the past year.

Ryan Coogler received the Original Screenplay award for his film Sinners, produced by Warner Bros. Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson took home the Adapted Screenplay award for One Battle After Another, which he also directed. Both films have been in fierce competition throughout the awards season and are now positioned for potential success at the Academy Awards on March 15, 2026.

In the Original Screenplay category, Sinners will face off against notable contenders including Marty Supreme, Blue Moon, Sentimental Value, and It Was Just an Accident.

Highlights from the Ceremony

HBO’s medical drama The Pitt emerged as a significant winner, achieving a perfect three-for-three at the WGA Awards. The series, led by Noah Wyle, won awards for Drama Series, Episodic Drama for its pilot episode “7:00 A.M.,” and New Series, all written by R. Scott Gemmill.

Apple TV+’s The Studio secured the award for Comedy Series, while HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones won Episodic Comedy for the episode titled “Prelude.” Additionally, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver received the award for Comedy/Variety Series – Talk or Sketch.

The WGA Awards also featured special honors. Stephen Colbert, whose The Late Show is set to conclude in May, received the Walter Bernstein Award for career achievement from WGA East. Terry George, known for his work on Hotel Rwanda and In the Name of the Father, was honored with the Ian McLellan Hunter Award for career achievement.

The Writers Guild of America Awards have celebrated excellence in film, television, and radio writing since 1949. Organized annually by the Writers Guild of America East and the Writers Guild of America West, the awards highlight outstanding achievements across both fiction and non-fiction categories in the entertainment industry.