SAG-AFTRA is officially gearing up for its next round of TV, theatrical, and streaming negotiations and will be the first major Hollywood union to begin bargaining with the AMPTP. Formal talks are scheduled to start February 9, 2026, earlier than usual, marking the opening move in what is expected to be a closely watched labor cycle across the industry.
The negotiations arrive two years and 14 days after SAG-AFTRA members ratified one of the most consequential contracts in the union’s history. That deal followed a 118-day strike in 2023 that brought much of film and television production to a halt and placed performers at the center of a global conversation about labor rights, compensation, and the impact of emerging technologies.
“Our TV/Theatrical/Streaming agreements are sprawling documents that touch the lives of tens of thousands of our members each cycle,” the union noted, emphasizing that the contracts govern everything from pay scales to health and pension funding, safety protections, and long-term livelihood security.
As preparations ramp up, SAG-AFTRA leadership has begun a nationwide series of pre-negotiation meetings known as wages-and-working-conditions gatherings. These sessions are designed to capture priorities from across the union’s diverse membership and ensure that proposals reflect the needs of performers working under these contracts.
“All members in good standing who work these contracts have been invited to participate,” the union said, urging members to attend upcoming meetings in early January. Feedback gathered through this process will be refined by local leadership and the 2026 TV, theatrical, and streaming negotiating committee before being presented to the National Board and then to the AMPTP.
Starting negotiations early is a deliberate strategy. The union cited both practical and strategic reasons, including allowing sufficient time to fully address proposals, limiting studios’ ability to stockpile content, and protecting what SAG-AFTRA described as a nascent but much needed resurgence in domestic production.
“Regardless of the timing, we will only accept a deal that respects our members’ essential contributions to this industry and that meets your needs today and for years to come,” the union said.
SAG-AFTRA also stressed that bargaining does not have to be inherently confrontational. Companies represented by the AMPTP have indicated interest in a respectful process, and the union says it is prepared to negotiate in good faith while remaining vigilant on behalf of its members.
As the journey begins again, the shadow of 2023 remains present. The last strike stretched 118 days, reshaped the industry’s labor landscape, and demonstrated an extraordinary level of solidarity among performers. This time, SAG-AFTRA enters negotiations earlier, more organized, and with members directly shaping the agenda, signaling a determination to build on past gains while avoiding another prolonged shutdown if possible.
REELated:
Unions come out swinging against Netflix – Warner Bros. deal
