The Writers Guild of America West (WGA) has canceled its 2026 Writers Guild Awards ceremony in Los Angeles amid its staff strike.
In a letter sent Sunday to presenters and participants, WGA West president Michele Mulroney announced that the Los Angeles ceremony would not move forward. She added that an alternative celebration for this year’s L.A.-based nominees will be scheduled at a later date.
The Writers Guild of America East will still hold its awards ceremony in New York on March 8, ensuring winners are publicly recognized. The Los Angeles event had been set to take place at the JW Marriott in downtown L.A.
The Writers Guild Staff Union went on strike Feb. 17, alleging that WGA West management failed to bargain in good faith. The union, which represents approximately 110 employees, is seeking higher wages and “just cause” protections in disciplinary matters. Staff members have been picketing daily outside WGA headquarters at Fairfax Avenue and 3rd Street since the strike began.
In a social media post earlier this week, the staff union said management had warned the awards show could be canceled if workers did not accept the latest offer. The union characterized the move as an effort to divide staff and guild membership ahead of upcoming studio negotiations.
The cancellation also avoids a potential labor standoff at the ceremony, where striking staff were expected to picket, potentially placing guild members and unionized hotel employees in the position of crossing a picket line.
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka had been slated to host the Los Angeles ceremony, and James Cameron was scheduled to receive the WGAW Laurel Award. Roy Wood Jr. will host the New York ceremony at the Edison Ballroom, where Stephen Colbert is set to receive the Walter Bernstein Award.
Read the contents of the full letter below:
Subject: Cancelled: Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles Ceremony
To Presenters and Participants of the 2026 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles
I am writing to share the news that the 2026 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles ceremony will be cancelled. An alternative celebration for this year’s Los Angeles-based nominees will be scheduled at a later date.
Currently, the non-supervisory staff of the WGAW, represented by the Pacific Northwest Staff Union (PNWSU), is on strike. While I respect the staff’s right to strike, I also believe that you deserve an uncomplicated celebration of your achievements. We would not ask you, your guests, talent, and crew to cross a picket line to attend.
Now for some housekeeping…
If you have purchased a ticket to the show through our online platform, GuestTix, credit card charges will be refunded automatically to the original card on file. You will receive an email confirming the refund, and the transaction will appear on your card within a few days.
Studios and sponsors will receive outreach from Harvin Rogas at harvin@5bevents.com.
Nominees are invited to attend the 2026 Writers Guild Awards New York Ceremony, hosted by the Writers Guild of America East, which will move forward with all film, television and news awards being presented live on Sunday, March 8, at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan. To inquire about tickets, please contact Dana Weissman at awards@wgaeast.org or 212-767-7835.
The deadline to purchase tickets to the New York Ceremony is EOD on Monday , March 2. Please note that while the WGA West and East work jointly on contracts, including the Minimum Basic Agreement, we are two separate unions. The WGAE’s staff union is organized with United Steelworkers and is not on strike. You can find information about the New York Ceremony host, presenters and honorees here.
If you win the award in your category, someone from the WGAW Awards Office will reach out about delivering your statuette.
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