2025-2026 Writers Guild Awards Media Timeline

New York and Los Angeles (July 31, 2025) – The 2026 Writers Guild Awards (78^th Annual) will be presented on Sunday, March 8, 2025 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City and the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. The Writers Guild Awards honor outstanding writing in film, television, streaming, news, radio/audio, and promotional categories.

2025-2026 MEDIA TIMELINE

2025

SEPTEMBER

Mon. Sept. 15             Submissions Open in ALL Categories: Screenplays (Original, Adapted, Documentary), Series (Drama, Comedy, Limited, New), TV-Streaming-Radio/Audio Scripts and Paul Selvin Award (WGAW)

DECEMBER

Fri. Dec. 5                   Deadline for submissions: Series (Drama, Comedy, New, Limited); TV-Streaming-Radio/Audio Scripts and Paul Selvin Award (WGAW

2026

JANUARY

Tues. Jan. 6                Preliminary Series (Drama, Comedy, New, Limited) and Screenplay (Original and Adapted) online voting begins

Tues. Jan. 20              Deadline for Preliminary Series (Drama, Comedy, New, Limited) and Screenplay (Original and Adapted)

Tues. Jan. 27             Screenplay (Original, Adapted, Documentary) and Television, Streaming, News, Radio/Audio, and Promotional Writing Nominations Announced

Fri. Jan. 30                  Final Series & Screenplay online voting begins

FEBRUARY

Thur. Feb. 12              Beyond Words: Writers Guild Awards-nominated screenwriters panel

Fri. Feb. 13                 Deadline for Final Series & Screenplay online voting

TBA                             “And the Nominees Are…” Writers Guild Awards nominees panel

MARCH 

Sun. Mar. 8                2026 WRITERS GUILD AWARDS (78^TH Annual)

Los Angeles: JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE

New York City: Edison Ballroom

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AWARDS ELIGIBILITY PERIODS

TV & Streaming eligibility period: First broadcast or exhibited between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025

Comedy/Variety eligibility period: First broadcast or exhibited between November 1, 2024 and Oct. 31, 2025

News & TV Documentary categories only (6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 10, 11, 12, 16): First broadcast or exhibited between Nov. 1, 2024 and Oct. 31, 2025

Theatrical Screenplay eligibility period: Exhibited theatrically in Los Angeles for one week between Jan. 1, 2025 – Dec. 31, 2025

Documentary Screenplays: Exhibited theatrically in Los Angeles or New York for one week between Jan. 1, 2025 – Dec. 31, 2025

For more information about the 2026 Writers Guild Awards submission process, guidelines, and official entry forms, please visit www.wga.org or www.wgaeast.org.

For media inquiries about the 2026 WGA New York show, please contact Jason Gordon in the WGAE Communications Department at (212) 767-7809 or email: jgordon@wgaeast.org.

For media inquiries about the 2026 WGA Los Angeles show, please contact Bob Hopkinson in the WGAW Communications Department at: (310) 801-8563 or email: bhopkinson@wga.org.

The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) 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.

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