The 2026 SAG Awards nominations have officially dropped, and they came with a major surprise.
Per Variety, two performances widely expected to score nominations — Cynthia Erivo for Wicked: For Good and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for The Smashing Machine — were completely shut out of the lineup.
Erivo’s absence immediately sparked reactions. Her return as Elphaba had drawn widespread praise, and she came into the season riding strong momentum after awards recognition for the first Wicked film.
The snub adds to a growing list of misses for the sequel, following her exclusion from the Critics’ Choice Awards nominations. Her co-star Ariana Grande, however, did secure a supporting actress nod.
Johnson’s omission was just as surprising. The Smashing Machine had been viewed as a potential turning point in his career, with early buzz framing it as one of the most serious and transformative performances he’s delivered. Still, SAG voters ultimately passed on the role, leaving Johnson out of a category that often celebrates dramatic reinventions.
And the shocks didn’t end there. This year’s SAG Awards shut out all foreign-language performances, pushing several well-regarded international contenders to the sidelines. Wagner Moura, who has picked up major wins and nominations elsewhere for The Secret Agent, failed to break through with the actors’ guild despite strong recognition from critics earlier in the season.
While some contenders were overlooked, others surged ahead. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated the film nominations, setting a new SAG record with seven nods. Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor all earned acting nominations, along with a coveted ensemble nod that firmly positions the film as an awards-season heavyweight.
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners also stood out, scoring multiple acting nominations and landing in the ensemble category. Michael B. Jordan’s lead performance continued to gain traction, while Miles Caton picked up a supporting nomination, extending his breakout awards run.
On the TV side, Apple TV+’s The Studio led all shows with five nominations, including acting bids for Seth Rogen, Kathryn Hahn, and Catherine O’Hara.
Netflix also made a strong showing across several categories, even as fan favorites like Stranger Things came up empty-handed.
