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- Why Grande Is Skipping the SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards
- Key event facts: date, host, and venue
- Has Ariana Responded to the Absence?
- Tour timeline and public posts
- What Ariana Was Nominated For at the Actor Awards
- Co-stars, ensemble snubs, and who’s missing on the list
- How the film fared at other awards: Golden Globes and Oscars context
- Industry reaction to the Oscars shutout
- What this means for Grande and the awards season
Ariana Grande will not walk the red carpet at the 2026 SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards despite a high-profile nomination for Wicked: For Good. Her absence has stirred headlines as fans and industry watchers weigh the film’s awards performance against Grande’s busy schedule.
Why Grande Is Skipping the SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards
The Actor Awards take place Sunday, March 1, at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles.
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According to reports, Grande is prioritizing preparations for a major concert run. Her team says she is in rehearsals ahead of the tour.
Rehearsal commitments are the reason cited for missing the ceremony.
Key event facts: date, host, and venue
Event details fans should know
- Date: March 1, 2026
- Venue: Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall, Los Angeles
- Host: Kristen Bell (returning for another year)
Has Ariana Responded to the Absence?
Grande has not released a public statement about skipping the awards. Her team has been contacted but offered no additional comment.
She did, however, announce a new tour in 2025 and has been sharing dates and travel plans on social media.
The Eternal Sunshine Tour is scheduled to begin in June and run through August, with U.S. and U.K. stops.
Tour timeline and public posts
- U.S. leg starts in June in Oakland
- U.S. run concludes in August in Chicago
- Several London dates planned for August
What Ariana Was Nominated For at the Actor Awards
Grande is up for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her work in Wicked: For Good.
She earned a similar SAG nomination the previous year for the original film. That year, the prize went to Zoe Saldaña.
Co-stars, ensemble snubs, and who’s missing on the list
Grande is the only Wicked: For Good performer nominated at this year’s ceremony.
- Cynthia Erivo, who played Elphaba, did not secure a nomination this year.
- The film’s cast was not nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
How the film fared at other awards: Golden Globes and Oscars context
Grande attended the Golden Globes earlier in the season and was a nominee for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
At that event, the award went to Teyana Taylor for her role in One Battle After Another.
For the upcoming Academy Awards on March 15, Wicked: For Good did not receive nominations.
Industry reaction to the Oscars shutout
Veteran cast members expressed disappointment after the film was overlooked at the Academy level.
Michelle Yeoh publicly said she was surprised and upset by the omissions. She argued the sequel offered fresh achievements in design and scope.
Yeoh highlighted contributions such as Paul Tazewell’s costume work and the film’s expanded creative world.
What this means for Grande and the awards season
Grande’s decision to focus on live performances rather than awards appearances underscores her current priorities.
Her tour commitments are extensive and require intensive rehearsal time in the weeks leading to March.
With no Oscar nomination and a solitary SAG nod, the film’s awards momentum has been uneven.
