# 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards
The 27th [Screen Actors Guild Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/screen-actors-guild-awards), presented by [SAG-AFTRA](https://www.edgepedia.org/sag-aftra), honored outstanding film and television performances of the 2020 eligibility period and were held as a pre-taped, one-hour virtual ceremony broadcast on TNT and TBS on Sunday, April 4, 2021, at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.[1](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-awards-final-voting-schedule-update) Pandemic conditions shaped the entire cycle: the show was postponed twice, nominations were announced on Instagram Live, screeners and events went digital, and the telecast itself was recorded rather than performed live.[1](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-awards-final-voting-schedule-update) • [2](https://www.actorawards.org/media/news/releases/27th-annual-screen-actors-guilds-awardsr-new-show-date-and-key-deadlines)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Broadcast | Sunday, April 4, 2021, simulcast on TNT and TBS at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT[1](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-awards-final-voting-schedule-update) |
| Original and revised dates | Originally set for January 24, 2021; moved to March 14, 2021 (July 2, 2020), then to April 4, 2021[3](https://www.actorawards.org/media/news/releases/screen-actors-guild-awardsr-sets-date-2021) • [2](https://www.actorawards.org/media/news/releases/27th-annual-screen-actors-guilds-awardsr-new-show-date-and-key-deadlines) • [1](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-awards-final-voting-schedule-update) |
| Nominations | Announced Thursday, February 4, 2021, by Lily Collins and Daveed Diggs via Instagram Live[4](https://www.actorawards.org/sites/default/files/27th_annual_sag_awards_nominations_announced_0.pdf) |
| Final voting | February 16 to March 30, 2021, closing at noon PT; online voting or paper ballots from an elections firm[1](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-awards-final-voting-schedule-update) |
| Format | Pre-taped one-hour virtual ceremony, no host and no red carpet; the Life Achievement Award was not presented[5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/04/05/sag-awards-2021-recap-highlights/) • [6](https://www.altpress.com/sag-awards-2021-winners-full-list) |
| Top film winners | *The Trial of the Chicago 7* (ensemble); Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman (leads); Daniel Kaluuya and Yuh-Jung Youn (supporting)[7](https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards) |
| Viewership | 957,000 total viewers on TNT and TBS, a new all-time low for the special[8](https://www.thewrap.com/sag-awards-2021-ratings-record-low-viewership/) |
| Historic first | All four individual film acting awards went to actors of color for the first time in SAG Awards history[9](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/2021-sag-awards-winners-trial-chicago-schitts-creek-76877114) |
## Scheduling
The date changed twice. SAG Awards executive producer Kathy Connell announced on January 7, 2020 that the 27th ceremony would be held on January 24, 2021.[3](https://www.actorawards.org/media/news/releases/screen-actors-guild-awardsr-sets-date-2021) On July 2, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Connell announced a move to Sunday, March 14, 2021, pushing the show back more than a month from its intended date.[2](https://www.actorawards.org/media/news/releases/27th-annual-screen-actors-guilds-awardsr-new-show-date-and-key-deadlines) A further date change moved the broadcast to April 4, 2021, and SAG-AFTRA notified members in January 2021 that the final voting schedule had shifted accordingly.[1](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-awards-final-voting-schedule-update) The awards were simulcast live on TNT and TBS, produced by Avalon Harbor Entertainment, Inc. and Hazy Mills Productions.[10](https://www.sagaftra.org/screen-actors-guilds-awards-returns-tnt-tbs-sunday-april-4-2021)
## Voting
Nominations voting ran from January 11 to February 1, 2021, with nominees announced on February 4 and records pulled for final balloting the same day.[11](https://www.sagawards.org/files/sagawards/content/about/pdf/27th_sag_awards_rule_book.pdf) Final voting opened February 16, 2021, and closed Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at noon Pacific time, by online ballot at sagawards.org/voting or by paper ballots received by the elections firm.[1](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-awards-final-voting-schedule-update) Eligibility to vote required November 2020 dues paid by January 14, or a first installment under the COVID-19 Dues Relief Extension program by the same date.[12](https://www.sagaftra.org/final-voting-27th-annual-sag-awards-opens-today) Online voters logged in with an Awards PIN and their SAG-AFTRA ID number, and the PIN also unlocked digital For Your Consideration offers.[12](https://www.sagaftra.org/final-voting-27th-annual-sag-awards-opens-today) The 27th rule book stated the rules were subject to change in light of the pandemic.[11](https://www.sagawards.org/files/sagawards/content/about/pdf/27th_sag_awards_rule_book.pdf)
## Virtual format
The 27th ceremony abandoned the usual live, two-hour, in-person show. The Washington Post described it as the strangest awards season continuing with all awards presented remotely over Zoom, a program of only one hour including commercials, and a fully pre-recorded format to avoid technological mishaps.[5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/04/05/sag-awards-2021-recap-highlights/) There was no red carpet, no host, and no Lifetime Achievement Award that year.[9](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/2021-sag-awards-winners-trial-chicago-schitts-creek-76877114) • [6](https://www.altpress.com/sag-awards-2021-winners-full-list) For Your Consideration screeners and events were provided digitally on or after February 16, though studios could also supply physical screeners, and a RSVP Screening Program emailed members about virtual events and Q&As hosted by nominated studios and networks.[1](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-awards-final-voting-schedule-update) The show kept its signature "I Am An Actor" stories through docuseries-style interviews woven into the telecast, and a pre-show presented by PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly and TNT opened SAG Awards Sunday with Jason George and [JoBeth Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/jobeth-williams) announcing the stunt honors.[13](https://www.sagaftra.org/27th-sag-awards%C2%AE-talent-roster-list-round) As a result of the move, Nielsen measured the combined TNT and TBS audience for the broadcast at 957,000, the smallest figure ever recorded for the yearly event.[8](https://www.thewrap.com/sag-awards-2021-ratings-record-low-viewership/)
## Winners
In film, *The Trial of the Chicago 7* won the top prize for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, taking the night's biggest award ahead of *Da 5 Bloods*, *Minari*, *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*, and *One Night in Miami...*.[7](https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards) • [14](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-04-04/2021-sag-awards-winners-list-complete) [Viola Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/viola-davis) won female actor in a leading role for *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom* and [Chadwick Boseman](https://www.edgepedia.org/chadwick-boseman) won male actor in a leading role for the same film; his award was accepted posthumously by his wife, Simone Ledward Boseman.[7](https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards) • [14](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-04-04/2021-sag-awards-winners-list-complete) The supporting film awards went to [Daniel Kaluuya](https://www.edgepedia.org/daniel-kaluuya) for *Judas and the Black Messiah* and Yuh-Jung Youn for *Minari*.[7](https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards) *Wonder Woman 1984* won the film stunt ensemble honor.[14](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-04-04/2021-sag-awards-winners-list-complete)
In television, *The Crown* won the drama ensemble award, with [Gillian Anderson](https://www.edgepedia.org/gillian-anderson) ([Margaret Thatcher](https://www.edgepedia.org/margaret-thatcher)) winning female actor in a drama series and [Josh O'Connor](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-oconnor) nominated for male actor in a drama series.[7](https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards) *Schitt's Creek* took the comedy ensemble award.[14](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-04-04/2021-sag-awards-winners-list-complete) Jason Bateman won male actor in a drama series for *Ozark*, devoting his speech to health care workers and vaccine scientists, and Mark Ruffalo won male actor in a television movie or limited series for HBO's *I Know This Much Is True*.[7](https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards) • [5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/04/05/sag-awards-2021-recap-highlights/)
## Historical firsts
The 27th ceremony marked the first time in SAG Awards history that all four individual film acting categories were won by actors of color: Davis, Boseman, Kaluuya, and Youn.[9](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/2021-sag-awards-winners-trial-chicago-schitts-creek-76877114) Yuh-Jung Youn's supporting win made her the first Asian winner in any individual motion picture category at the SAG Awards, and she went on to win the [Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress](https://www.edgepedia.org/academy-award-for-best-supporting-actress), the first Asian performer to receive an acting Oscar since 1985.[15](https://time.com/5958108/yuh-jung-youn-asian-actors-oscars-history/) Boseman missed out on what would have been a historic four-award sweep, having also been nominated for ensemble (*Da 5 Bloods*), lead actor (*Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*), and supporting actor (*Da 5 Bloods*).[14](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-04-04/2021-sag-awards-winners-list-complete) • [9](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/2021-sag-awards-winners-trial-chicago-schitts-creek-76877114)
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's sponsorship program for the ceremony supported pandemic relief: the Foundation had granted over $6.4 million in emergency aid to more than 6,800 members and their families through its COVID-19 Relief Fund launched in March 2020.[16](https://www.sagawards.org/media/news/releases/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awardsr-new-and-returning-sponsors-support-sag)
## References
1. [SAG Awards Final Voting Schedule Update, SAG-AFTRA, January 15, 2021](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-awards-final-voting-schedule-update)
2. [27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards New Show Date and Key Deadlines Announced, SAG Awards, July 2, 2020](https://www.actorawards.org/media/news/releases/27th-annual-screen-actors-guilds-awardsr-new-show-date-and-key-deadlines)
3. [Screen Actors Guild Awards Sets Date for 2021, SAG Awards, January 7, 2020](https://www.actorawards.org/media/news/releases/screen-actors-guild-awardsr-sets-date-2021)
4. [27th Annual SAG Awards Nominations Announced (press release PDF), February 4, 2021](https://www.actorawards.org/sites/default/files/27th_annual_sag_awards_nominations_announced_0.pdf)
5. [SAG Awards 2021: 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' triumphs, Viola Davis's and Chadwick Boseman's wins and more to know, The Washington Post, April 5, 2021](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/04/05/sag-awards-2021-recap-highlights/)
6. [SAG Awards 2021 winners: full list, Alternative Press](https://www.altpress.com/sag-awards-2021-winners-full-list)
7. [The 27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Actor Awards (nominees and recipients)](https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards)
8. [SAG Awards Halve Last Year's Viewers, Fall to New Record Low, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/sag-awards-2021-ratings-record-low-viewership/)
9. [2021 SAG Awards winners: 'The Trial of the Chicago 7,' 'Schitt's Creek' and 'The Crown' take top prizes, Good Morning America](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/2021-sag-awards-winners-trial-chicago-schitts-creek-76877114)
10. [Screen Actors Guild Awards Returns to TNT & TBS on Sunday, April 4, 2021, SAG-AFTRA](https://www.sagaftra.org/screen-actors-guilds-awards-returns-tnt-tbs-sunday-april-4-2021)
11. [27th Annual SAG Awards Rules and Regulations (PDF)](https://www.sagawards.org/files/sagawards/content/about/pdf/27th_sag_awards_rule_book.pdf)
12. [Final Voting for the 27th Annual SAG Awards Opens Today!, SAG-AFTRA, February 16, 2021](https://www.sagaftra.org/final-voting-27th-annual-sag-awards-opens-today)
13. [27th SAG Awards Talent Roster List Round Up, SAG-AFTRA](https://www.sagaftra.org/27th-sag-awards%C2%AE-talent-roster-list-round)
14. [SAG Awards 2021 winners: complete list, Los Angeles Times, April 4, 2021](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-04-04/2021-sag-awards-winners-list-complete)
15. [The Crucial History Behind Yuh-Jung Youn's Oscar Win, TIME](https://time.com/5958108/yuh-jung-youn-asian-actors-oscars-history/)
16. [27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards New and Returning Sponsors Support the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, SAG Awards, March 11, 2021](https://www.sagawards.org/media/news/releases/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awardsr-new-and-returning-sponsors-support-sag)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen production organizations › Industry guilds and actor organizations › Screen Actors Guild › SAG Awards › SAG Awards editions, 27th onward (2020–present)*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license