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WGA Readies Negotiating Team for High-Stakes 2026 Contract Talks
7 Nov
Summary
- WGA selects committee to negotiate 2026 contract with AMPTP
- WGAW Executive Director Ellen Stutzman to lead negotiations
- New AMPTP president Greg Hessinger to face WGA in talks
On November 7, 2025, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced the formation of its negotiating committee for the upcoming 2026 contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The committee, which includes a diverse group of experienced writers, will be led by WGAW Executive Director Ellen Stutzman, who also spearheaded the guild's 2023 negotiations amid a historic 148-day strike.
The co-chairs of the committee are John August and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, with additional members such as Ali Barthwell, Yahlin Chang, and Shawn Ryan. The negotiations are expected to begin in the first few months of 2026, as the current contract is set to expire on May 1.
The WGA will face a new chief negotiator on the other side of the table, as the AMPTP's longtime leader, Carol Lombardini, has been replaced by Greg Hessinger this year. This change in leadership on the AMPTP side is likely to add an extra layer of complexity to the upcoming contract talks, which are expected to be high-stakes for both parties.
