The 78th Directors Guild Awards 2026, held on February 8 in Beverly Hills, celebrated outstanding achievements in film, television, documentary, and commercial direction. Considered one of the most accurate predictors of the Academy Awards, the ceremony brought together leading filmmakers and emerging talents from across the industry. The biggest highlight of the night was filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson winning the Best Director award for his film One Battle After Another, further strengthening his position in the ongoing awards season. Hosted by Kumail Nanjiani, the event opened with an inspiring address by DGA president Christopher Nolan, who emphasised innovation and the evolving responsibility of storytellers.

Theatrical Feature Film

• Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director for One Battle After Another, a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
• This award is widely seen as a strong indicator for the upcoming Oscars.

• Charlie Polinger received the award for The Plague.
• The category honours exceptional debut directors making their first feature film.

• Mstyslav Chernov won for 2000 Meters to Andriivka.
• The film was recognised for its impactful storytelling and immersive direction.

• Amanda Marsalis won for directing The Pitt, episode titled 6:00 P.M.
• The award acknowledges excellence in scripted television drama.

• Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg won for The Studio, episode The Oner.
• Their work was praised for sharp comedic direction and narrative flow.

• Shannon Murphy won for Dying for Sex, episode It’s Not That Serious.
• The category highlights strong direction in short-format storytelling.

• Stephen Chbosky received the award for Nonnas.
• The film stood out for its emotional depth and cinematic execution.

• Liz Patrick won for SNL50: The Anniversary Special.
• The award recognised excellence in directing large-scale live entertainment.

• Matthew Gangl won for directing the 2025 World Series, Game 7 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.
• The category honours live sports broadcast direction.

• Mike Sweeney won for Conan O’Brien Must Go: Austria.
• The show was recognised for its creative and engaging direction.

• Rebecca Miller won for Mr Scorsese, All This Filming Isn’t Healthy.
• The award celebrates sustained excellence in episodic documentary storytelling.

• Kim Gehrig won for the Nike commercial You Can’t Win. So Win, created by Wieden+Kennedy.
• The category highlights creativity and storytelling in advertising.

The Directors Guild Awards 2026 once again reinforced their reputation as a crucial milestone in the awards calendar. With major wins often translating into Oscar success, this year’s winners are now firmly in the spotlight as the film industry heads toward its most anticipated night.