April 27, 2026 · 2026 WGA AMPTP Theatrical and Television Basic Agreement

WGA membership ratified the 2026 MBA on April 24, 2026, with 90.38% (4,282 members) voting in favor and 9.62% (456 members) voting no. The 2026 WGA AMPTP Theatrical and Television Basic Agreement ("2026 WGA AMPTP MBA") supersedes the 2023 MBA and runs May 2, 2026 through May 1, 2030. The agreement was signed April 4, 2026. The effective date is May 2, 2026. Productions with contracts entered into on or after that date are subject to the new terms.

Minimum Compensation

Specific minimum rate schedules are incorporated by reference from the 2023 MBA and adjusted per the attached schedules. Below are the increases with firm dollar figures where specified in the MOA.

General Minimum Rates

Except as noted below, minimum compensation increases in each year of the WGA agreement based on the percentages laid out below.

Minimum Rates for Daytime Serials (Appendix A, Article 13.B.5.a.(1),(2),(5) and Article 16.B.2.a(5)); and News Programs Appendix

Comedy-Variety Weekly Minimum (Appendix A, Article 13.B.2.b.(1))

† Years 3 and 4 are subject to the Pension Diversion Right, which could reduce these minimums by up to 0.5% per year if the Guild elects to divert contributions to the Pension Plan (see Pension section below).

Format Minimum (Article 13.B.7.m.(1))

Page-One Rewrite

Articles 1.B.7. and 13.A.1.a. | Effective for contracts entered into on or after May 2, 2026

The 2026 MBA defines and adds the minimum compensation structure for Page-One Rewrites on theatrical motion pictures. Productions budgeting theatrical rewrite steps should reference the updated schedule for contracts executed on or after May 2, 2026.

 
Guaranteed Second Step (Screenplay Rewrite)

Article 13.A.1.c. | Effective for contracts entered into on or after May 2, 2026

The threshold triggering a mandatory second-step rewrite has been increased. Under the 2023 MBA, a Company that employed a writer to write a first draft screenplay (or purchased one) at 200% or less of the applicable screenplay minimum was required to hire that writer for a rewrite at minimum. The 2026 MBA Increases that threshold to 225% or less of the applicable minimum.

The rewrite obligation remains at no less than the applicable minimum compensation for a rewrite. If the writer is unable to perform the rewrite, no compensation is owed and the Company may engage another writer.

Budgeting impact: Productions paying first drafts at up to 225% of minimum (previously up to 200% of minimum) must now budget a mandatory rewrite step at minimum scale.

Health Fund Contribution Rate Increases

Article 17.C.1. | Conditioned on Health Fund Board of Trustees adopting recommended amendments and reallocating $25M from Paid Parental Leave assets to general Health Fund assets.

The Health Fund contribution rate increases significantly in Year 1 of the new MBA. Productions budgeting week-to-week payments or any WGA-covered services on contracts entered into on or after May 2, 2026 must use the new rates.

Health Fund Contribution Caps

The ceilings on gross compensation subject to Health Fund contributions are also increasing. The following apply to contracts entered into on or after May 2, 2026:

Optional step exercise note: The new theatrical/$325,000 cap also applies to optional steps exercised on or after May 2, 2026, regardless of when the underlying contract was originally entered into.

Article 14.E.2. (Writer-Producers) Health Base Amount

For writer-producers employed under Article 14.E.2. with guaranteed compensation of at least $200,000 for up to 52 weeks, the Health Base amount on which contributions are computed increases as follows:

The Pension base amount under Article 14.E.2. remains at $275,000 (or $250,000 for writers guaranteed $250,000 or less). Note that contributions are computed on a pro rata basis for contracts spanning May 2, 2026: the old base and rate apply through May 1, 2026, and the new base and rate apply from May 2, 2026 forward.

Pension Plan: Diversion Right

Article 17.B.1. | New provision for contract years 3 and 4 (May 2, 2028 onward)

The 2026 MBA introduces a conditional Pension Plan Diversion Right, giving the Guild the authority—at its sole discretion—to divert a portion of certain minimum rate increases into the Pension Plan contribution rate under two circumstances:

• Year 3 diversion (up to 0.5%): If the Plan's actuary projects during Q3 2027 that the Pension Plan will not remain in the Green Zone for the next ten years, the Guild may elect to increase the pension contribution rate in Article 17.B.1. by up to 0.5%, effective May 2, 2028. Notice of election must be delivered to the AMPTP and Networks by no later than December 15, 2027. 
• Year 4 diversion (up to an additional 0.5%): The same mechanism repeats based on a Q3 2028 actuarial projection. Notice deadline is December 15, 2028, for a May 2, 2029 effective date.

Budgeting impact: If the Guild exercises the diversion right, minimum rates for the affected period are reduced by the amount diverted—meaning writer minimums in Years 3 and/or 4 would be lower than the headline figures, while the pension contribution rate would be higher by the same percentage. Net cost per writer remains the same; only the split between cash compensation and pension changes. Budget conservatively using the non-diverted minimums until the Guild makes a formal election.

Span Protection Threshold Increase

Article 14.K.2. | Effective for contracts entered into on or after May 2, 2027

The compensation threshold exempting a writer from span protection eligibility increases. For employment on programs other than basic cable, the exemption thresholds are:

* The MOA specifies a new $475,000 threshold effective May 2, 2027 for contracts for employment on programs other than basic cable. The basic cable threshold remains $375,000, and the pre-December 2023 threshold of $450,000 continues to apply to contracts entered before December 1, 2023.

High Budget SVOD Residual Bases

Sideletter on Literary Material Written for Programs Made for New Media, Paragraph 4.e.(2)(a)

Domestic residual bases for High Budget SVOD programs are updated. Note that the 10/15/2023 – 5/1/2026 rates carry forward unchanged into the period from May 2, 2026 through May 1, 2027. For the full schedule of minimums, see the WGA MBA contracts page.

* For programs 85+ minutes with a budget of $13M+ on an SVOD platform with 20M+ domestic subscribers, the applicable Article 13.B.7.a., b., and c. theatrical minimums apply. For programs 96+ minutes with a budget of $30M+, separate higher residual bases apply (see below).

High Budget SVOD: $30M+ Budget / 96+ Minute Enhanced Residual Bases

Foreign Subscriber Factor: Tier 4 Increase

The foreign residual subscriber factor for Tier 4 (75 million or more foreign subscribers) increases from 90.0% to 95.0%, effective under the 2026 MBA.

Performance-Metric Bonus

The performance-metric bonus for High Budget SVOD programs increases to 50% of the applicable fixed High Budget SVOD residual for programs initially exhibited on or after May 2, 2026 but before January 1, 2027. For programs initially exhibited on or after January 1, 2027, the bonus increases to 75% of the applicable fixed residual (including the foreign fixed residual for services that pay it). Payment is due 60 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the 90-day domestic view measuring period is complete.

Residuals: "Teleplay by" / "Written for Television by" Only Credit

Articles 15.B.1.b.(2), Appendix C Paragraph 2.b., New Media Sideletter Paragraph 4.e.(1)

A new provision entitles a writer (or writers) accorded sole "Teleplay by" or "Written for Television by" credit—where no other writer receives "Story by" or "Television Story by" credit as finally determined under Television Schedule A—to 100% of the minimum story and teleplay residual compensation. This applies across television motion pictures, basic cable programs, and High Budget SVOD programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the effective date of the 2026 WGA MBA?

May 2, 2026. WGA membership ratified the agreement on April 24, 2026, with notice delivered to the AMPTP prior to May 2, 2026, confirming May 2, 2026 as the effective date. Most rate and minimum changes apply to contracts entered into on or after this date. 

What is the new WGA Health Fund contribution rate?

16.25% effective May 2, 2026, increasing to 16.75% effective May 2, 2027. 

Does the Health Fund rate increase apply to existing contracts?

The Health Fund rate increase will not affect guaranteed payments under contracts signed before May 2, 2026. It will, however, apply to any optional provisions within those contracts that are exercised on or after May 2, 2026.

How does the Pension Diversion Right affect my budget?

If the Guild exercises the diversion right in Year 3 (up to 0.5% effective May 2, 2028) or Year 4 (up to an additional 0.5% effective May 2, 2029), certain minimum compensation rates for those periods will be reduced by the diversion amount, while the pension contribution rate increases by the same amount. The net cost per writer does not increase; only the allocation between cash minimum and pension contribution changes. The Guild must provide notice by December 15 of the preceding year.

What changed for productions paying first-draft screenplays between 200% and 225% of minimum?

Under the 2026 MBA, the mandatory second-step rewrite obligation is triggered when the first draft is purchased or assigned at 225% or less of minimum (up from 200%). Productions paying between 200% and 225% of minimum for a first draft are no longer exempt from the guaranteed rewrite obligation.

When do the new if/come pilot deal provisions take effect?

January 1, 2027, for contracts entered into on or after that date. Under the new Article 13.B.13., writers under if/come pilot agreements cannot be held exclusive and the Company has no production obligation until it pays the first writing step (10% of agreed compensation) or purchases the pilot script.

GreenSlate processes WGA residuals for productions of all sizes. Learn more at greenslate.com/residuals.

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This information in this communication is general in nature, and is not intended, nor should it be construed, as legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice rendered by GreenSlate, LLC. The reader should contact his or her attorney, CPA, or tax professional prior to taking any action based upon this information.