2026 DGA Ratified Contract Changes and Effective Dates

Last updated 7.27.26

The 2026 DGA Basic Agreement (BA) and Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement (FLTTA) were ratified and fully executed on June 9, 2026. 

Term

The new agreements cover a four-year term from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. Below is a summary of the key changes and effective dates productions need to know (note: this list is not exhaustive).

Wages

Minimum Pay Rates under the DGA Basic Agreement and FLTTA.

Wage Changes for Directors on High Budget AVOD Programs:

Effective July 1, 2026: High Budget AVOD Director rates increase to the same level as Network prime time programs.

Pension & Health Rates

Effective July 1, 2026: Paid Parental Leave Fund contribution rate reduced from 0.5% to 0.25%.

Diversion rights: The DGA has the right to divert certain health/pension contribution rate increases (0.5%) between wages and benefits in Year 2 (notice due by December 15, 2026) and in Years 3 and 4 (notice due by December 15, 2027 and December 15, 2028, respectively).

Health Benefits for BTL Extended Workday Payments

Pension and Health Ceilings

Directors:

UPMs

Other BTL Employees

UPM/Producer Benefits

For motion pictures commencing principal photography on or after July 1, 2026: The minimum amount for which contributions must be made for UPM services increases from $125,000 to $150,000. 

Residuals — High Budget SVOD Programs

• Effective July 1, 2026: Top-tier foreign subscriber factor (75 million+ foreign subscribers) for fixed High Budget SVOD residuals increases from 90% to 95%

• Effective for programs commencing principal photography on or after July 1, 2026: New residual bases established for one-time High Budget SVOD Programs that are 85 minutes or longer, made for a platform with 20 million+ domestic subscribers, at budgets of $30 million+ (35% of the theatrical minimum) and $60 million+ (45% of the theatrical minimum)

• Effective July 1, 2027, with an additional increase effective July 1, 2029: Residual bases under Sideletter No. 35, Paragraph F.3.b.(1)(a) each increase by 2.5%

• Effective for programs initially exhibited on or after January 1, 2027: The Performance Bonus for High Budget SVOD Programs increases from 50% to 75%

Theatrical Directors

Soft Prep:

• Effective July 1, 2026: Employers must notify the DGA when they make a payment to a Director for soft pre-production services
• Effective for soft pre-production services beginning on or after July 1, 2027: The Soft Pre-Production cap increases from $50,000 to $60,000

Extended Post Production:

• Effective for motion pictures commencing principal photography on or after July 1, 2026: Extended Post-Production payments of $5,000/week, up to a cap of $50,000 (increases to $60,000 on July 1st, 2027) are owed if the below are all true.

  • The post-production period extends more than 9 months

  • The budget is $40 Million or more

  • The Director’s salary is less than 150% of applicable scale for all services 

Episodic Directors

• Effective for episodes/parts commencing principal photography on or after July 1, 2027: The Guaranteed Minimum Prep Period increases from 7 to 8 days for one-hour pay television series of the type generally produced for network prime time, and for 36–65 minute High Budget SVOD series made for platforms with 20 million+ domestic subscribers with an episodic budget of $7 million or more

Mileage

• Effective July 1, 2026:

Completion of Assignment Pay

• Effective July 1, 2026: Completion of Assignment Pay is extended to freelance Additional Second Assistant Directors who work at least 75% of the days of principal photography on a motion picture or season

Daily Rest Period

• Effective July 1, 2026: For UPMs, First Assistant Directors and Associate Directors under the Basic Agreement, the daily rest period will now end at general crew call instead of one hour prior to the next shooting call

Extended Workday for Multi-Camera Stage Shows

• Effective August 1, 2026: The Extended Workday Trigger for multi-camera First Assistant Directors is reduced from 15 hours to 13 hours to align with the same rules used for other television shows 

Car Allowance for Location Manager

• Effective July 1, 2026: New car allowance provisions are established for Location Managers working in the New York City and Chicago areas that are asked to use their personal vehicle. The Employer will have the choice either to pay:
  • Inside the 30 Mile Zone
    • $55 per day plus fuel reimbursement -or-
    • $75 per day (which includes fuel costs)
  • When Traveling outside the 30 Mile Zone
    • $60 per day plus fuel reimbursement -or-
    • $80 per day (which includes fuel costs)
• All Car Allowance rates increase by $5 per day on July 1, 2027

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: Do the new minimum salary and residual increases apply retroactively to services performed before July 1, 2026?

A: No. The 2.5% increase to minimum salary rates and residuals is effective July 1, 2026, meaning it applies to services performed on or after that date. Services performed prior to July 1, 2026 remain governed by the prior agreement's rates.

Q: Do Health Plan contributions on Extended Workday payments apply retroactively to existing UPM/AD contracts?

A: No — this applies to Extended Workday payments made on or after July 1, 2026.

Q: Does the Extended Post-Production payment stack on top of existing post-production pay, or replace it?

A: It's a new, separate payment ($5,000/week up to $50,000, rising to $60,000 for pictures commencing principal photography on or after July 1, 2027). It doesn't replace existing post obligations.

This summary highlights select provisions of the 2026 DGA MOA and is not a substitute for reviewing the full agreement text. Effective dates for many provisions depend on principal photography start dates or ratification timing. Production accounting and payroll teams should confirm applicable terms for each project.

 ➡️ While here, you can also check the SAG-AFTRA Basic & TV MOA: Ratified Contract Changes and Effective Dates, which has effective dates running through June 30, 2030. 

 For more labor relations updates, check out our latest labor relations blogs. 

The 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.