53rd Annual Saturn Awards Logo
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films announced the final lineup of special honorees for the 2026 Saturn Awards. Now in its 53rd year, the Saturn Awards recognize the best achievement in science fiction, fantasy, horror, superhero, action-adventure, animation, and genre storytelling across film and television.
The 53rd annual Saturn Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at the Universal Hilton in Los Angeles with host Joel McHale. The newly launched official website, SaturnAwards.TV, will livestream the ceremony worldwide.
Click HERE for a full list of nominations.
Academy President Robert Holguin and Saturn producers Bradley and Kevin Marcus comment, “The Saturn Awards were founded to champion bold imagination and the artists who redefine what genre storytelling can achieve. Honoring George Lucas alongside Terry Matalas and The Boys reflects both the legacy that built modern genre entertainment and the fearless creators shaping its future. It is an extraordinary year for fans everywhere.”
Read on for the complete press release:
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films proudly announces that visionary filmmaker George Lucas will accept the organization’s prestigious “Dr. Donald A. Reed Founder’s Award” at the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards on Sunday, March 8, in Los Angeles. Livestreaming worldwide on SaturnAwards.tv, the annual event will also see the Academy bestow the “Robert Forster Artist’s Award” to acclaimed creative Terry Matalas, who will accept the honor from Emmy-nominated actor Paul Bettany. The 53rd Annual Saturn Awards will further feature a celebration of Prime Video’s acclaimed series The Boys, which will receive a special “Spotlight Award,” accepted by creator Eric Kripke and other members of the series’ cast and creative team.
This announcement of honors joins the previously announced 2026 awards at the upcoming show, including Tom Cruise presenting the Visionary Award to producer, director, and Academy Award®-winning writer Christopher McQuarrie; a 40th Anniversary tribute to Aliens which will receive the George Pal Memorial Award with James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd accepting; the Saturn Hall of Fame Award presented to Star Trek; and the Lance Reddick Legacy Award presented to Titus Welliver, by Laurence Fishburne.
Additional confirmed attendees include Laz Aonso, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Michael Biehn, David Dastmalchian, Geena Davis, Kurt Deimer, Elle Fanning, Laurence Fishburne, Jonathan Frakes, Karen Fukuhara, Bryan Fuller, Vince Gilligan, Scott Gimple, Dana Gould, Carrie Henn, Holly Hunter, Doug Jones, Alex Kurtzman, Colby Minifie, Nathan Mitchell, Esai Morales, Erin Moriarty, Patrick Muldoon, Bob Odenkirk, Clyde Phillips, Jack Quaid, James Remar, Denise Richards, Krysten Ritter, Jeri Ryan, Katee Sackhoff, William Shatner, Lin Shaye, Amanda Silver, Brent Spiner, Freddie Stroma, Dan Trachtenberg, Karl Urban, Jessie T. Usher, Alex Winter, David Zabel and many more, as an expansive lineup of creators, performers, and industry leaders gather for what has become the most anticipated annual celebration of science fiction, fantasy, horror, superhero, and action-adventure storytelling.
THE DR. DONALD A. REED FOUNDER’S AWARD
George Lucas
The Dr. Donald A. Reed Founder’s Award will be presented to George Lucas, whose foundational impact on genre storytelling and cinematic innovation reshaped modern entertainment and permanently expanded the possibilities of imaginative filmmaking.
From THX 1138 and American Graffiti to Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Lucas’ influence spans generations of filmmakers and audiences worldwide. His pioneering technological achievements, including the creation of Industrial Light & Magic, revolutionized visual effects and production practices across the industry. His forthcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art further underscores his enduring commitment to storytelling as both cultural force and artistic legacy.
This award carries special Saturn significance, reflecting the mission of Saturn Awards founder Dr. Donald A. Reed, who created the Academy at a time when genre entertainment was too often dismissed, insisting these stories belonged at the very center of cinema culture.
THE ROBERT FORSTER ARTIST’S AWARD
Terry Matalas
Presented by Emmy-Nominated Actor Paul Bettany
The Saturn Awards proudly present The Robert Forster Artist’s Award to Terry Matalas, a visionary genre storyteller whose work blends ambitious world-building with emotional resonance and human truth.
As a writer, producer, and showrunner, Matalas earned widespread acclaim for leading Syfy’s 12 Monkeys and for his celebrated run on Star Trek: Picard, where he delivered a Saturn Award-winning final season that re-energized the iconic franchise for fans worldwide. With major projects ahead, including Marvel’s VisionQuest and Netflix’s Magic: The Gathering, Matalas exemplifies the spirit of this award, honoring legacy while boldly pushing genre storytelling forward.
Named in honor of Robert Forster, whose career reflected integrity and lasting craft, the award recognizes artists whose work leaves a meaningful and enduring imprint on the genre landscape.
THE SPOTLIGHT AWARD
Prime Video’s The Boys
Presented on special occasions to a film or series deemed especially worthy of recognition, the Spotlight Award celebrates The Boys as a fierce, fearless, darkly hilarious superpowered satire that transformed genre television into a cultural force defined by consequence, character, and biting relevance.
Who do you think will win at the 2026 Saturn Awards? Let us know in the comments!
