Eligible SAG-AFTRA animation performers have until 5 p.m. PDT on Thursday, October 29, 2026, to vote on proposed four-year Television Animation Agreements.
The union says voting postcards with PINs and online instructions were mailed October 8. The proposal covers animated series, animated limited series, and long-form animated movies made for television, basic cable, and streaming. It does not cover theatrical animated features.
Featured photo: Shixart1985, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. The image is illustrative and is not connected to the negotiations.
Why it matters
The deal would set minimum pay, benefit contributions, residual rules, and artificial-intelligence terms for a large share of professional television and streaming animation work through June 2030. That makes the vote relevant not only to voice performers, but also to producers, casting teams, representatives, and production managers budgeting covered projects.
What the proposed agreement changes
- Wages: a 3% increase in each contract year, compounded. The first increase would apply retroactively to July 5, 2026, with later increases on July 1 in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
- Artificial intelligence: the proposal incorporates applicable improvements from the 2026 live-action agreement while keeping stronger existing animation-specific terms.
- Health contributions: a one-percentage-point increase effective September 6, 2026.
- Pension and retirement: a one-percentage-point increase on July 1, 2028, if specified plan-merger conditions are met.
- Paid parental leave: a contribution equal to 0.25% of gross compensation beginning July 1, 2028, with benefits available no earlier than July 1, 2029.
- Streaming residuals: changes include higher ceilings for certain high-budget subscription-streaming calculations, a higher top foreign-subscriber factor, and an increase from 25% to 35% in the payment made to the success-bonus distribution fund for qualifying programs.
- Ad-supported streaming: a new high-budget AVOD category using animation-specific budget thresholds.
What happens after the vote
If members ratify the agreements, most terms would take effect on the Sunday following the business day when the AMPTP receives notice of ratification, although individual provisions have their own dates. The proposed term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
If the agreements are not ratified, SAG-AFTRA says the 2023 agreements remain in effect while its National Board and negotiating committee determine next steps.
How eligible members vote
SAG-AFTRA says affected eligible members should use the PIN and instructions sent by postcard. Members who need to retrieve a PIN can do so through the union's linked voting site. Online and mailed ballots must be received by the October 29 deadline.
Read SAG-AFTRA's official summary and voting information →
Primary sources
Update note
Published October 11, 2026, after SAG-AFTRA released the proposed terms and voting instructions. Spotlight News will update this story when the union reports the ratification result.