The 2026 Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards just proved that music truly has the power to move mountains—and hearts. But here’s where it gets controversial: while some winners were celebrated as expected, others left the audience questioning whether the right talents were truly recognized. Let’s dive into the highlights, surprises, and thought-provoking moments of the night.
The evening kicked off with a bold statement as Ludwig Göransson swept two major awards for his work on Sinners. The Swedish composer took home Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film and Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production for “I Lied to You,” co-written with Raphael Saadiq. And this is the part most people miss: Göransson’s collaboration with director Ryan Coogler earned them the prestigious Spirit of Collaboration Award, a testament to their enduring partnership. Since their first project, Fruitvale Station (2013), Göransson has scored all of Coogler’s films, including Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). But here’s the twist: Coogler couldn’t attend due to a family emergency, leaving Göransson to accept the award solo. In his speech, Göransson reminisced about their first meeting at a party in LA, where they bonded over Swedish music and pool. “It still feels like we’re those same kids,” he said, highlighting their shared passion for storytelling through music. Bold question for you: Is their partnership the gold standard for composer-director collaborations, or is there room for other duos to shine?
The night also celebrated EJAE and Mark Sonnenblick’s win for Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical with “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters. This global phenomenon has already snagged a Grammy, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice Award, making it the Oscar front-runner. EJAE’s acceptance speech was a heart-wrenching reminder of music’s healing power. “Songwriting helped me through getting dropped by a label,” she shared, “and now ‘Golden’ is helping others through depression.” Controversial take: While the song’s impact is undeniable, does its success overshadow other deserving tracks in the category?
In the television realm, Theodore Shapiro’s score for Severance and Cristóbal Tapia de Veer’s title sequence for The White Lotus stood out. Shapiro’s win marked his second Emmy, while Tapia de Veer secured his third SCL Award in this category. But here’s the kicker: Stephen Schwartz, nominated for three awards, walked away empty-handed. Is this a snub, or simply a reflection of the stiff competition?
The ceremony also honored emerging talent with the David Raksin Award, presented to Ching-Shan Chang for her score in Laws of Man. Meanwhile, Austin Wintory’s Sword of the Sea took home Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media, proving that video game music is a force to be reckoned with.
Hosted by The Bacon Brothers—Kevin and Michael Bacon—the event included performances of classics like Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose” and The Isley Brothers’ “Shout.” Fun fact: Kevin Bacon’s first film, Animal House (1978), featured “Shout,” making this performance a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
The SCL Awards, timed perfectly between Oscar nominations and voting, are a crucial stop on the campaign trail. But beyond the awards, the night celebrated collaboration, creativity, and the enduring impact of music on film and television. Final thought-provoking question: As we applaud these winners, are we truly recognizing the full spectrum of talent in the industry, or is there still work to be done to ensure every voice is heard?
Here’s the full list of 2026 SCL Award winners and nominees, with winners marked:
Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film
WINNER: Ludwig Göransson – Sinners
Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another
Stephen Schwartz & John Powell – Wicked: For Good
Max Richter – Hamnet
Jerskin Fendrix – Bugonia
Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film
Dara Taylor – Straw
WINNER: Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams
David Fleming – Eternity
Fabrizio Mancinelli – Out of the Nest
Jónsi & Alex Somers – Rental Family
Sara Barone & Forest Christenson – To Kill a Wolf
Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production
Diane Warren – “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless
Alice Smith, Miles Caton & Ludwig Göransson – “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from Sinners
WINNER: Raphael Saadiq & Ludwig Göransson – “I Lied to You” from Sinners
Sara Bareilles – “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” from Come See Me in the Good Light
Nikhil Koparkar & Rammy Park – “The Hills of Tanchico” from The Wheel of Time
Ed Sheeran, Blake Slatkin & John Mayer – “Drive” from F1
Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production
WINNER: EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick – “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters
Stephen Schwartz – “No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good
Stephen Schwartz – “The Girl in the Bubble” from Wicked: For Good
Jack Black & Jared Hess – “Steve’s Lava Chicken” from A Minecraft Movie
Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt & Jack Black – “I Feel Alive” from A Minecraft Movie
Blake Slatkin, Shakira & Ed Sheeran – “Zoo” from Zootopia 2
Outstanding Original Title Sequence for a Television Production
WINNER: Cristobal Tapia De Veer – The White Lotus
Carlos Rafael Rivera & Scott Frank – Dept. Q
Dave Porter – Pluribus
Sean Callery – The Beast in Me
Amanda Jones – Murderbot
Jeff Beal – All Her Fault
Outstanding Original Score for a Television Production
WINNER: Theodore Shapiro – Severance
Antonio Sánchez – The Studio
Brandon Roberts – Andor
Dave Porter – Pluribus
Cristobal Tapia De Veer – The White Lotus
David Fleming & Gustavo Santaolalla – The Last of Us
Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media
WINNER: Austin Wintory – Sword of the Sea
Gordy Haab – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of the Giants
Wilbert Roget II, Cody Matthew Johnson & Jon Everist – Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune
Maclaine Diemer – Wildgate
David Raksin Award for Emerging Talent
Cameron Moody – Washington Black
WINNER: Chin-Shan Chang – Laws of Man
Raashi Kulkarni – A Nice Indian Boy
Greg Nicolett – Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches
Freya Berkhout – Ride or Die
Sarah Trevino – The Map That Leads You
