The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards celebrated the year’s most outstanding creative transformations across film and television. Held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, the ceremony honored the behind-the-scenes artists who shape characters through makeup and hair design.
Major film winners dominate the night
‘One Battle After Another’ secured two top honors for contemporary makeup and hair styling. During her acceptance speech, hair stylist Ahou Mofid delivered an emotional message about identity and freedom. She said, “I am a child of two Iranian immigrants. I am first generation. I wanted to say this film meant so much to me. Paul Thomas Anderson wrote a film that was very close to me, and we’re fighting, all of us for freedoms: for freedom of speech, for all our rights, for all our women’s rights, for all of it.
” She added, “Today, one of the biggest protests to Free Iran happened right outside…I want to say that a movie like this can move mountains. It can make people realize how crazy our world is, but community is where we are going to thrive.”
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Meanwhile, ‘Sinners’ triumphed in the period and character categories, highlighting the intricate work required to recreate distinct eras and personalities on screen.
Television and special honors recognized
Television winners spanned comedies, dramas, and genre series.
‘The Studio’ earned recognition for contemporary make-up and hair styling, while ‘Palm Royale’ took the award for period and character make-up.‘Stranger Things – Season 5’ captured the prize for special prosthetics, reinforcing the show’s reputation for elaborate creature design. Live and variety programming also featured prominently, with Saturday Night Live winning in multiple make-up categories and Dancing with the Stars recognized for contemporary hair styling.Guild president Julie Socash praised nominees for their craft, saying, “We are brothers, sisters and kin, connected as artists. The nominees tonight put forth dedication, collaboration and craftsmanship that go into every brush stroke, every wig, every transformation, you continue to deliver work that elevates storytelling across film, television, theater and live performance. You don’t just support the story.
You help create the story. These awards exist because your work matters.”The event, hosted by actress Rachael Harris, drew hundreds of industry professionals and was streamed worldwide.
Lifetime honors and tributes
Veteran artists received prestigious career awards recognizing decades of influence. Makeup legend Greg Nelson earned the Lifetime Achievement Award for Make-Up, while hairstylist Judy Alexander Cory received the equivalent honor for hair styling.
Emmy-nominated artist Michael Johnston was presented with the Vanguard Award for his contributions to youth television.Actor Amy Madigan, honored with the Distinguished Artisan Award, highlighted the importance of the makeup chair in shaping performances. She reflected, “I’ve had a lot of different looks, and it always starts in the trailer, and that’s the most important moment of the whole day.”The ceremony also included a heartfelt In Memoriam tribute, closing the evening on a note of reflection and respect for the artists who helped define the industry.
Full list of 2026 MUAHS award winners
Feature-Length Motion Picture Best Contemporary Make-Up — ‘One Battle After Another’Heba Thorisdottir, Mandy ArtusatoBest Period/Character Make-Up — ‘Sinners’Ken Diaz, Siân Richards, Ned Neidhardt, Allison LaCour, Lana MoraBest Special Make-Up Prosthetics — ‘Frankenstein’Mike Hill, Megan ManyBest Contemporary Hair Styling — ‘One Battle After Another’Ahou Mofid, Gina Maria DeAngelis, Sacha QuarlesBest Period/Character Hair Styling — ‘Sinners’Shunika Terry-Jennings, Elizabeth Robinson, Tene Wilder, Jove Edmond, Sherri B. HamiltonTelevisionContemporary Make-Up — ‘The Studio’Jorjee Douglass, Gillian Whitlock, Robin Glaser, Cassie Lyons, James FreitasPeriod/Character Make-Up — ‘Palm Royale’Tricia Sawyer, Marissa Lafayette, Marie DelPrete, Rory Gaudio, Alyssa GoldbergSpecial Prosthetics — ‘Stranger Things – Season 5’Barrie Gower, Mike Mekash, Duncan JarmanContemporary Hair Styling — ‘The Studio’Vanessa Price, Alexandra Ford, Lauren McKeeverPeriod/Character Hair Styling — ‘Palm Royale’Karen Bartek, Brittany Madrigal, Tiffany Bloom, Anna Quinn, Jill CrosbySpecial Programming & Other CategoriesLive Program Make-Up — ‘Saturday Night Live’Louie Zakarian, Amy Tagliamonti, Jason Milani, Young Bek, Madison BermudezLive Program Hair Styling — ‘Dancing with the Stars’Marion Rogers, Brittany Spaulding, Amber Nicholle Maher, Florence Witherspoon, Regina RodriguezChildren’s Program Make-Up — ‘Skeleton Crew’Samantha Ward, Sonia Cabrera, Cristina Waltz, Alexei Dmitriew, Adina SullivanChildren’s Program Hair Styling — ‘Skeleton Crew’Lane Friedman, Nanxy Tong-Heater, Richard DeAlba, Roxane GriffinCommercial/Music Video Make-Up — Lady Gaga “Abracadabra”Sarah Tanno, Phuong TranCommercial Hair Styling — Walmart “WhoKnewVille” Holiday CampaignDean Banowetz, Amber Nicholle Maher, Johnny Lomeli, Maria Sandoval, Myo LaRegional Theater — ‘The Monkey King’Jeanna Parham, Christina Martin, Erin Hennessy, Maur SelaBroadway/International Theater — ‘Frankenstein’Lisa Ruth Zomer, Thomas Richards-Keyes, Timothy Santry
