Variety’s 2026 Women’s Impact Report: Navigating a Transformative Year in Show Business

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Sep 17, 2026 8:31am PT

Women‘s Impact Report 2026

By

Mya Copeland , Isabelle Farina , Tanya Fedak , Carole Horst , Cynthia Littleton , Emily Longeretta , Pat Saperstein , Michael Schneider , Jazz Tangcay

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The professionals featured in Variety’s 2026 Women’s Impact Report navigated yet another crazy year in show business. Despite the mergers, layoffs and the ongoing transformation brought by AI, the box office returned with a bang and small-screen series captured imaginations. The resilience and determination to create, execute and deliver great entertainment by this year’s honorees remains the engine of show business. By Mya Copeland, Isabella Farina, Tanya Fedak, Carole Horst, Cynthia Littleton, Pat Saperstein, Michael Schneider, Jazz Tangcay

Pamela Abdy

Co-chair, CEO

Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group

Since joining Warner Bros. in 2022, Abdy has led an impressive slate that includes “One Battle After Another,” “Weapons” and “Sinners” — earning 11 Academy Awards, tying the record for the most wins by a studio, and leading the industry with 30 nominations overall. With 16 nominations, “Sinners” became the most nominated film in Academy history. Upcoming is the buzzy “Digger,” directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, and the capstone to the “Dune” trilogy, “Dune: Part Three.”

_Originally reported by [Variety Music](https://variety.com/lists/variety-womens-impact-report-2026/)._