Ludwig Göransson Rocks the SCL Awards with Epic Wins and Big Collabs!

Ludwig Göransson is on fire! The Swedish composer absolutely stole the spotlight at the 2026 Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) Awards, held last Friday at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Göransson snagged not one, but two prestigious awards for his work on Sinners. He secured the Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film and Outstanding Original Song for a dramatic or documentary piece with the epic track "I Lied to You,” which he co-wrote with the insanely talented Raphael Saadiq.

But wait, there's more! Göransson and his frequent partner-in-crime, director Ryan Coogler, received the coveted Spirit of Collaboration Award. This honor celebrates their killer composer/director duo which has blessed us with legendary films since their first team-up on Fruitvale Station in 2013. They've been a powerhouse through Coogler's directorial ventures like Creed, Black Panther, and more—now adding Sinners to their epic collab playlist.

Göransson's influence at the ceremony didn't stop there. He’s also in the Oscar race this year with nominations for both Best Original Score and Best Original Song for—you guessed it—"I Lied to You.”

The vibey ceremony was co-hosted by the Bacon Brothers, featuring actor-musician Kevin Bacon and his brother, composer Michael Bacon. Not only was this year's event a blast, but it’s also a vital pit stop leading up to the Oscars, landing right between the nomination announcements and voting.

In the thrilling atmosphere, EJAE and Mark Sonnenblick nabbed the award for outstanding original song in a comedy or musical for “Golden” from the global sensation KPop Demon Hunters. Already crushing it with a Grammy, Golden Globe, and a Critics Choice Award, this track is on everyone’s lips as the next Oscar front-runner!

Not to be outdone, Bryce Dessner picked up a win for his stunning Train Dreams score. Though not up for an Oscar, he's still got a nod for the incredible title song, co-written with cool collaborator Nick Cave.

In other highlights, Theodore Shapiro rocked the TV category with his score for Severance, and Cristóbal Tapia de Veer nailed it again with the title sequence award for The White Lotus.

As if that wasn’t enough excitement, gaming soundtracks got some love too, with Austin Wintory winning for Sword of the Sea. Plus, a shoutout to rising star Ching-Shan Chang, who grabbed the David Raksin award for her music in Laws of Man.

The SCL event also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Rocky with an epic musical tribute conducted by legendary Oscar-winning composer Bill Conti. Performing “Gonna Fly Now,” which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in the day, brought chills and nostalgia all around!

The In Memoriam segment featured the soulful voice of Melissa Manchester, singing “I’ll Never Say Goodbye,” bringing a poignant close to an unforgettable night.

Check out the full list of winners and high-flyers! It was a night to remember!