Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrantx Filed by a party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

a

3027 Townsgate Road, Suite 300

Westlake Village, CA 91361

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ONJune 5, 2026

To the Stockholders of Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held virtually on June 5, 2026, at 7:30 a.m. PDT. Stockholders can attend the meeting via the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ARQT2026 by using the 16-digit control number that appears on the accompanying Proxy Card (printed in the box and marked by the arrow) and the instructions that accompanied these proxy materials.

The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

1. To elect three Class III directors to hold office until the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are elected;

2. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2026;

3. To approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers; and

4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Only stockholders who owned common stock of the Company at the close of business on April 8, 2026 (the “Record Date”), can vote at this meeting or any adjournments that take place.

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote:

•“FOR” the election of the director nominees named in Proposal No. 1 of the Proxy Statement;

•“FOR” the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; and

•“FOR” the approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT AND OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025, AND SUBMIT YOUR PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE USING ONE OF THE THREE CONVENIENT VOTING METHODS DESCRIBED IN THE “INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROXY PROCESS AND VOTING” SECTION IN THE PROXY STATEMENT. IF YOU RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE SET OF PROXY MATERIALS OR NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY BECAUSE YOUR SHARES ARE REGISTERED IN DIFFERENT NAMES OR ADDRESSES, EACH PROXY SHOULD BE SIGNED AND SUBMITTED TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED.

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Todd Franklin Watanabe

Todd Franklin Watanabe

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Westlake Village, California

April 21, 2026

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