The nominations for the Olivier Awards 2026 with Cunard, British theatre’s most prestigious honours, have been announced. The awards, which this year celebrate their 50th anniversary, will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 12 April, showcasing the very best of London theatre in a star-studded ceremony hosted by Nick Mohammed.
Two musicals dominate with 11 nominations each: Into The Woods at the Bridge Theatre and Paddington The Musical at the Savoy Theatre. In the plays categories, All My Sons, Kenrex and Stereophonic receive six nominations each.
The Best Actress nominees are Cate Blanchett, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Julia McDermott, Rosamund Pike and Rosie Sheehy. Best Actor nominations go to Bryan Cranston, Sean Hayes, Tom Hiddleston, Jack Holden and David Shields.
Sean Hayes, Georgina Onuorah and Tom Scutt each appear in multiple categories, while Zachary Hart makes a rare double appearance within the same category. Other high-profile nominees include Tracie Bennett, Corbin Bleu, Paapa Essiedu, Kate Fleetwood, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Jane Krakowski, Andy Nyman, Hayley Squires, Giles Terera, Sophie Thompson and Rachel Zegler.
In the musical theatre categories, Here We Are, Shucked and The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry join Paddington The Musical in the running for Cunard Best New Musical. Meanwhile, American Psycho, Evita, Into The Woods and The Producers compete for Best Musical Revival.
The acting categories see a mix of household names and rising stars honoured for work across the West End and major London venues, while the creative categories showcase world-class directors, designers and choreographers shaping the industry’s future.
The awards will be broadcast on BBC Two and iPlayer, with additional highlights on BBC Radio 2.
More information can be found here.
FULL LIST OF NOMINATIONS FOR THE OLIVIER AWARDS 2026 WITH CUNARD
Cunard Best New Musical
Here We Are – National Theatre – Lyttelton
Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Shucked – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry – Theatre Royal Haymarket
Best Musical Revival supported by Piper-Heidsieck
American Psycho – Almeida Theatre
Evita – The London Palladium
Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
The Producers – Garrick Theatre
Best New Play supported by The Londoner
1536 – Almeida Theatre
Inter Alia – National Theatre – Lyttelton
Kenrex – The Other Palace
Punch – Young Vic and Apollo Theatre
Best Revival
All My Sons – Wyndham’s Theatre
Arcadia – The Old Vic
Much Ado About Nothing – Theatre Royal Drury Lane
The Seagull – Barbican Theatre
Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play
The Comedy About Spies – Noël Coward Theatre
Every Brilliant Thing – @sohoplace
Oh, Mary! – Trafalgar Theatre
Paranormal Activity – Ambassadors Theatre
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett – The Seagull – Barbican Theatre
Marianne Jean-Baptiste – All My Sons – Wyndham’s Theatre
Julia McDermott – Weather Girl – Soho Theatre
Rosamund Pike – Inter Alia – National Theatre – Lyttelton
Rosie Sheehy – Guess How Much I Love You? – Royal Court Theatre
Best Actor
Bryan Cranston – All My Sons – Wyndham’s Theatre
Sean Hayes – Good Night, Oscar – Barbican Theatre
Tom Hiddleston – Much Ado About Nothing – Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Jack Holden – Kenrex – The Other Palace
David Shields – Punch – Young Vic and Apollo Theatre
Best Actor in a Musical
Marc Antolin – The Producers – Garrick Theatre
James Hameed and Arti Shah – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Andy Nyman – The Producers – Garrick Theatre
Jamie Parker – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
Diego Andres Rodriguez – Evita – The London Palladium
Best Actress in a Musical
Katie Brayben – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
Danielle Fiamanya and Georgina Onuorah – Brigadoon – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Jane Krakowski – Here We Are – National Theatre – Lyttelton
Jenna Russell – The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry – Theatre Royal Haymarket
Rachel Zegler – Evita – The London Palladium
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Isis Hainsworth – Arcadia – The Old Vic
Julie Hesmondhalgh – Punch – Young Vic and Apollo Theatre
Lucy Karczewski – Stereophonic – Duke of York’s Theatre
Hayley Squires – All My Sons – Wyndham’s Theatre
Sophie Thompson – When We Are Married – Donmar Warehouse
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Hammed Animashaun – Dealer’s Choice – Donmar Warehouse
Paapa Essiedu – All My Sons – Wyndham’s Theatre
Zachary Hart – The Seagull – Barbican Theatre
Zachary Hart – Stereophonic – Duke of York’s Theatre
Giles Terera – Oh, Mary! – Trafalgar Theatre
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Trevor Ashley – The Producers – Garrick Theatre
Corbin Bleu – The Great Gatsby – A New Musical – London Coliseum
Tom Edden – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Jo Foster – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
Oliver Savile – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Tracie Bennett – Here We Are – National Theatre – Lyttelton
Amy Booth-Steel – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Kate Fleetwood – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Georgina Onuorah – Shucked – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director
Jordan Fein – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
Luke Sheppard – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Ed Stambollouian – Kenrex – The Other Palace
Lyndsey Turner – 1536 – Almeida Theatre
Ivo van Hove – All My Sons – Wyndham’s Theatre
Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer
Fabian Aloise – Evita – The London Palladium
Ellen Kane – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Drew McOnie – Brigadoon – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Lynne Page – American Psycho – Almeida Theatre
Best Costume Design
Enver Chakartash – Stereophonic – Duke of York’s Theatre
Linda Cho – The Great Gatsby – A New Musical – London Coliseum
Tom Scutt – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
Gabriella Slade and Tahra Zafar – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Best Set Design supported by Blue-i Theatre Technology
Paul Tate dePoo III – The Great Gatsby – A New Musical – London Coliseum
Tom Pye and Ash J Woodward – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Tom Scutt – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
David Zinn – Stereophonic – Duke of York’s Theatre
Best Lighting Design
Robbie Butler – Punch – Young Vic and Apollo Theatre
Jon Clark – Evita – The London Palladium
Aideen Malone and Roland Horvath – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
Joshua Pharo – Kenrex – The Other Palace
Best Sound Design supported by d&b audiotechnik
Adam Fisher – Into The Woods – Bridge Theatre
Gareth Owen – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Ryan Rumery – Stereophonic – Duke of York’s Theatre
Giles Thomas – Kenrex – The Other Palace
Outstanding Musical Contribution
Matt Brind – Paddington The Musical – Savoy Theatre
Will Butler and Justin Craig – Stereophonic – Duke of York’s Theatre
John Patrick Elliott – Kenrex – The Other Palace
Chris Fenwick and Sean Hayes – Good Night, Oscar – Barbican Theatre
Best Family Show
The Boy At The Back Of The Class – Rose Theatre
The Boy With Wings – Polka Theatre
The Firework-Maker’s Daughter – Polka Theatre
The Three Little Pigs – Unicorn Theatre
Best New Production in Affiliate Theatre
Ben And Imo – Orange Tree Theatre
The Glass Menagerie – The Yard Theatre
The Ministry Of Lesbian Affairs – Kiln Theatre
Miss Myrtle’s Garden – Bush Theatre
The Shitheads – Royal Court Theatre
Best New Dance Production
Into The Hairy – Sadler’s Wells
Mimi’s Shebeen – Sadler’s Wells East
Random Taranto – The Pit at Barbican
She’s Auspicious – Sadler’s Wells East
Best New Opera Production supported by TAIT
Dead Man Walking – English National Opera – London Coliseum
The Makropulos Case – The Royal Opera – Royal Opera House
Tosca – The Royal Opera – Royal Opera House
Die Walküre – The Royal Opera – Royal Opera House
