The Stage has revealed the winners of The Stage Awards 2026, in association with Tysers Live, honouring creativity and dedication across the theatre industry.
This year’s ceremony took place on 12 January at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre in London, marking the 16th year of the prestigious awards.
Joint winners of Theatre of the Year were London’s Royal Court Theatre and Newbury’s Watermill Theatre. The Royal Court claimed its first win in 15 years, recognised for a series of critically acclaimed productions under new artistic leadership. The Watermill impressed judges with record-breaking shows, including its revival of Jesus Christ Superstar and international transfers of Calamity Jane, Fanny, Barnum and The Lord of the Rings.
Other major winners included Soho Theatre Walthamstow, which took Theatre Building of the Year for its transformation of a 1930s Granada cinema into a 960-seat venue, and Wessex Grove, named Producer of the Year for productions such as The Seagull at the Barbican and the New York transfer of Vanya.
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre won Fringe Theatre of the Year, celebrating its 10th anniversary and bold new producing model, while Common/Wealth received the Community Award for its site-specific work in Bradford and Cardiff.
Hull Truck Theatre was recognised with the Innovation Award for its pioneering GP training scheme using drama techniques, and Foreign Affairs claimed the International Award for championing plays in translation and cross-cultural storytelling.
Campaign of the Year went to Brixton House and PlayWell Productions for Black Power Desk, praised for its creative marketing and audience engagement. Lyric Theatre Belfast’s Scene Shop team won Team of the Year for its sustainable scenic production, while Eugene Ju-Pierre, stage door manager at the Royal Ballet and Opera, received the Unsung Hero award for more than 25 years of service.
The Judges’ Award honoured publisher Nick Hern for over five decades of contribution to British theatre, including championing new writing and transforming theatre publishing.
Summing up the winners, The Stage editor Alistair Smith said:
“This year’s winners show theatre at its most confident and outward-looking, combining artistic ambition with a clear sense of purpose. From major institutions to independent innovators, they demonstrate how strong leadership, deep community roots and creative risk-taking can deliver real impact on stage and beyond it.”
The Stage Awards 2026 Winners in Full
Theatre of the Year
Royal Court Theatre, London
Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Fringe Theatre of the Year
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Producer of the Year
Wessex Grove
Theatre Building of the Year
Soho Theatre Walthamstow, London
Community Award
Common/Wealth, Bradford
International Award
Foreign Affairs, London
Innovation Award
Hull Truck Theatre
Campaign of the Year
Black Power Desk, Brixton House and PlayWell Productions
Team of the Year
Lyric Scene Shop at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Unsung Hero
Eugene Ju-Pierre, Royal Ballet and Opera
Judges’ Award
Nick Hern
The Stage 100
Michael Sheen
More information can be found here.
