Olivier Awards 2026: ‘Paddington The Musical’ takes lead; Rachel Zegler, Paapa Essiedu among top winners – Full list inside

In a grand celebration of theatrical brilliance, London’s renowned Royal Albert Hall played host to the 50th Olivier Awards. The evening was marked by ‘Paddington The Musical’ dominating the scene, garnering accolades including Best New Musical.

The 50th Olivier Awards have concluded, and the winners have been crowned. Considered as the highest honor in the British Theatre, the Award ceremony took place on April 12, at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Hosted by Nick Mohammed, the ceremony celebrated excellence across theatre, musicals, opera, and dance. Rachel Zegler, Paapa Essiedu, and Rosamund Pike were among the big winners at the 2026 Olivier Awards. See full list below:

Olivier Awards 2026: Full list of winners

Cunard’s best new musical

Here We Are (National Theatre)Paddington The Musical (Savoy Theatre) – WINNERShucked (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre)The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry (Theatre Royal Haymarket)

Best musical revival

American Psycho (Almeida Theatre)Evita (London Palladium)Into The Woods (Bridge Theatre) – WINNERThe Producers (Garrick Theatre)

Best new play

1536 (Almeida Theatre)Inter Alia (National Theatre)Kenrex (The Other Palace)Punch (Young Vic & Apollo Theatre) – WINNER

Best revival

All My Sons (Wyndham’s Theatre) – WINNERArcadia (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) – WINNERParanormal 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) – WINNERRosie 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) – WINNERDavid Shields – Punch (Young Vic & Apollo Theatre)

Best actor in a musical

Marc Antolin – The Producers (Garrick Theatre)James Hameed & Arti Shah – Paddington The Musical (Savoy Theatre) – WINNERAndy 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 & Georgina Onuorah – Brigadoon (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre)Jane Krakowski – Here We Are (National Theatre)Jenna Russell – The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry (Theatre Royal Haymarket)Rachel Zegler – Evita (The London Palladium) – WINNER

Best actress in a supporting role

Isis Hainsworth – Arcadia (The Old Vic)Julie Hesmondhalgh – Punch (Young Vic & Apollo Theatre) – WINNERLucy 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) – WINNERZachary 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) – WINNERJo 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) – WINNERGeorgina 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) – WINNEREd 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) -WINNEREllen Kane – Paddington The Musical (Savoy Theatre)Drew McOnie – Brigadoon (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre)Lynne Page – American Psycho (Almeida Theatre)