“Paddington the Musical” and “Into The Woods” lead the field at the 2026 Olivier Awards with Cunard, earning 11 nominations each, as British theater’s most prestigious honors unveiled its full slate of nominees on Thursday.
The two musicals are trailed by three plays with six nominations apiece: Arthur Miller revival “All My Sons,” new work “Kenrex” and Broadway transfer “Stereophonic.”
“Into The Woods,” currently running at the Bridge Theatre, picked up nominations including Best Musical Revival, Best Actor in a Musical for Jamie Parker, Best Actress in a Musical for Katie Brayben, and Best Director for Jordan Fein – his second consecutive nomination in that category, following last year’s nod for “Fiddler on the Roof.” Designer Tom Scutt earned his fifth and sixth career nominations, in both Best Set Design and Best Costume Design, after previously winning Best Set Design for “Fiddler on the Roof.”
“Paddington the Musical,” playing at the Savoy Theatre, contends for Best New Musical alongside the National Theatre’s “Here We Are” – the posthumous Stephen Sondheim work – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s “Shucked,” and the Chichester Festival Theatre transfer “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. The Paddington production’s shared title performers James Hameed and Arti Shah are jointly nominated for Best Actor in a Musical.
In the acting categories, the Best Actress nominees are Cate Blanchett (“The Seagull”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“All My Sons”), Julia McDermott (“Weather Girl”), Rosamund Pike (“Inter Alia”) and Rosie Sheehy (“Guess How Much I Love You?”) – the latter her second consecutive nomination, following last year’s nod for “Machinal.” Best Actor contenders are Bryan Cranston and Tom Hiddleston, nominated for “All My Sons” and “Much Ado About Nothing” respectively, alongside Sean Hayes (“Good Night, Oscar”), Jack Holden (“Kenrex”) and David Shields (“Punch”).
Hayes earns a second nomination in Outstanding Musical Contribution, alongside Chris Fenwick, for his live piano performance of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” in “Good Night, Oscar.” He is one of several nominees recognised across multiple categories: Georgina Onuorah is nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for “Brigadoon” and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for “Shucked,” while Tom Scutt’s double nomination in design categories has been noted above. Zachary Hart earns a rare double nomination within the same category – Best Actor in a Supporting Role – for both “Stereophonic” and “The Seagull.”
Paapa Essiedu, Hayley Squires and Ivo van Hove are also nominated for their work on “All My Sons,” which closes at Wyndham’s Theatre on Saturday. James Graham’s “Punch” picks up four nominations including Best New Play, marking his second Olivier nomination after winning in that category in 2024 for “Dear England.” The play returns to the Nottingham Playhouse following its London run. Suzie Miller’s “Inter Alia” also receives a Best New Play nomination – her second Olivier nod, following her win for “Prima Facie” in 2023.
Among the musical revival contenders, the Almeida Theatre’s “American Psycho” faces Jamie Lloyd’s “Evita” at the London Palladium, “Into The Woods” and “The Producers” at the Garrick Theatre. Rachel Zegler and Diego Andres Rodriguez represent “Evita” in the acting musical categories.
Other nominees across the ceremony include Tracie Bennett – in her seventh all-time Olivier nomination – Corbin Bleu, Kate Fleetwood, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Jane Krakowski, Andy Nyman, Hayley Squires, Giles Terera, Sophie Thompson and Gabriella Slade, the latter earning her second consecutive nomination following her win for “Starlight Express” last year.
The ceremony, which this year marks its 50th anniversary, will take place on April 12 at the Royal Albert Hall and will be hosted by Nick Mohammed. It will be broadcast on BBC Two and iPlayer, with highlights on BBC Radio 2.
The Outstanding Contribution to Dance and Opera awards will be presented at the ceremony by Wayne McGregor and Danielle De Niese, respectively.
FULL LIST OF NOMINEES — OLIVIER AWARDS 2026 WITH CUNARD
“Here We Are,” book by David Ives, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim – National Theatre, Lyttelton “Paddington the Musical,” music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, book by Jessica Swale – Savoy Theatre “Shucked,” book by Robert Horn, music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry,” book by Rachel Joyce, music and lyrics by Passenger – Theatre Royal Haymarket
Best Musical Revival supported by Piper-Heidsieck
“American Psycho,” book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis – Almeida Theatre “Evita,” lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber – The London Palladium “Into The Woods,” music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine – Bridge Theatre “The Producers,” music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan – Garrick Theatre
Best New Play supported by The Londoner
“1536” by Ava Pickett – Almeida Theatre “Inter Alia” by Suzie Miller – National Theatre, Lyttelton “Kenrex” by Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian – The Other Palace “Punch” by James Graham – Young Vic and Apollo Theatre
“All My Sons” by Arthur Miller – Wyndham’s Theatre “Arcadia” by Tom Stoppard – The Old Vic “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare – Theatre Royal Drury Lane “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Duncan Macmillan and Thomas Ostermeier – Barbican Theatre
Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play
“The Comedy About Spies” by Henry Lewis and Henry Shields – Noël Coward Theatre “Every Brilliant Thing” by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe – @sohoplace “Oh, Mary!” by Cole Escola – Trafalgar Theatre “Paranormal Activity” by Levi Holloway – Ambassadors Theatre
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?” – Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre
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
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
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 TheatreOliver 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
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
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 (Costume Design) and Tahra Zafar (Paddington Design), “Paddington The Musical” – Savoy Theatre
Best Set Design supported by Blue-i Theatre Technology
Paul Tate dePoo III (Scenic and Projection Design), “The Great Gatsby – A New Musical” – London Coliseum Tom Pye (Set Design) and Ash J Woodward (Video Design), “Paddington the Musical” – Savoy Theatre Tom Scutt, “Into The Woods” – Bridge Theatre David Zinn, “Stereophonic” – Duke of York’s Theatre
Robbie Butler, “Punch” – Young Vic and Apollo Theatre Jon Clark, “Evita” – The London Palladium Aideen Malone (Lighting Design) and Roland Horvath (Video Design), “Into The Woods” – Bridge Theatre Joshua Pharo, “Kenrex” – The Other Palace
