The Society of London Theatre has announced a number of award winners for this year’s Olivier Awards 2026.
Award winners have been revealed for the Outstanding Contribution to Dance, Outstanding Contribution to Opera, and Industry Recognition Awards.
In dance, Sir Wayne McGregor CBE is receiving this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Dance Award.
The award-winning choreographer, director, curator and author, is internationally recognised for his trailblazing innovations in performance.
The Outstanding Contribution to Opera Olivier Award has gone to opera and West End star Danielle De Niese.
Danielle won an Emmy Award at 16 for her work as a TV host, and made her Broadway debut at 18 in Les Misérables. Since then, Danielle has forged a distinctive career that blends opera with musical theatre. This month she completed a run in Rise and Fall of The City of Mahagonny at the London Coliseum.
2026 sees the Olivier Awards celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Betty Laine OBE (Photo Chris Overton), Linda Tolhurst (Photo Cameron Slater), David Wood OBE (Photo Nick Gregan)
Olivier Awards – Industry Recognition Awards
The Industry Recognition Awards at the Olivier Awards have been awarded since 2019, with the Society of London Theatre recognising excellence in professional theatre.
This year’s Industry Recognition Awards go to:
- Betty Laine OBE, the founder and Principal Emerita of Laine Theatre Arts, who has mentored thousands of performers over five decades.
- Linda Tolhurst, who has worked at the National Theatre for over 50 years, the last 46 years as Stage Door Keeper.
- David Wood OBE, widely regarded as the national children’s dramatist, has written over 75 children’s plays, adapting the works of authors from Roald Dahl to Floella Benjamin for the stage.
All five award winners will be given their awards at a special presentation at The Londoner Hotel on Friday 20 March and will be guests of honour at the Olivier Awards 2026.
Olivier Awards 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall
This year’s Olivier Awards will take place on Sunday 12 April 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Wayne McGregor and Danielle De Niese will present the winners of the Best New Opera Production and Best New Dance Production categories respectively, on the night of the awards.
This year’s date and venue for the Olivier Awards was confirmed in December.
The 2026 awards will be broadcast by the BBC on the night of 12 April. Last month the Society of London Theatre released the full list of which West End and London shows are eligible for Olivier Awards this year.
What They Said
Sir Wayne McGregor CBE said in a statement that he was, “deeply honoured and truly grateful for this recognition”. He said that, “for more than three decades in the art form I cherish – dance – I have been sustained by extraordinary collaborators whose generosity and brilliance make the work possible. This award celebrates that collective spirit.”
Danielle De Niese said, “though I have done musicals and TV my whole life, opera has been the dominant art form of my musical identity since the age of eight.” She went on to say that she is, “deeply moved to be recognised for this with an Olivier Award, it is a tremendous honour and I thank the committee for welcoming me into this amazing pantheon of artists.”
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “London’s theatre is the best in the world and a huge reason for this is the extraordinary unsung heroes who are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to bring us the shows we love. Linda, Betty and David have shaped the cultural life of our city for decades and it is wonderful that they are being honoured with these awards.”
Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre Co-CEO Claire Walker said: “Whether they are performing on stage or working tirelessly behind the scenes, this year’s recipients are the bedrock of our sector. They represent the extraordinary breadth of talent, dedication and creativity that sustains theatre in this country, from trailblazing artists redefining their art forms, to stalwart champions of the industry. We are immensely proud to recognise each of them with an Olivier Award and look forward to celebrating their achievements.”
Plan your next night out with our complete guide to London West End shows.
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