Also check out Red carpet arrivals and more

Photos are out of the winners of this year’s WhatsOnStage Awards 2026.

While the glitz and glamour of the London Palladium stage made for an unforgettable night on Sunday (8 March 2026), the real magic happened just behind the curtain.

After the envelopes were opened and the speeches delivered, the newly crowned champions of the West End headed to the winners’ room to celebrate their victories at the 2026 WhatsOnStage Awards.

It was a historic night for Paddington The Musical, which dominated the ceremony with a staggering nine wins, including taking home the Best New Musical award. The new show about the marmalade-loving bear has officially become the highest scoring new musical in the awards’ history.

The acting categories were equally electric. Jonathan Bailey secured his first-ever WhatsOnStage Award for his commanding turn in Richard II, while Rachel Zegler proved her “triple threat” status by picking up Best Performer in a Musical for Evita AND a second win for her solo Palladium concert.

We also saw fan favourites such as Amber Davies (The Great Gatsby) and Stephen Fry (The Importance of Being Earnest) hold their trophies high after a public vote that saw hundreds of thousands of theatregoers have their say.

From record-breaking bears to first-time winners, take a look at the official portraits of the 2026 WhatsOnStage Award winners below, and the glamorous Red carpet arrivals.

See the full list of winners of this year’s WhatsOnStage Awards 2026

Photos: Winners of the 2026 WhatsOnStage Awards

Photos by Spencer Cartwright

Photos: Red Carpet Arrivals

Photos by Roy J Baron

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Main photo: WhatsOnStage Awards 2026 - Winners. Photos by Spencer Cartwright

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