Dead Man Walking wins Best New Opera for ENO

English National Opera (ENO) is celebrating a major victory tonight as their powerful production of Dead Man Walking took home the Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production at the 2026 Olivier Awards with Cunard.

The award marks a crowning achievement for the production, which received its long-awaited London premiere at the London Coliseum during the ENO’s 2025/26 season.

See the full list of Olivier Awards 2026 winners here.

A 25th Anniversary Triumph

Marking 25 years since the world premiere of Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s masterpiece, this brand-new co-production was directed by ENO Artistic Director Annilese Miskimmon.

The award was accepted tonight by Miskimmon alongside mezzo-soprano Christine Rice, who drew immense critical acclaim for her portrayal of Sister Helen Prejean. Miskimmon paid tribute to the real-life Sister Helen, whose memoir inspired both the opera and the Oscar-winning film starring Susan Sarandon, as well as Lilian Baylis, the trailblazing founder of the ENO.

“Dead Man Walking is an extraordinary opera, and it has meant a great deal to bring this work to ENO audiences,” said Annilese Miskimmon. She added “We’re deeply grateful to Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally for creating such a remarkable piece, and to Sister Helen Prejean, whose courage and compassion continue to inspire everyone who encounters this story.

The production, a collaboration between ENO, Opera North, and Finnish National Opera, was met with numerous five-star reviews. Set behind the bars of a high-security US prison, the opera follows a nun who becomes the spiritual adviser to a death row inmate, Joseph De Rocher, as he faces execution by lethal injection.

The winning production featured:

A Stellar Cast: Led by Christine Rice, Michael Mayes, Dame Sarah Connolly, and Jacques Imbrailo.
Award-Winning Music: A haunting score by Jake Heggie, recently named Musical America’s 2025 Composer of the Year.
The ENO Chorus & Orchestra: Conducted by Kerem Hasan.

Jenny Mollica, Chief Executive of the ENO, added: “I am immensely proud of the artists, musicians, and creative team whose talent made this landmark production possible.”

What’s Next for the ENO?

While Dead Man Walking has completed its run at the Coliseum, the ENO continues its mission as a dual-centre company in London and Greater Manchester.

Fans of the company won’t have to wait long for more; the 2026/27 Season, featuring a mix of bold contemporary works and traditional repertoire, will be officially announced on 22 April.

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Main photo: Alaric Green, Michael Mayes, Malachy Frame, ENO’s Dead Man Walking. Photo: Manuel Harlan