The Stage Awards 2026 nominations announced

The Stage has unveiled the shortlist for its annual Stage Awards 2026.

The winners will be announced on 12 January 2026 at a ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House, hosted by Stage Debut award winners Hilson Agbangbe and Lucy Karczewski.

Contenders for Theatre of the Year include the Almeida Theatre, the Royal Court, Nottingham Playhouse, Soho Theatre, the Watermill Theatre in Newbury and York Theatre Royal. Newly opened venues Sadler’s Wells East and Soho Theatre Walthamstow feature in the Theatre Building of the Year category, alongside Theatr Clwyd.

In addition to the shortlisted categories (listed below), the Unsung Hero award winner will also be revealed at the ceremony.

Alistair Smith, Editor of The Stage said: “From six Japanese Queens to London’s Royal Court and community trailblazers like Common/Wealth, The Stage Awards 2026 nominations show that theatrical royalty comes in many forms.”

“One of the joys of judging these awards is that the more than 200 submissions we received underlined just how superb and varied the work is at theatres across the UK – from marketing campaigns for major West End musicals to scenic workshops in Northern Ireland or fringe theatres above working men’s clubs on the Northumberland coast. I’m looking forward to celebrating all their achievements with our fantastic nominees at the Royal Opera House in January.”

The Stage Awards were established in 2010.

The Stage Awards 2026: List of nominations

Theatre of the Year

Almeida Theatre, London
Nottingham Playhouse
Royal Court Theatre, London
Soho Theatre, London
Watermill Theatre, Newbury
York Theatre Royal

Theatre Building of the Year

Sadler’s Wells East
Soho Theatre Walthamstow
Theatr Clwyd, Mold

Fringe Theatre of the Year

Finborough Theatre, London
Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester
Laurels, Whitley Bay

Producer of the Year

KPPL Productions
Talawa Theatre Company
Wessex Grove

Innovation Award

Akhila Krishnan, Zoe Spurr and the Royal Shakespeare Company
Hull Truck Theatre
National Youth Theatre and Microsoft

Community Award

Arcola Theatre, London for its Participation department
ATG Entertainment’s West End Creative Learning projects
Cardboard Citizens
Common/Wealth
Imaginate, Edinburgh for Creative Encounters
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester for The Elders

International Award

Foreign Affairs
Six the Musical in Japanese
The Rite of Spring

Campaign of the Year

Black Power Desk
Eastbourne Theatres
The Devil Wears Prada

Team of the Year

ATG Entertainment’s Creative Learning team
British Youth Music Theatre’s marketing team
Lyric Theatre, Belfast’s Lyric Scene Shop

Unsung Hero Award

To be announced at the ceremony

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Main photo: The Stage Awards