A major new awards has been launched to celebrate the “beating heart” of the UK’s cultural landscape – its theatre buildings.

The Great British Theatres Awards, launched by the Theatres Trust to mark its 50th anniversary, aim to move the spotlight away from performers and onto the theatre spaces themselves.

The inaugural ceremony is set to take place at Central Hall Westminster on 2 November 2026.

The Great British Theatres Awards will celebrate theatre buildings and spaces around the UK, as opposed to performances and performers, to shine a light on the work of theatres across the country.

Ten categories will be awarded, alongside two Judges’ Awards: crowning one theatre the Great British Theatre 2026; and the Great British Theatres Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising exceptional long-term contribution to theatre buildings and cultural infrastructure.

The public can nominate venues, in addition to theatre owners, theatre operators, local authorities, architects and theatre consultants. Entries will open on Thursday 16 April via Theatres Trust’s website, and the deadline is 5pm on Thursday 11 June.

Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust, said in a statement: “In our 50th year, it feels vital to bring the sector together to champion the places and spaces where theatre happens. From grassroots community venues to landmark new builds, our theatres are more than just auditoriums, they are civic landmarks, cultural engines, and the beating heart of communities across the country. This is our moment to recognise them with pride.”

Want to explore the venues already making waves? Browse our guide to London’s most iconic West End theatres here.

Great British Theatres Awards 2026 categories

  • Great New Build – Awarded to a newly built theatre or a new extension to an existing theatre. Open to projects completed in the past 5 years.
  • Great Renovation – Awarded to a theatre retrofit or refurbishment project, which has adapted an existing theatre to meet the needs of modern and future audiences and performances. Open to projects completed in the past 5 years.
  • Great Amateur Theatre – Awarded to an amateur theatre that’s making great use of its building. Open to amateur theatres that have carried out refurbishment projects in the past 5 years.
  • Great Found Space – Awarded to a live performance venue created in a found or repurposed space, rather than a traditional or purpose-built theatre. Open to venues that have opened or been repurposed in the past 5 years.
  • Great Community Connection – Awarded to a theatre that is going above and beyond to open its doors and offer a warm welcome to everyone, whether that’s through adaptation to its building, programming or outreach work.
  • Great Use of Space – Awarded to a theatre making innovative or unconventional use of a space or spaces in a theatre building. It could be temporary or permanent, on a grand scale or a just a small corner used imaginatively.
  • Great Placemaking Partner – Awarded to a local authority that truly values culture and is investing in cultural infrastructure to meaningfully benefit its local community.
  • Great Green Theatre – Awarded to a theatre that has put environmental sustainability at the heart of the building, whether through changes to the theatre itself, its operations or its performances.
  • Great Public Space – Awarded to a theatre with a space beyond the auditorium that is well-loved and well used by the community or a specific user group.
  • Great British Theatres Shining Star – Awarded to an individual or a group of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to create, save or adapt a theatre building for the community.
Links:
Theatres Trust
Sign-up for news and booking alerts about these shows and more:
Main photo: Great British Theatre Awards 2026

Related News

See all

Latest News

See all