The Olivier Awards with Cunard celebrate the best of London theatre. Britain’s most prestigious theatre awards, they’re the pinnacle of achievement, covering a spread of acting and creative categories. First held in 1976, this year marks their 50th anniversary.
So, what has half a century of the Oliviers looked like? We look back at the highlights from celebrating 50 years of excellence.
Olivier Awards 2026: For the full list of nominees and event timings, check out our guide on everything you need to know about the Olivier Awards 2026.
1976: The First Society of West End Theatre Awards are Held
The then Society of West End Theatre (now the Society of London Theatre) held the inaugural awards in December 1976 at the Café Royal. The awards, shortened from The Society of West End Theatre Awards to the rather charmingly named SWET awards covered 12 categories.
Winners included Dear Daddy by Denis Cannan as the play of the year, A Chorus Line as Musical of the Year and Paul Copley and Dorothy Tutin as Best Actor and Actress respectively.
1981: The Awards are First Broadcast on TV
In 1981, the then SWET awards were first broadcast on the BBC, transforming the event from a small, intimate affair to a large-scale televised extravaganza. The BBC continued to broadcast the awards until 2003 (though they will be returning to the Beeb for their 50th anniversary this year).
1984: They’re Renamed as the Oliviers and The Award Trophy Got a Makeover
1984 was all change for the awards, which were renamed as the Olivier awards after Sir Laurence Olivier.
That’s not all that changed either: the original award trophy (a blue Wedgwood urn) was swapped for a statuette of Laurence Olivier as Henry V at the Old Vic, which is why the awards are sometimes nicknamed the Larries.
1996: Dame Judi Dench Makes Oliviers History by Being the Only Person to Win for a Musical and a Play in the Same Year
1996 saw Dame Judi Dench storm the show by winning the awards for Best Actress and Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in Absolute Hell and a Little Night Music respectively. Today, she also holds the individual record for the most Olivier wins with eight in total.
2012: Matilda The Musical Sets the Then Record for the Most Wins with Seven Awards
2012 was Matilda’s year – Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly’s larger-than-life production set the then record for the most wins, taking home seven awards including being named Best New Musical and the creative team sweeping the board with awards including Best Director, Set Design and Sound Design and additional wins for the cast in Best Actor and Best Actress in a Musical too.
Book Tickets for Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre
2013: Lee Evans Scoffs a Large Chunk of an (Edible) Olivier as He Presents the Best Director Award
The history of the Oliviers is filled with memorable moments from the varied cast of people who’ve filled the presenter slot over the years but few were more memorable than Lee Evans bolting down a (thankfully edible) replica of an award as he introduced the Best Director Award in 2013.
2016: The Oliviers Celebrates its 40th with a Great Big Musical Medley
Hard to believe that 2016 was ten years ago. The Oliviers marked its 40th birthday bash with a special do, which included a big musical medley charting some of the greatest hits of the awards’ history. The medley featured a host of well-known names including Joe Stilgoe, Michael Feinstein, Michael Ball, Sharon D. Clarke and Leigh Zimmerman.
2017: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Wins a Record-Breaking Nine Awards and the Ceremony Moved to its Current Home in the Royal Albert Hall
If 2012 was Matilda’s year, 2017 was Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s, with the theatrical adaptation taking a record-breaking nine awards including Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best New Play and Best Director.
Book Tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
2018: Alex Lacamoire Sang Lin Manuel Miranda’s in Absentia Speech When Accepting Their Outstanding Achievement in Music Award for Hamilton
Award-winner speeches throughout the history of the Oliviers have run the gamut of emotions and come in all forms – but one of the standouts from recent years is undoubtedly Lin Manuel Miranda’s in absentia “speech”, a specially-crafted song dutifully performed by his co-winner Alex Lacamoire.
2020: The Awards are Rescheduled Due to Covid and Sir Ian McKellen Becomes the Only Actor to Receive Two Special Awards
2020 brought unprecedented times across the globe, and the Oliviers were by no means immune. The awards, which were initially scheduled for their normal slot in April were cancelled, finally taking place in October of the same year. Given the nominations were announced in March, it was the longest period between the announcements of nominees and the winners in the awards’ history.
Sir Ian McKellen also became the only winner of two special awards from the Oliviers, the second, in 2020 for donating the proceeds from his 80th birthday tour to create an emergency fund to support the ushers, stagehands and dressers struggling to survive during the numerous lockdowns.
2025: Les Misérables Takes to the Stage to Celebrate Becoming the Longest-Running Show in History
Les Misérables celebrated its 40th anniversary with an all-out special medley of songs from the show at the 2025 Oliviers – with producer Cameron Mackintosh honoured with a Special Award to mark the milestone.
Mackintosh slid a small dig at the awards into his pre-recorded video speech, saying “Thank you for this award for me and my girl,” a nod to the fact that in 1985, Les Misérables lost out on the Best New Musical award at the Oliviers to the shorter-lived revival of Me and My Girl.
2026: Paddington and Into the Woods Lead the Pack with 11 Nominations Each
This year’s Olivier Awards sees Paddington and Into the Woods step into the limelight with 11 nominations each.
Book tickets to all the West End shows nominated for the 2026 Olivier Awards
The Olivier Awards 2026 will take place at Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday 12th April and are being hosted by Nick Mohammed.
For the most comprehensive guide to the night, including the full list of nominees and how to watch, check out our Olivier Awards 2026: Everything You Need to Know hub.
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