Last night, April 12, the absolute brightest stars of the stage descended upon London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall for the 2026 Laurence Olivier Awards. Hosted by the always-hilarious Nick Mohammed, the 50th-anniversary ceremony delivered jaw-dropping performances, emotional tributes, and a few historic sweeps that will have the West End talking for months.
From the dazzling debut of an iconic, marmalade-loving bear to the dramatic weight of Arthur Miller classics, the theatre community proved exactly why London remains a global powerhouse of live entertainment. Here is a breakdown of the biggest moments and the complete list of who took home the coveted bronze statues.
A Historic Sweep for ‘Paddington The Musical’
If there was any doubt that Paddington The Musical was the undeniable smash hit of the season, last night permanently silenced it. The wildly inventive adaptation at the Savoy Theatre took home a staggering seven awards out of its eleven nominations. Along with securing Best New Musical and Best Director for Luke Sheppard, the production made history in the Best Actor in a Musical category: Arti Shah and James Hameed—who jointly bring the beloved bear to life—won the award in a historic tie that beautifully recognized their shared physical and vocal performance. With a sweep this massive, a Broadway transfer seems absolutely inevitable.
Rachel Zegler Cries for Argentina—and Wins!
Making her highly anticipated West End debut in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Evita at the London Palladium, Hollywood star Rachel Zegler proved her theatrical chops are just as formidable as her screen presence. Zegler took home the award for Best Actress in a Musical, calling the win “astonishing” during an emotional acceptance speech where she noted that her idol, theatre legend Elaine Paige, was waiting backstage. The production also secured a win for Best Theatre Choreographer.
The Drama: ‘Punch’ and ‘All My Sons’ Take Top Honors
On the non-musical front, James Graham’s Punch was the breakout champion, taking home Best New Play alongside a Best Actress in a Supporting Role win for Julie Hesmondhalgh. Meanwhile, the revival of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons proved its enduring power, claiming Best Revival and earning Paapa Essiedu the trophy for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In the leading play categories, Rosamund Pike made a triumphant return to the West End after 14 years, winning Best Actress for Inter Alia, while Jack Holden took Best Actor for Kenrex.
Broadway Transfers Show Up Strong
The cross-pond synergy was alive and well! Cole Escola’s gloriously unhinged Broadway hit Oh, Mary! successfully conquered London, nabbing Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. Additionally, Sean Hayes picked up an Olivier for Outstanding Musical Contribution for his live piano performance in Good Night, Oscar.
The Complete List of 2026 Olivier Award Winners
Best New Musical
- Paddington The Musical (WINNER)
Best Musical Revival
- Into The Woods (WINNER)
Best New Play
- Punch by James Graham (WINNER)
Best Revival
- All My Sons by Arthur Miller (WINNER)
Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play
- Oh, Mary! by Cole Escola (WINNER)
Best Actress in a Musical
- Rachel Zegler – Evita (WINNER)
Best Actor in a Musical
- James Hameed & Arti Shah – Paddington The Musical (WINNER)
Best Actress
- Rosamund Pike – Inter Alia (WINNER)
Best Actor
- Jack Holden – Kenrex (WINNER)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
- Victoria Hamilton-Barritt – Paddington The Musical (WINNER)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
- Tom Edden – Paddington The Musical (WINNER)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Julie Hesmondhalgh – Punch (WINNER)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Paapa Essiedu – All My Sons (WINNER)
Best Director
- Luke Sheppard – Paddington The Musical (WINNER)
Best Theatre Choreographer
- Fabian Aloise – Evita (WINNER)
Best Set Design
- Tom Pye (Set Design) & Ash J Woodward (Video Design) – Paddington The Musical (WINNER)
Best Costume Design
- Gabriella Slade & Tahra Zafar – Paddington The Musical (WINNER)
Best Lighting Design
- Aideen Malone & Roland Horvath – Into The Woods (WINNER)
Best Sound Design
- Giles Thomas – Kenrex (WINNER)
Outstanding Musical Contribution
- Chris Fenwick & Sean Hayes – Good Night, Oscar (WINNER)
Best Family Show
- The Boy At The Back Of The Class (WINNER)
Best New Opera Production
- Dead Man Walking (WINNER)
Best New Dance Production
- Into The Hairy (WINNER)
Best New Production in Affiliate Theatre
- The Glass Menagerie – The Yard Theatre (WINNER)
Special Award (Industry Recognition)
- Elaine Paige (WINNER)
