The 2026 What’s On Stage Awards took place last night at the London Palladium, with Paddington the Musical sweep the board.
The musical about the bear from Peru, which opened in November, was nominated for a record 14 awards and won a total of nine. The show was named Best New Musical and also took home technical awards and Best Professional Debut for Timi Akinyosade.
Other big winners included Evita, with Rachel Zegler taking home the award for Best Performer in a Musical. The show also won Best Musical Revival, Best Choreography, Best Video Design and Best Lighting Design. Jonathan Bailey won the award for Best Performer in a Play for his turn as Richard II, with the show also winning Best Play Revival.
Check out the full list of winners below.
Winner of What’s On Stage Awards 2026
Best performer in a play: Jonathan Bailey, Richard II
Best Performer in a Musical: Rachel Zegler, Avoid
Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Stephen Fry, The importance of being serious
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Amber Davies, The Great Gatsby
Best professional debut: Timi Akinyosade, Paddington The Musical
Best takeover of an existing role: Emma Kingston, Evil
Best Child Performance: Platon Filatov, Darcy Tosun, Artie Wilkinson-Hunt and Anton Vehring, Land of the living
Best New Play: The comedy about spies
Best New Musical: Paddington The Musical
Best play revival: Richard II
Best Musical Revival: Avoid
Best West End Show: Les Misérables
Best regional production: 13 Ongoing 30 The musical
Best concert event: Rachel Zegler: Live at The London Palladium
Best Studio Production: Young FrankensteinHope Mill Theatre
Best direction: Luke Sheppard, Paddington The MusicalSavoy Theatre
Best choreography: Fabian Aloise, AvoidLondon Palladium
Best scenography: Tom Pye Paddington The MusicalSavoy Theatre
Best Costume Design: Gabrielle Slade and Tahra Zafar, Paddington The MusicalSavoy Theatre
Best lighting design: Jon Clark, AvoidLondon Palladium
Best sound design: Gareth Owen, Paddington The MusicalSavoy Theatre
Best Video Design: Jamie Lloyd, Nick Ward, David Anderson, AvoidLondon Palladium
Wigs, hair and makeup design: Campbell Young Associates, Paddington The MusicalSavoy Theatre
Best music major or tutoring: Matt Brind, Paddington The MusicalSavoy Theatre
Best casting direction: Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting, Nick Hockaday, Annabelle Davis – Paddington The MusicalSavoy Theatre
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