\u201cPaddington the Musical\u201d swept the Olivier Awards 2026 on Sunday, claiming seven prizes at the Royal Albert Hall in London, including the Cunard best new musical award for writers Tom Fletcher and Jessica Swale.<\/p>\n
Rachel Zegler won best actress in a musical for Jamie Lloyd\u2019s production of \u201cEvita,\u201d while Rosamund Pike took the best actress prize for \u201cInter Alia\u201d at the National Theatre.<\/p>\n
More from Variety<\/p>\n
The \u201cPaddington\u201d haul also included best actor in a musical, shared by James Hameed and Arti Shah for their joint portrayal of the beloved bear, and best actress in a supporting role in a musical for Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, with Tom Edden claiming best actor in a supporting role in a musical. Luke Sheppard received the Sir Peter Hall Award for best director, Tom Pye and Ash J. Woodward won best set design, and Gabriella Slade and Tahra Zafar took best costume design \u2013 Slade\u2019s second consecutive win in the category after her triumph for \u201cStarlight Express\u201d last year.<\/p>\n
Zegler\u2019s win for Lloyd\u2019s \u201cEvita\u201d \u2013 a production that generated headlines when she performed a scene from the balcony of the London Palladium last summer \u2013 was one of two prizes for that show, with Fabian Aloise receiving the Gillian Lynne Award for best theatre choreographer. Jack Holden won the best actor award for his performance in \u201cKenrex,\u201d following his U.K. Theatre Award win last year, while Giles Thomas claimed best sound design for the same production, which transferred to London from Sheffield Theatres.<\/p>\n
The ceremony, which marked the Olivier Awards\u2019 50th anniversary, was broadcast in a prime-time slot on BBC Two and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Society of London Theatre and U.K. Theatre co-CEOs Claire Walker and Hannah Essex said the event was \u201ca showstopping celebration of the best of British theatre.\u201d<\/p>\n
FULL LIST OF WINNERS \u2013 OLIVIER AWARDS 2026 WITH CUNARD<\/p>\n
Cunard Best New Musical
\u201cPaddington the Musical,\u201d music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, book by Jessica Swale (Savoy Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Musical Revival supported by Piper-Heidsieck
\u201cInto the Woods,\u201d music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine (Bridge Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best New Play supported by The Londoner
\u201cPunch\u201d by James Graham (Young Vic and Apollo Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Revival
\u201cAll My Sons\u201d by Arthur Miller (Wyndham\u2019s Theatre)<\/p>\n
No\u00ebl Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play
\u201cOh, Mary!\u201d by Cole Escola (Trafalgar Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Actress
Rosamund Pike, \u201cInter Alia\u201d (National Theatre \u2013 Lyttelton)<\/p>\n
Best Actor
Jack Holden, \u201cKenrex\u201d (The Other Palace)<\/p>\n
Best Actress in a Musical
Rachel Zegler, \u201cEvita\u201d (The London Palladium)<\/p>\n
Best Actor in a Musical
James Hameed and Arti Shah, \u201cPaddington the Musical\u201d (Savoy Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Julie Hesmondhalgh, \u201cPunch\u201d (Young Vic and Apollo Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Paapa Essiedu, \u201cAll My Sons\u201d (Wyndham\u2019s Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, \u201cPaddington the Musical\u201d (Savoy Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Tom Edden, \u201cPaddington the Musical\u201d (Savoy Theatre)<\/p>\n
Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director
Luke Sheppard, \u201cPaddington the Musical\u201d (Savoy Theatre)<\/p>\n
Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer
Fabian Aloise, \u201cEvita\u201d (The London Palladium)<\/p>\n
Best Costume Design
Gabriella Slade (Costume Design) and Tahra Zafar (Paddington Design), \u201cPaddington the Musical\u201d (Savoy Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Set Design supported by Blue-i Theatre Technology
Tom Pye (Set Design) and Ash J Woodward (Video Design), \u201cPaddington the Musical\u201d (Savoy Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Lighting Design
Aideen Malone (Lighting Design) and Roland Horvath (Video Design), \u201cInto the Woods\u201d (Bridge Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Sound Design supported by d&b audiotechnik
Giles Thomas, \u201cKenrex\u201d (The Other Palace)<\/p>\n
Outstanding Musical Contribution
Chris Fenwick (Musical Supervision and Arrangements) and Sean Hayes (Live Piano Performance of Gershwin\u2019s Rhapsody in Blue), \u201cGood Night, Oscar\u201d (Barbican Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best Family Show
\u201cThe Boy at the Back of the Class,\u201d adapted by Nick Ahad (Rose Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best New Production in Affiliate Theatre
\u201cThe Glass Menagerie\u201d by Tennessee Williams (The Yard Theatre)<\/p>\n
Best New Dance Production
\u201cInto the Hairy\u201d by Sharon Eyal for S-E-D (Sadler\u2019s Wells)<\/p>\n
Best New Opera Production supported by TAIT
\u201cDead Man Walking\u201d by English National Opera (London Coliseum)<\/p>\n
Best of Variety<\/p>\n
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