26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards: everything you need to know

When and where?

Guess who’s back, back again!? For the third consecutive year, we’re making a grand return to the iconic London Palladium. On Sunday, 8 March at 6.30pm we’ll welcome an almost sold-out auditorium of 2,200 theatre-lovers – and boy, do we have a lot planned!

How can I follow on the day?

As always, there are several ways to follow the awards on the big night…

Secure yourself a ticket and be there in person!

You can grab the last remaining tickets for the event itself here and be right in the room where it happens. There you’ll see winners being crowned, alongside all the performances we have lined up, and witness our special surprises first-hand! The dress code is whatever glamorous means to you, and we encourage you to dress comfortably. If you’re joining us, we can’t wait to see you!

Tuning in to Heart Radio

We are thrilled that Heart Musicals has been announced as the exclusive broadcast partner for the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards! The programme will be presented by Lindsey Russell, who will be live backstage during the ceremony between 7pm and 10pm, interviewing winners as they leave the stage, and allowing you to hear live numbers from the night.

TikTok

Our wonderful content creator, Alex Braybrooke, will be coming to you from the red carpet and the winners’ room, chatting (and potentially busting a move or two) with guests, nominees, and winners!

X (formerly Twitter)

As with previous years, we’re going to be live posting about the event as it happens. This will be the perfect place for immediate results, where you can find out who has taken home the coveted prizes. Follow @WhatsOnStage for all the live updates and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WOSAwards to join in with the conversation and to see some exciting backstage content!

Instagram

Our Instagram feed will be filled to the brim with announcements, videos, photos and much more. Follow our Instagram story on the day and check out all our posts using the #WOSAwards hashtag for all the glitz and glamour.

Who’s hosting the awards?

It’s a return for theatre’s glitziest sister act! Killer queens Gina and Mazz Murray will be returning to hosting duties after delighting the crowds last year, and will be marking International Women’s Day.

Who’s performing at the concert?

We’re proud that the Awards Concerts are known for their exclusive, one-off performances, which in the past have included sneak-peeks, new melodies and re-orchestrated versions of contemporary classics – all performed by some of the most notable stage names performing in theatres around the world, no less. And this year is no exception!

Performing alongside our 24-piece orchestra at The London Palladium will be representatives from the following shows:

• 13 Going on 30 The Musical
• Hercules the Musical
• Paddington The Musical
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
• Young Frankenstein

In addition, we have plenty of surprises up our sleeve that you won’t want to miss. It is a special occasion, after all!

Who’s nominated this year?

London has certainly looked after a marmalade-loving bear! The world premiere of Paddington The Musical leads this year’s nominations, up for 14 awards. Meanwhile, revivals of Evita and The Importance of Being Earnest follow closely behind. As the awards are fan-voted, it’s all to play for! Catch up with the full list of nominees.

Late last year, we took a trip Into the Woods where Gracie McGonigal, Hana Ichijo and Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson had the honour of revealing this year’s nominees.

There are a total of 24 main categories at the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, including Travelzoo Best New Musical, Best New Play, Best Musical Revival, The Londoner Best Play Revival, Best Studio Production, Audience Republic Best Regional Production, Best Concert Event, Best West End Show, Best Performer in a Musical, Best Supporting Performer in a Musical, SINE Digital Best Performer in a Play, Best Supporting Performer in a Play, Best Professional Debut Performance, Best Takeover Performance, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Preevue Best Set Design, Best Costume Design, White Light Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design, Best Video Design, Best Musical Direction/Supervision, Best Casting Direction and Best Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Design.

Following last year’s introduction of Best Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Design, we’ve added another new category created in association with and chosen by the awards’ official charity partner, Go Live Theatre. The Best Child Performer Award recognises young talent that has been playing on stages across the UK over the past year. Find out more here.

In addition, our 2026 recipient for the AudienceView Services to UK Theatre Award will also be revealed on the night.

How should I prepare?

The best way to get involved is to get social! Give us a like, a follow, or whatever you need to do across our channels: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X to be among the first to know a play-by-play. Whether you are with us in person or following online, prepare for a night of fanfare, frolics and fun with a wealth of surprises and special performances, as well as winners voted for by yourselves, our loyal WhatsOnStage readers.

Once the curtain falls and the clock strikes 10pm, the fun doesn’t stop there. Keep your eye on our site, YouTube and social channels in the aftermath of the ceremony for all the exclusive highlights. And if you have a ticket, we’ll see you there on the big night!