Brian Conley and Lesley Joseph among 2026 Pantomime Award winners

Winners have been announced for the 2026 Pantomime Awards, staged in partnership with Trafalgar Entertainment and ATG Entertainment (ATGE).

Categories included Best Direction, which went to Gary Wilmot for Cinderella at Richmond Theatre, Outstanding Achievement, given to veteran designer Terry Parsons, and the first-ever Panto Icon Awards, which were presented to panto stalwarts Brian Conley and Lesley Joseph. In addition, WhatsOnStage Award winner Jeevan Braich took home the trophy for Best Newcomer to Pantomime.

Winners received their awards yesterday, 19 April, in a ceremony held at Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe, presented by Vernon Kay.

Anita Harris, president of the UK Pantomime Association, said: “It is a privilege to honour those who bring magic to audiences across the UK. I am especially thrilled to see my dear friend Terry Parsons recognised… His extraordinary imagination and artistry have helped define the very heart of pantomime as we know it. As we mark the fifth anniversary of The Pantomime Awards, it is wonderful to reflect on how they have grown into such a meaningful celebration of our unique and beloved artform. My warmest congratulations to all those recognised this year.”

The Full list of winners is below:

Best Choreography
Claire Cassidy: Sleeping Beauty, Harlow Playhouse (KD Theatre Productions)

Best Lighting (sponsored by Production Light and Sound)
Nic Farman: Sleeping Beauty, Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells (Little Wolf Entertainment)

Carmen Silvera Award for Best Magical Being (sponsored by Barry Burnett)
Joe McElderry: Aladdin, Newcastle Theatre Royal (Crossroads Pantomimes)

Barbara Windsor Award for Best Principal Lead (sponsored by Scott Mitchell)
Sario Solomon: Aladdin, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (Evolution Productions and Sheffield Theatres)

Best Script
Andrew Pollard: Beauty and the Beast, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (In-House)

Best Secondary Lead
Ruth Betteridge: Jack and the Beanstalk, Festival Theatre, Malvern (UK Productions)

Best Villain (sponsored by Breckman and Company)
Nigel Harman: Jack and the Beanstalk, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre (UK Productions)

Best Comic (sponsored by The Twins FX)
Jez Edwards: Sleeping Beauty, Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds (Paul Holman Associates)

Best Costumes
James MacIver: Sleeping Beauty, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (Belgrade Theatre and Imagine Theatre)

Stanley Baxter Award for Best Dame (sponsored by John Good)
Allan Stewart: Jack and the Beanstalk, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (Crossroads Pantomimes)

Best Direction
Gary Wilmot, Cinderella, Richmond Theatre, London (Crossroads Pantomimes)

Best Ensemble (in partnership with Arts 1)
Lianha Cooke, Gemma Davis, Chloe Davies, Olly Gooch, Thomas Marc Toombs, Richard Womersley, Erin Harrison and Finlay Tozer: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne (Made to Measure Productions)

Best Contribution to Music
James Harrison: Aladdin, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (Evolution Productions and Sheffield Theatres)

Best Set (sponsored by Blue-i Theatre Technology)
Kenny Miller: Gallus in Weegieland, Tron Theatre, Glasgow (In-House)

Best Sisters
Hannah Roberts and Fran Cottington aka Han and Fran: Cinderella, Venue Cymru, Llandudno (Imagine Theatre)

Best Sound (sponsored by Orbital Sound)
Conrad Kemp: Dick Whittington, St Helens Theatre Royal (Regal Entertainment)

Best Supporting Artist
Ada Campe: Growled: Beauty and the Beast continues…, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London (In-House)

Best Newcomer to Pantomime
Jeevan Braich: Cinderella, Norwich Theatre Royal (In-House)

Best Newcomer to Industry
Caitlin O’Shea: Sleeping Beauty, Central Theatre, Chatham (Jordan Productions)

Best Pantomime (Under 550 Seats) (sponsored by KB Event)
Weans in the Wood, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling (In-House)

Best Pantomime (550 to 950 Seats) (sponsored by Showtime, part of Howden)
Sleeping Beauty, The Arts Theatre Cambridge (In-House)

Best Pantomime (Over 950 Seats) (sponsored by Unusual Rigging)
Sleeping Beauty, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (In-House)

Panto Icon
Lesley Joseph

Panto Icon
Brian Conley

Achievement in Innovation
Johnny McKnight

Nigel Ellacott Special Recognition Award for Pantomime History, Tradition and Heritage
Keith Simmons

Outstanding Achievement in Pantomime
Terry Parsons