The Stage Awards 2026 nominees revealed

The Stage has confirmed the shortlist for The Stage Awards 2026.

The annual ceremony recognises work taking place across the UK, with organisations from all four nations included this year.

The Theatre of the Year list brings together the Almeida Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, the Royal Court, Soho Theatre, the Watermill Theatre and York Theatre Royal, which appears for the first time.

Fringe Theatre of the Year returns, with the Finborough Theatre, Hope Mill Theatre and Laurels in contention. Producer of the Year features KPPL Productions, Talawa and Wessex Grove.

Theatre Building of the Year includes Sadler’s Wells East, Soho Theatre Walthamstow and Theatr Clwyd. The Community Award brings together Arcola Theatre’s participation department, ATG Entertainment’s West End Creative Learning projects, Cardboard Citizens, Common/Wealth, Imaginate for its Creative Encounters programme and the Royal Exchange Theatre for The Elders.

The International Award features Foreign Affairs, Six the Musical in Japanese and The Rite of Spring. The Innovation Award includes work by Akhila Krishnan, Zoe Spurr and the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as Hull Truck Theatre, and a collaboration between the National Youth Theatre and Microsoft.

Black Power Desk, Eastbourne Theatres and The Devil Wears Prada are shortlisted for Campaign of the Year. A new category, Team of the Year, features ATG Entertainment’s Creative Learning team, the British Youth Music Theatre marketing team and the Lyric Scene Shop at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

The Unsung Hero award, sponsored by Encore, will be announced on the night. The ceremony will also mark the announcement of the number one position in The Stage 100 2026.

This year’s awards take place on 12 January 2026 at the Royal Opera House, hosted by Hilson Agbangbe and Lucy Karczewski.