Olivier Awards 2026: Wayne McGregor and Danielle De Niese win newly-introduced prizes

Choreographer Wayne McGregor and soprano Danielle De Niese have received Olivier awards for outstanding contributions to their respective sectors. 

The gongs are brand new this year, and have been announced ahead of the ceremony alongside the industry recognition awards. 

McGregor has been given the outstanding contribution to dance award for his three decades-long career as a choreographer and, more recently, for his forays into technological innovations. 

"I am deeply honoured and truly grateful for this recognition," he said. 

"Every project we bring to life is a labour of love, shaped by trust, curiosity, discipline, and the shared belief that together we can create something greater than any one of us alone."

McGregor also said the prize was "a reminder that the arts matter profoundly - that through creativity, imagination and access to culture, we give one another the chance not only to grow but to soar." 

De Niese, who made her Broadway debut aged 18 in Les Misérables and has since built a prolific opera career, has received the outstanding contribution to opera award.

"From the moment I fell in love with classical music, my main objective has been to share this passion with as many people as possible," she said.

"It has been a journey of many “first-ever” moments and “youngest in history” milestones but has also involved breaking down many barriers (some invisible) and pushing opera beyond its known borders to places it has never been present." 

The two outstanding contribution gongs have been awarded alongside the three industry recognition awards, for which figures throughout the industry are nominated by their peers. 

Children’s dramatist David Wood, whose work has included the stage version of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the National Theatre’s stage door keeper Linda Tolhurst and founder of drama school Laine Theatre Arts Betty Laine are the three winners this year.  

Since 2019, the gongs have been given out as part of the Olivier Awards by Society of London Theatre to spotlight excellence in theatre and individuals deemed to be doing vital work. 

SOLT and UK Theatre co-chief executive Claire Walker called the recipients "the bedrock of our sector". 

"They represent the extraordinary breadth of talent, dedication and creativity that sustains theatre in this country, from trailblazing artists redefining their art forms, to stalwart champions of the industry," she added. 

The five winners will be given their awards at a presentation on 20th March, and will be guests of honour at the Olivier Awards on 12th April. In addition, McGregor and De Niese will each present an award at the ceremony.