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Stephen Fry in The Importance of Being Earnest; Jonathan Bailey in Richard II; Rachel Zegler in Evita, James Hameed and Arti Shah (as Paddington Bear) in Paddington the Musical. Photos: Marc Brenner/Manuel Harlan/Marc Brenner/Jay Brooks

Paddington the Musical has swept the nominations for the 26th annual WhatsOnStage Awards, receiving 14 nods – the most in the prizes’ history.

The feat comes less than two weeks since the show, which features music from McFly’s Tom Fletcher and a book by Jessica Swale, opened at the West End’s Savoy Theatre.

It is up for gongs including best new musical and best performer for a musical for James Hameed and Arti Shah, who jointly portray Paddington.

Not far behind is Jamie Lloyd’s Evita, with a total of nine nominations including for stars Rachel Zegler, Diego Andres Rodriguez and Bella Brown, and The Great Gatsby, with six nominations.

The Importance of Being Earnest, currently running at the Noël Coward Theatre having transferred from the National Theatre, has emerged as the most-nominated play, with five nods including for Stephen Fry as Lady Bracknell.

Winners are to be revealed at a ceremony held at the London Palladium on March 8, 2026, and will be decided by a public vote.

Announcing the nominations, WhatsOnStage’s Darius Thompson and Alex Wood said: "It was no shock to see Paddington the Musical break the record for the most nominations after the musical and technological marvel captured hearts and audiences after its Savoy Theatre debut.

"More broadly, we’re thrilled to see the awards reflecting a diverse geographic spread, with nominees being recognised in places like Dundee, Cirencester, Mold and Sheffield. While the West End often captures the spotlight, the unwavering support from local communities for their shows is always heartwarming to witness – and much deserved."
WhatsOnStage Awards 2026: nominations in full below

WhatsOnStage Awards 2026: nominations in full

Best performer in a play

Jonathan Bailey, Richard II, Bridge Theatre, London
Ncuti Gatwa, Born with Teeth, Wyndham’s Theatre, London
Tom Hiddleston, Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
Joe Locke, Clarkston, Trafalgar Theatre, London
Maxine Peake, The Last Stand of Mrs Mary Whitehouse, Nottingham Playhouse
Rosamund Pike, Inter Alia, National Theatre, London

Best performer in a musical

Lauren Drew, Titanique, Criterion Theatre, London
James Hameed and Arti Shah, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Lucie Jones, 13 Going on 30, Manchester Opera House
Jamie Muscato, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum, London
Diego Andres Rodriguez, Evita, the London Palladium
Rachel Zegler, Evita, the London Palladium

Best supporting performer in a play

Joe Alwyn, The Lady from the Sea, Bridge Theatre, London
Emma Corrin, The Seagull, Barbican Theatre, London
Stephen Fry, The Importance of Being Earnest, Noël Coward Theatre, London
Yerin Ha, The Maids, Donmar Warehouse, London
Sophie Melville, Clarkston, Trafalgar Theatre, London
Mason Alexander Park, Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London

Best supporting performer in a musical

Bella Brown, Evita, the London Palladium, London
Amber Davies, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum, London
Candace Furbert, Sharlene Hector, Brianna Ogunbawo, Malinda Parris, Robyn Rose-Li, Hercules, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Grace Mouat, 13 Going on 30, Manchester Opera House, London
Layton Williams, Titanique, Criterion Theatre, London

Best professional debut

Timi Akinyosade, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Mia Carragher, The Hunger Games: On Stage, Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, London
Hannah Dodd, Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre, London
Jess Folley, Burlesque, Savoy Theatre, London
Ruaridh Mollica, Clarkston, Trafalgar Theatre, London
Asha Parker-Wallace, Burlesque, Savoy Theatre, London
Continues...

Hayley Atwell and Tom Hiddleston in Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. Photo: Marc Brenner

Rob Madge in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. Photo Gina Manning

Best takeover

Karis Anderson, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre, London
Stevie Doc, The Devil Wears Prada, Dominion Theatre, London
Emma Kingston, Wicked, Apollo Victoria, London
Rob Madge, Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre, London
Eva Noblezada, Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre, London
Alex Young, Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre, London

Best new play

Born with Teeth, Wyndham’s Theatre, London
Clarkston, Trafalgar Theatre, London
The Comedy About Spies, Noël Coward Theatre, London
Inter Alia, National Theatre, London
Stereophonic, the Duke of York’s Theatre, London
Through It All Together, Leeds Playhouse

Best new musical

The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum
Hercules, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
Here and Now, UK Tour
Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Shucked, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London
Titanique, Criterion Theatre, London

Best play

The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre, London
The Lady from the Sea, Bridge Theatre, London
Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
Richard II, Bridge Theatre, London
The Seagull, Barbican Theatre, London
A Streetcar Named Desire, Sheffield Theatres

Best musical revival

Brigadoon, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London
Evita, the London Palladium
Jesus Christ Superstar, the Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Little Shop of Horrors, Sheffield Theatres
My Fair Lady, Curve, Leicester
The Producers, Menier Chocolate Factory/Garrick Theatre, London

Best West End show

Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre
Hadestown, Lyric Theatre
Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre
Oliver!, Gielgud Theatre
Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
Wicked, Apollo Victoria

Best regional productions

13 Going on 30, Manchester Opera House
Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical, Manchester Opera House
Jesus Christ Superstar, the Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Krapp’s Last Tape, York Theatre Royal
Pride and Prejudice, UK Tour
Through It All Together, Leeds Playhouse
Continues...

Edward Bluemel and Ncuti Gatwa in Born with Teeth at Wyndham's Theatre, London. Photo: Johan Persson

Lucy Karczewski, Nia Towle and Jack Riddiford in Stereophonic at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London. Photo: Marc Brenner

Best concert event

The Book Thief, Prince of Wales Theatre, London
Gravity, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Prince Edward Theatre, London
Jeremy Jordan, Royal Albert Hall, London
Songs for a New World, Eventim Apollo, London
Rachel Zegler, the London Palladium

Best studio production

Be More Chill, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham
Brixton Calling, South Playhouse Borough, London
Cul-de-Sac, Omnibus Theatre, London
The Frogs, South Playhouse Borough, London
The Last Five Years, Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath and Reading Rep
Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

Best direction

Tamara Harvey, The Constant Wife, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Lynette Linton, Intimate Apparel, Donmar Warehouse, London
Jamie Lloyd, Much Ado About Nothing, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
Thomas Ostermeier, The Seagull, Barbican Theatre, London
Timothy Sheader, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse, London
Luke Sheppard, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London

Best choreography

Fabian Aloise, Evita, the London Palladium
Ellen Kane, Ballet Shoes, National Theatre, London
Ellen Kane, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Lorin Latarro, The Producers, Menier Chocolate Factory/Garrick Theatre, London
Drew McOnie, Brigadoon, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London
Jennifer Weber, 13 Going on 30, Manchester Opera House

Best set design

Frankie Bradshaw, Ballet Shoes, National Theatre, London
Lizzie Clachan, The Lady from the Sea, Bridge Theatre, London
Tom Pye, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Paul Tate dePoo III, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum
Michael Taylor, My Fair Lady, Leicester Curve
David Zinn, Stereophonic, the Duke of York’s Theatre, London

Best costume design

Alex Berry, Intimate Apparel, Donmar Warehouse, London
Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum, London
Colin Richmond, The Red Shoes, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Gabrielle Slade and Tahra Zafar, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Rae Smith, The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre, London
Michael Taylor, My Fair Lady, Leicester Curve

Best lighting design

Neil Austin, Born with Teeth, Wyndham’s Theatre, London
Neil Austin, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Jon Clark, Evita, The London Palladium
Paule Constable, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Chichester Festival Theatre
Howard Hudson, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse, London
Jessica Hung Han Yun, Hamlet Hail to the Thief, Aviva Studios, Manchester/Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Continues...

Lauren Drew and cast in Titanique at the Criterion Theatre, London. Photo: Mark Senior

Best sound design

Adam Fisher, Evita, the London Palladium
Tony Gayle, Wild Rose, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Tom Gibbons, The Seagull, Barbican Theatre, London
Gareth Owen, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic, the Duke of York’s Theatre, London
Gareth Tucker, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse, London

Best video design

Will Duke, Hamlet Hail to the Thief, Aviva Studios, Manchester/Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Tom Durrant, Evita, the London Palladium
Andrzej Goulding, Born with Teeth, Wyndham’s Theatre, London
Luke Halls, Sing Street, Lyric Hammersmith, London
Zakk Hein, The Maids, Donmar Warehouse, London
Ash J Woodward, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London

Wigs, hair and makeup

Valerie Atkinson, Little Shop of Horrors, Sheffield Theatres
Campbell Young Associates, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Kate Elizabeth, The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre, London
Charles G LaPointe, Rachel Grier and Ashley Ryan, The Great Gatsby, London Coliseum
Mia M Neal and Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche, Hercules, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
Grace Smart, Cyrano de Bergerac, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Best musical direction/supervision

Tom Brady, Hamlet Hail to the Thief, Aviva Studios, Manchester/Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Matt Brind, Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Justin Craig, Stereophonic, the Duke of York’s Theatre, London
Stuart Morley, Jesus Christ Superstar, the Watermill Theatre, Newbury
Sarah Travis, Davey Anderson and Ali Roocroft, Wild Rose, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Alan Williams, Evita, the London Palladium

Best casting direction

Pippa Ailion CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Donmar Warehouse, London
Stuart Burt, Make It Happen, Edinburgh International Theatre
Alastair Coomer, The Importance of Being Earnest, National Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre, London
Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting, Nick Hockaday and Annabelle Davis,
Paddington the Musical, Savoy Theatre, London
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, Here We Are, National Theatre, London
Pearson Casting, Titanique, Criterion Theatre, London