Tony Award Nominations 2026: ‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon!’ Lead with 12 Nods Each
On Tuesday, May 5, Clyde’s Tony nominee Uzo Aduba and Tony Award-winning Maybe Happy Ending actor Darren Criss announced the 2026 Tony Award nominations. The new musicals The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! tied for the most nods: 12 apiece. Death of a Salesman was the most honored play with nine.
From May 2025 to April 2026, 34 productions opened, but only 31 were eligible for Tony Awards consideration. (Beetlejuice the Musical was a stop on a national tour; and Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets, Jeff Ross’ Take a Banana for the Ride and All Out: Comedy About Ambition were deemed special events.) Here are our takeaways and the complete list of nominees.
Biggest Winners & History Makers
Danny Burstein is now the most-nominated male actor in Tony history, earning his ninth nod for his devastating performance in Marjorie Prime. And at 96, June Squibb becomes the oldest acting Tony nominee in history for Marjorie Prime—this is also her first nomination!
She’s not alone. The acting categories are full of first-time Tony nominees, including all five Leading Actress in a Musical contenders (Sara Chase, Stephanie Hsu, Caissie Levy, Marla Mindelle and Christiani Pitts) and three Leading Actor in a Musical competitors (Nicholas Christopher, Luke Evans and Sam Tutty). Meanwhile, the Actor in a Featured Role in a Play category was so competitive, it expanded to six nominees, including first-timers Christopher Abbott, Brandon J. Dirden and Alden Ehrenreich.
There are two exciting head-to-head competitions: Joshua Henry and Brandon Uranowitz for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Ragtime, and Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara for Best Leading Actress in a Play for Fallen Angels. Meanwhile, Linda Cho is competing against herself for her costumes for Ragtime and Schmigadoon!; same for lighting designers Heather Gilbert for Bug and The Fear of 13, and Adam Honoré for CATS: The Jellicle Ball and Ragtime; and sound designer Kai Harada for CATS: The Jellicle Ball and Ragtime.
Costume designer Qween Jean is nominated in different categories for her work in Liberation and CATS: The Jellicle Ball.
And Bess Wohl is having her best week ever: Her play Liberation won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Drama yesterday, and today it scored five nominations, including Best Play.
Shutout Shows
Six shows were completely shut out: the new musicals The Queen of Versailles and Beaches; the revival of Mamma Mia!, which was a national tour stop; the Jean Smart solo Call Me Izzy; and revivals of Art and Proof. Many of these productions featured big stars, which leads us to…
Notable Snubs
Versailles was touted as the reunion of beloved Wicked collaborators Kristin Chenoweth and Stephen Schwartz. Art featured Tony winners James Corden and Neil Patrick Harris, and Proof marked the Broadway debuts of Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri. Stage stalwart Jessica Vosk, who is finally originating a role in Beaches, was also passed over.
While The Fear of 13, Dog Day Afternoon and Waiting for Godot received nods, they weren’t for their famous award-winning leads (Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson; Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach; and Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter). Instead, the shows mostly received design nominations. Chess stars Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit didn’t make the game though three of their castmates were nominated. Taraji P. Henson’s Broadway debut in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone came and went. Even though she already has two Tonys, I was sad Kara Young wasn’t recognized for being the highlight of Proof.
It’s no secret that this was a slim season for musicals, which explains why Best Book of a Musical, Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical have fewer than the standard five nominees. While there are five for Best Original Score (including Schmigadoon!, which started on TV), two are music for plays: Caroline Shaw for Death of a Salesman and Steve Bargonetti by Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Stephen Schwartz can console himself with his Wicked success. It’s also worth noting that while there were eight new plays this season, only four were shortlisted (sorry The Fear of 13, Dog Day Afternoon, Punch and Call My Izzy.)
Tony Awards 411
Produced by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, the 79th annual ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 7 at Radio City Music Hall with pop star and theatre fan P!NK serving as host. The Tony Awards will be broadcast on CBS starting at 8 p.m. and also available to stream on Paramount+. As in recent years, some statuettes will be given out during a streaming preshow on Pluto TV, which is free to watch. Details, including hosts, are coming soon.
Best Musical
The Lost Boys
Schmigadoon! – Read an interview with creator Cinco Paul on TDF Stages.
Titaníque – Read an interview with cocreator Tye Blue on TDF Stages.
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) – Read an interview with creators Kit Buchan and Jim Barne on TDF Stages.
Best Play
The Balusters – Read an interview with playwright David Lindsay-Abaire on TDF Stages.
Giant
Liberation
Little Bear Ridge Road – Read an interview with playwright Samuel D. Hunter on TDF Stages.
Best Revival of a Musical
CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Ragtime
The Rocky Horror Show
Best Revival of a Play
Becky Shaw – Read an interview with playwright Gina Gionfriddo on TDF Stages.
Death of a Salesman
Every Brilliant Thing
Fallen Angels
Oedipus
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sara Chase for Schmigadoon!
Stephanie Hsu for The Rocky Horror Show
Caissie Levy for Ragtime
Marla Mindelle for Titanique
Christiani Pitts for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Nicholas Christopher for Chess
Luke Evans for The Rocky Horror Show
Joshua Henry for Ragtime
Sam Tutty for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Brandon Uranowitz for Ragtime
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Rose Byrne in Fallen Angels
Carrie Coon in Bug
Susannah Flood in Liberation – Read an interview with Susannah Flood on TDF Stages.
Lesley Manville in Oedipus
Kelli O’Hara in Fallen Angels
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Will Harrison for Punch – Read an interview with Will Harrison on TDF Stages.
Nathan Lane for Death of a Salesman
John Lithgow for Giant
Daniel Radcliffe for Every Brilliant Thing
Mark Strong for Oedipus
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Shoshana Bean for The Lost Boys
Hannah Cruz for Chess
Rachel Dratch for The Rocky Horror Show
Ana Gasteyer for Schmigadoon!
Nichelle Lewis for Ragtime
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Ali Louis Bourzgui for The Lost Boys
André De Shields for CATS: The Jellicle Ball – Read an interview with André De Shields on TDF Stages.
Bryce Pinkham for Chess
Ben Levi Ross for Ragtime
Layton Williams for Titaníque
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Betsy Aidem for Liberation – Read an interview with Betsy Aidem on TDF Stages.
Marylouise Burke for The Balusters – Read an interview with Marylouise Burke on TDF Stages.
Aya Cash for Giant
Laurie Metcalf for Death of a Salesman
June Squibb for Marjorie Prime
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Christopher Abbott for Death of a Salesman
Danny Burstein for Marjorie Prime
Brandon J. Dirden for Waiting for Godot
Alden Ehrenreich for Becky Shaw
Ruben Santiago-Hudson for Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Richard Thomas for The Balusters
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Caroline Shaw for Death of a Salesman
Steve Bargonetti by Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
The Rescues for The Lost Boys
Cinco Paul for Schmigadoon!
Jim Barne and Kit Buchan for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best Book of a Musical
David Hornsby and Chris Hoch for The Lost Boys
Cinco Paul for Schmigadoon!
Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Tye Blue for Titaníque
Jim Barne and Kit Buchan for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Hildegard Bechtler for Oedipus
Takeshi Kata for Bug
Chloe Lamford for Death of a Salesman
David Korins for Dog Day Afternoon
David Rockwell for Fallen Angels
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
dots for The Rocky Horror Show
Soutra Gilmour for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Rachel Hauck for CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Dane Laffrey for The Lost Boys
Scott Pask for Schmigadoon!
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brenda Abbandandolo for Dog Day Afternoon
Qween Jean for Liberation
Jeff Mahshie for Fallen Angels
Emilio Sosa for The Balusters
Paul Tazewell for Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Linda Cho for Ragtime
Linda Cho for Schmigadoon!
Qween Jean for CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Ryan Park for The Lost Boys
David I. Reynoso for The Rocky Horror Show
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Isabella Byrd for Dog Day Afternoon
Natasha Chivers for Oedipus
Stacey Derosier for Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Heather Gilbert for Bug
Heather Gilbert for The Fear of 13
Jack Knowles for Death of a Salesman
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams for Chess
Jane Cox for The Rocky Horror Show
Donald Holder for Schmigadoon!
Adam Honoré for CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Adam Honoré and Donald Holder (Lighting Design) and 59 Studio (Projection Design) for Ragtime
Jen Schriever and Michael Arden for The Lost Boys
Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington for Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Tom Gibbons for Oedipus
Lee Kinney for The Fear of 13
Josh Schmidt for Bug
Mikaal Sulaiman for Death of a Salesman
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Kai Harada for CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Kai Harada for Ragtime
Adam Fisher for The Lost Boys
Brian Ronan for The Rocky Horror Show
Walter Trarbach for Schmigadoon!
Best Direction of a Play
Nicholas Hytner for Giant
Robert Icke for Oedipus
Kenny Leon for The Balusters
Joe Mantello for Death of a Salesman
Whitney White for Liberation – Read an interview with Whitney White on TDF Stages.
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden for The Lost Boys – Read an interview with director Michael Arden on TDF Stages.
Lear deBessonet for Ragtime
Christopher Gattelli for Schmigadoon!
Tim Jackson for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best Choreography
Christopher Gattelli for Schmigadoon!
Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles for CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Ellenore Scott for Ragtime
Ani Taj for The Rocky Horror Show
Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant for The Lost Boys
Best Orchestrations
Doug Besterman and Mike Morris for Schmigadoon!
Ethan Popp, Kyler England, Adrianne “AG” Gonzalez and Gabriel Mann for The Lost Boys
Lux Pyramid for Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Brian Usifer for Chess
Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder and Doug Schadt for CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Number of Tony Nominations by Show
The Lost Boys – 12
Schmigadoon! – 12
Ragtime – 11
Death of a Salesman – 9
CATS: The Jellicle Ball – 9
The Rocky Horror Show – 9
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) – 8
Oedipus – 7
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone – 5
The Balusters – 5
Chess – 5
Fallen Angels – 5
Liberation – 5
Bug – 4
Giant – 4
Titaníque – 4
Dog Day Afternoon – 3
Becky Shaw – 2
Every Brilliant Thing – 2
The Fear of 13 – 2
Marjorie Prime – 2
Little Bear Ridge Road – 1
Punch – 1
Waiting for Godot – 1
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre
1/52 Project, which provides financial support to early career designers from historically excluded groups.
Jake Bell, stage manager turned technical production manager
Kenn Lubin, designer and creative director who has contributed to the visual identity of more than 2,000 Broadway and Off-Broadway productions
Loren Plotkin, veteran entertainment lawyer
Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
André Bishop, who served as the Artistic Director of Lincoln Center Theater from January 1992 to June 2025
Jules Fisher, acclaimed lighting designer
James Lapine, an award-winning playwright and director as well as a Wendy Wasserstein Project mentor for TDF
Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award
Mary-Mitchell Campbell, a veteran musical director, supervisor and arranger as well as a founding member of Musicians United for Social Equity (MUSE)
Special Tony Award
League of Resident Theatres (LORT)