Tony Awards 2026 Nominations Are Here, ‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon!’ Lead the Pack

The curtain has officially risen on Broadway’s biggest race of the year. Nominations for the 79th Annual Tony Awards were announced May 5, setting up a competitive showdown across 26 categories as the theater world prepares for its most anticipated night.

Stage and screen stars Uzo Aduba and Darren Criss revealed this year’s nominees, selected by a committee of 55 theater professionals. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League. A Tight Race at the Top

Two productions are leading the charge: The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! each scored 12 nominations, putting them in a strong position heading into the ceremony. Close behind is Ragtime with 11 nods, followed by Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Rocky Horror Show, each earning nine.

The Best Musical category reflects a mix of original storytelling and adaptations, with The Lost Boys, Schmigadoon!, Titaníque, and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) all vying for the top prize.

Meanwhile, Best Play contenders include The Balusters, Giant, Liberation, and Little Bear Ridge Road, highlighting the range of stories currently shaping Broadway. Star Power on Stage

This year’s acting categories are packed with recognizable names. In the race for Best Actor in a Play, nominees include Daniel Radcliffe and Nathan Lane, alongside John Lithgow and Mark Strong.

On the musical side, Stephanie Hsu, Caissie Levy, and Marla Mindelle are among those recognized.

The featured categories include standouts like André De Shields and Rachel Dratch. Creative Categories Get Their Moment

Design and direction categories reflect strong support for visually ambitious productions. Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys appear across multiple technical races, signaling strength beyond performance. Special Honors and Industry Recognition

The League of Resident Theatres (LORT) will receive a Special Tony Award, recognizing its decades-long role in developing productions across the country.

Additional honors will go to 1/52 Project, Jake Bell, Kenn Lubin, and Loren Plotkin, with Mary-Mitchell Campbell receiving the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award. Lifetime Achievement honors will be awarded to André Bishop, Jules Fisher, and James Lapine. When and Where to Watch

The ceremony returns to Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 7, hosted by P!NK. The broadcast will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+. Full List of 2026 Tony Award Nominees Best Musical

• The Lost Boys
• Schmigadoon!
• Titaníque
• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Play

• The Balusters
• Giant
• Liberation
• Little Bear Ridge Road

Best Revival of a Musical

• Cats: The Jellicle Ball
• Ragtime
• Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show

Best Revival of a Play

• Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Becky Shaw
• Every Brilliant Thing
• Fallen Angels
• Oedipus

Acting Categories Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

• Will Harrison, Punch
• Nathan Lane, Death of a Salesman
• John Lithgow, Giant
• Daniel Radcliffe, Every Brilliant Thing
• Mark Strong, Oedipus

Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

• Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels
• Carrie Coon, Bug
• Susannah Flood, Liberation
• Lesley Manville, Oedipus
• Kelli O’Hara, Fallen Angels

Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Nicholas Christopher, Chess
• Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show
• Joshua Henry, Ragtime
• Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
• Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime

Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!
• Stephanie Hsu, The Rocky Horror Show
• Caissie Levy, Ragtime
• Marla Mindelle, Titaníque
• Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Featured Actor in a Play

• Christopher Abbott, Death of a Salesman
• Danny Burstein, Marjorie Prime
• Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot
• Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw
• Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
• Richard Thomas, The Balusters

Best Featured Actress in a Play

• Betsy Aidem, Liberation
• Marylouise Burke, The Balusters
• Aya Cash, Giant
• Laurie Metcalf, Death of a Salesman
• June Squibb, Marjorie Prime

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

• Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys
• André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
• Bryce Pinkham, Chess
• Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime
• Layton Williams, Titaníque

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

• Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys
• Hannah Cruz, Chess
• Rachel Dratch, The Rocky Horror Show
• Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!
• Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime

Creative & Technical Categories Best Direction of a Play

• Nicholas Hytner, Giant
• Robert Icke, Oedipus
• Kenny Leon, The Balusters
• Joe Mantello, Death of a Salesman
• Whitney White, Liberation

Best Direction of a Musical

• Michael Arden, The Lost Boys
• Lear deBessonet, Ragtime
• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!
• Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
• Zhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Best Choreography

• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!
• Ellenore Scott, Ragtime
• Ani Taj, The Rocky Horror Show
• Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
• Lauren Yalango-Grant & Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys

Best Orchestrations

• Doug Besterman & Mike Morris, Schmigadoon!
• Ethan Popp et al., The Lost Boys
• Lux Pyramid, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
• Brian Usifer, Chess
• Andrew Lloyd Webber et al., Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Design Categories Scenic Design (Play)

• Hildegard Bechtler, Oedipus
• Takeshi Kata, Bug
• Chloe Lamford, Death of a Salesman
• David Korins, Dog Day Afternoon
• David Rockwell, Fallen Angels

Scenic Design (Musical)

• dots, The Rocky Horror Show
• Soutra Gilmour, Two Strangers
• Rachel Hauck, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
• Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys
• Scott Pask, Schmigadoon!

Costume Design (Play)

• Brenda Abbandandolo, Dog Day Afternoon
• Qween Jean, Liberation
• Jeff Mahshie, Fallen Angels
• Emilio Sosa, The Balusters
• Paul Tazewell, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Costume Design (Musical)

• Linda Cho, Ragtime
• Linda Cho, Schmigadoon!
• Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
• Ryan Park, The Lost Boys
• David I. Reynoso, The Rocky Horror Show

Lighting Design (Play)

• Isabella Byrd, Dog Day Afternoon
• Natasha Chivers, Oedipus
• Stacey Derosier, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
• Heather Gilbert, Bug
• Heather Gilbert, The Fear of 13
• Jack Knowles, Death of a Salesman

Lighting Design (Musical)

• Kevin Adams, Chess
• Jane Cox, The Rocky Horror Show
• Donald Holder, Schmigadoon!
• Adam Honoré, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
• Adam Honoré & Donald Holder, Ragtime
• Jen Schriever & Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

Sound Design (Play)

• Justin Ellington, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
• Tom Gibbons, Oedipus
• Lee Kinney, The Fear of 13
• Josh Schmidt, Bug
• Mikaal Sulaiman, Death of a Salesman

Sound Design (Musical)

• Kai Harada, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
• Kai Harada, Ragtime
• Adam Fisher, The Lost Boys
• Brian Ronan, The Rocky Horror Show
• Walter Trarbach, Schmigadoon!

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