‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon’ lead 2026 Tony nominations

New York: Broadway’s 2026 Tony Award nominations have placed new musicals ‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon’ at the front of the field, with both productions receiving 12 nominations each across major categories including best musical, acting and design.

A revival of ‘Ragtime’ followed closely with 11 nominations, highlighting the production’s strong standing during a season that has been marked by large-scale new shows, celebrity involvement and strong audience turnout. The nominations were announced on Tuesday by actors Uzo Aduba and Darren Criss ahead of the awards ceremony on June 7.

The nominations reflected what many industry observers have described as a revived Broadway, with audiences returning in large numbers after years of disruption linked to the pandemic. The season has also drawn attention for the number of high-profile figures involved both onstage and behind the scenes.

Among those making Broadway debuts this season were Adrien Brody, Tessa Thompson and Patrick Ball. On the production side, Kim Kardashian was attached to ‘The Fear of 13’, while Barack Obama was linked to ‘Proof’. However, none of those projects received nominations, indicating that celebrity association did not convert into recognition from Tony voters.

Key acting and production nominations

Joshua Henry was among the prominent nominees for his performance as Coalhouse Walker Jr in ‘Ragtime’, a role one of the season’s most compelling performances. His nomination came after a widely noted appearance at the Met Gala, where he opened the red carpet with a performance of ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’.

His ‘Ragtime’ co-star Caissie Levy received her first Tony nomination, two decades after making her Broadway debut in ‘Hairspray’. She described the recognition as a meaningful milestone in her career.

Nicholas Christopher became the first Bermudian to be nominated for a Tony Award, earning recognition for his portrayal of Anatoly in ‘Chess’. In the same production, Hannah Cruz was nominated for best featured actress, reflecting the strong response to the show’s ensemble.

Mark Strong also received recognition for his role in a contemporary reworking of ‘Oedipus’. That production secured seven nominations and drew notice for its political undertones and updated treatment of classical material.

Veteran performer Kelli O’Hara was nominated for ‘Fallen Angels’, in which she appeared alongside Rose Byrne. O’Hara noted that the production gave her the chance to explore physical comedy in ways that felt both demanding and unexpectedly rewarding at this point in her career.

Other notable developments

In one of the more unusual outcomes, the musical revival category included only three nominees rather than the usual five. The final list consisted of ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’, ‘Ragtime’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, despite a crowded field.

Playwright Bess Wohl’s ‘Liberation’ was nominated for best play one day after winning the Pulitzer Prize for drama, reinforcing the work’s critical standing and its focus on feminist movements of the 1970s.

June Squibb, returning to Broadway at the age of 96, also received a nomination for her role in ‘Marjorie Prime’, in one of the most notable late-career honours in recent theatre history.

The 2026 Tony Awards will be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and hosted by pop star Pink. The ceremony continues a tradition dating back to 1947 and recognises excellence in American theatre.