The stage adaptation of the adventures of a beloved Peruvian bear emerged as the dominant force at the 2026 Olivier Awards, with Paddington: The Musical sweeping multiple top honours at a ceremony marking the awards’ 50th anniversary.

Held at the Royal Albert Hall on 12 April and hosted by comedian Nick Mohammed, this year’s Laurence Olivier Awards celebrated a diverse and high-profile year in British theatre, spanning musicals, drama, opera and dance.

Paddington: The Musical. Photo © Johan Persson

Paddington: The Musical was the night’s standout, winning Best New Musical alongside a raft of performance and creative awards. Its stars James Hameed and Arti Shah shared the award for Best Actor in a Musical, while Tom Edden and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt took supporting honours. Luke Sheppard also secured Best Director as the production racked up multiple design prizes.

In the play categories, James Graham’s Punch claimed Best New Play, with Julie Hesmondhalgh winning Best Supporting Actress and Rosamund Pike named Best Actress for her performance in Australian playwright Suzie Miller’s Inter Alia. Jack Holden took Best Actor for Kenrex, which also won Best Sound Design.

Ivo Van Hove’s All My Sons. Photo © Jan Versweyveld

Revival categories saw All My Sons named Best Revival, with Paapa Essiedu winning Best Supporting Actor, while Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods won Best Musical Revival and additional technical awards.

Among musical theatre performers, Rachel Zegler was awarded Best Actress in a Musical for Evita, adding to the production’s success, while Oh, Mary! took the award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play.

Beyond the headline categories, the ceremony also recognised achievements in opera, dance and family theatre, with works such as Dead Man Walking (Best New Opera) and The Boy at the Back of the Class (Best Family Show) among the winners.

Special awards marked the milestone anniversary, with veteran performer Elaine Paige honoured for her contribution to musical theatre, alongside industry recognition for choreographer Wayne McGregor and Melbourne-born soprano Danielle de Niese, who collected an Olivier for Outstanding Contribution to Opera.