London’s Royal Court Theatre was named joint Theatre of the Year alongside Newbury’s Watermill Theatre at The Stage Awards 2026, held at the Royal Opera House and supported by Tysers Live.
The win marks the Royal Court’s first in 15 years and recognises a pivotal year of critically acclaimed productions under its new artistic leadership.
Alistair Smith, editor of The Stage, said: “This year’s winners show theatre at its most confident and outward-looking, combining artistic ambition with a clear sense of purpose.
“From major institutions to independent innovators, they demonstrate how strong leadership, deep community roots, and creative risk-taking can deliver real impact on stage and beyond it.”
The awards, now in their 16th year, celebrate excellence across the theatre industry, from nationally recognised stages to behind-the-scenes teams and emerging talent.
Ten categories were honoured, including Producer of the Year, Theatre Building of the Year, and the Innovation Award.
London was well represented among the winners, with several organisations and individuals recognised for achievements over the past year.
Soho Theatre Walthamstow won Theatre Building of the Year.
The 960-seat venue, housed in a 1930s grade II-listed Granada cinema, was praised for becoming “a local theatre with a national profile” through its economic and creative partnerships with Waltham Forest Council and community groups.
The International Award went to Foreign Affairs, a company dedicated to bringing translated plays to UK audiences.
Over the past year, the group has presented work from Japan, Sweden, Chile and Kenya, and supported emerging translators through a Jerwood-funded mentorship scheme.
Brixton House took home Campaign of the Year for its Black Power Desk project, produced in collaboration with PlayWell Productions.
The campaign exceeded its income and audience targets, with 70 per cent of bookers being first-time bookers.
Judges said the campaign achieved box-office success while fostering meaningful dialogue within the community.
In a special moment during the ceremony, Eugene Ju-Pierre, stage door manager for the Royal Ballet and Opera, was named Unsung Hero.
Mr Ju-Pierre was honoured for more than 25 years of dedicated service, with judges commending his “professionalism, warmth, and unwavering sense of responsibility.”
He received the award alongside a special performance by Sir Bryn Terfel.
The Judges’ Award was presented to publisher Nick Hern, whose career began in 1974 as drama editor at Methuen.
He was credited with transforming theatre publishing through the introduction of play texts released alongside productions.
His ‘programme-text’ model, developed with the Royal Court Theatre, has made plays more accessible and created essential income streams for playwrights through script sales and performance royalties.
Mr Hern, who stepped back from day-to-day operations of Nick Hern Books this summer, was honoured for more than 50 years of service to the industry.
Other winners included Wessex Grove (Producer of the Year), Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester (Fringe Theatre of the Year), and Common/Wealth (Community Award).
Hull Truck Theatre won the Innovation Award for a theatre-based training scheme for GPs.
The programme, developed with a local NHS branch, uses drama techniques to build empathy and communication skills in trainee GPs.
The awards ceremony was hosted by Hilson Agbangbe and Lucy Karczewski, recent winners of The Stage Debut Awards.
Performances on the night included appearances by Leesa Tulley and Grace Hodgett Young, both former winners of Best Performer in a Musical.
The Stage Awards was established in 2010 to recognise outstanding achievement in West End, regional, fringe, and international theatre.
Sponsors for the 2026 event included Moore Kingston Smith, TAIT, 3 Mills Studios, and Concord Theatricals.
The full list of winners and more information about the judging process can be found on The Stage Awards website.
