05 September 2025
Newsdesk
The 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, the UK's only major theatre awards voted for by the public, will return to the London Palladium on Sunday, March 8, 2026. This will be the third time the prestigious ceremony is held at the iconic venue, celebrating the best of British theatre as decided by passionate theatregoers.
The nomination period for the awards opens on Thursday, November 6, 2025. Audiences will be able to nominate and vote for their favorite shows and performers across a variety of categories, with the full eligibility criteria to be announced soon.
The 2026 ceremony, produced in collaboration with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys, promises a spectacular night of exclusive live performances from top-tier stage talent. The event is a unique opportunity to celebrate the "powerful and unique connection between performers and audience," as noted by WhatsOnStage representatives Darius Thompson and Alex Wood. They emphasized the awards' distinctive nature, stating that they are "shaped by devoted and passionate audiences, celebrating the shows and performers that have inspired them."
Tickets for the event are on sale now for WhatsOnStage Theatre Club members and will be available to the general public from Friday, September 5 at 12 pm. The return to the London Palladium, a venue synonymous with theatrical grandeur, underscores the importance of this fan-driven event in the industry. The ceremony will honor a year of exceptional theatre, with the results reflecting the genuine passion of the UK's theatre community.
