14 January 2026
Marco Gandolfi
The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the oldest and largest international award honoring women+ playwrights, has unveiled its prestigious judging panel for 2026. The winner of the 48th annual award will be announced on February 26 during a ceremony at London’s Royal Court Theatre.
A Star-Studded Judging Panel
This year’s panel features a "who’s who" of theater excellence from both sides of the Atlantic. Leading the jury is six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, recently hailed as "the greatest living stage actor." She is joined by an elite group of artists, including:
Julie Hesmondhalgh (UK): The beloved Coronation Street and Broadchurch actress.
Ian Rickson (UK): Renowned director and former Artistic Director of the Royal Court.
Benedict Lombe (UK): The 2022 Blackburn Prize winner and Olivier-nominated playwright of Shifters.
Mimi Lien (US): MacArthur "Genius" Fellow and Tony Award-winning set designer.
Mara Isaacs (US): Tony Award-winning producer of the Broadway hit Hadestown.
Executive Director Leslie Swackhamer noted that the judges "represent excellence in all areas of the theatre," bringing the expertise necessary to curate a prize that has historically predicted future Pulitzer and Tony winners.
The 2026 Finalists
Ten playwrights from the US, UK, Ireland, South Africa, and the Cherokee Nation have been shortlisted for the $25,000 top prize. The finalists include Bess Wohl (Liberation), Jen Silverman (Regressions), and Amy Jephta (A Good House), among others. Each finalist will receive $5,000, with the winner also receiving a signed print by the legendary artist Willem de Kooning.
A Legacy of Impact
Since its founding in 1978, the Prize has honored over 500 plays, many of which have gone on to achieve massive critical success. By fostering an interchange of work between English-speaking countries, the Prize remains a vital engine for increasing the production of plays by women+ writers globally.
