Broadway’s biggest night is almost here, and the 2026 Tony Awards are shaping up to be an exciting night for theater. From a rock star host to a season packed with bold revivals and buzzy new musicals, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s awards show.
What Are the Tony Awards?
The Tony Awards, officially the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, are the highest honor in American theatre.
They’re presented annually by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, and recognize outstanding achievement across new plays, musicals, revivals, and individual performances on Broadway. They’re like the stage variety of the Oscars.
When and Where Are the 2026 Tony Awards?
The 79th Annual Tony Awards take place on Sunday, June 7, 2026, live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The main ceremony kicks off at 8 PM ET, broadcasting live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Early birds can catch The Tony Awards: Act One pre-show, hosted by Tony winner Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess, from 6:35 PM ET on the Live Music channel of Pluto TV.
Who Is Hosting?
Grammy-winning pop star P!nk is hosting the Tony Awards this year. P!nk has a Broadway connection, too. Her songs feature in both & Juliet and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, so she’s no stranger to the theatrical world. She also describes herself as a big fan of theatre. Expect energy, charisma, and maybe even some aerial stunts.
The Season’s Biggest Nominees
This has been a season of both bold new work and beloved classics reimagined. Around 30 productions were eligible, and 24 shows received at least one nomination.
Best Musical
The four contenders for Broadway’s most talked-about award are:
- The Lost Boys, a musical adaptation of the 1987 cult horror-comedy film
- Schmigadoon!, based on the Apple TV+ satirical musical series
- Titaníque, a Celine Dion jukebox parody and retelling of Titanic from her perspective
- Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), an indie romantic musical
The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! are the joint frontrunners, each earning 12 nominations, the most of any production this season.
Best Play
- The Balusters, an original play centered on interpersonal tensions
- Giant, the story of a scandal involving anti-Semitic remarks made by author Roald Dahl
- Liberation, a drama that follows a group of women connected to the feminist movement
- Little Bear Ridge Road, a character-driven drama exploring family relationships
Critics love Giant, but Liberation won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama the same week nominations dropped
Best Revival of a Musical
- Cats: The Jellicle Ball, a fresh imagining of the long-running musical classic
- Ragtime, a revival of the beloved musical set against the social and political backdrop of early 20th-century America
- Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, a return of the cult-favorite, with a devoted fanbase
Ragtime has earned strong critical attention and buzz for its return to Broadway, but Cats: The Jellicle Ball has momentum for its bold reimagining of a familiar classic.
Best Revival of a Play
- Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, a revival of the American theater classic
- Becky Shaw, a dark comedy focused on relationships and modern social dynamics
- Every Brilliant Thing, a solo show about creating a list of life’s joys while navigating themes of mental health, family, and hope
- Fallen Angels, a classic comedy that follows two women whose lives are disrupted when a former flame unexpectedly reappears
- Oedipus, a new take on the enduring Greek tragedy
Oedipus and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, a play that has won this award for three different productions, have generated some of the strongest awards-season buzz.
Standout Stories & Expected Highlights
Beyond the nominees themselves, there are some moments worth noting.
June Squibb, nominated for the revival of sci-fi drama Marjorie Prime, is now the oldest Tony-nominated actor at 96. Danny Burstein, also nominated for Marjorie Prime, becomes the most-nominated male actor in Tony history with nine career nods.
All four Best Musical nominees and all three Best Revival of a Musical nominees will perform live on the night, so the telecast will be a packed showcase of Broadway talent. For viewers who haven’t seen this season’s productions, the performances often become some of the biggest conversation starters of the night.
As with all Tony broadcasts, surprise wins, emotional acceptance speeches, and standout live performances often end up becoming the moments people remember most after.
How to Watch the 2026 Tony Awards
- TV: CBS (live, both coasts)
- Streaming: Paramount+ (Premium subscribers)
- Pre-show: Pluto TV Live Music channel from 6:35 PM ET
- Date: Sunday, June 7, 2026
Whether you’re a die-hard Broadway devotee or just discovering the magic of musical theatre, the 2026 Tonys are the perfect entry point. They’re glamorous, emotional, and often unpredictable. Curtain up!
