Tony Awards 2026: Biggest Nominees, Surprise Snubs, and Broadway’s Record-Breaking Moments
- May 19
- 4 min read
Awards season is narrowing in on its final major ceremony, saving the best (in my opinion) for last. The nominations for the 79th annual Tony Awards revealed on May 5th, sparking both celebration and disappointment across the global theatre community.
It was a great day for overall frontrunners Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys, coming out with 12 nominations each. Other heavily nominated shows include Cats: The Jellicle Ball; Titanique; and plays Oedipus; Death of a Salesman. Nobody can say there was no variety this season!
The official nominations were announced by actors Darren Criss and Uzo Aduba, shedding light on history-making honours, shocking omissions, and the small the competitive shortlist for Best Musical.
Broadway History Was Made Again
Like any awards institution, there are always records being broken, and firsts being made. This time is no different, with the play Marjorie Prime as the vehicle for the latest Tony records.
June Squibb earned a nomination for Best Featured Actress, becoming the oldest Tony nominee ever at 96 years old — is she the new Betty White? Squibb originally made her Broadway debut in Gypsy in 1959.
Previous Tony winner Danny Burstein received his ninth career nomination, setting a new record as the most nominated male performer in Tony Awards history.
Category is 'Broadgay': Best Musical Revival
One of the more notable themes in this year’s revival categories? Queer culture and themes continue to thrive on Broadway.
Among the nominees are:
The Rocky Horror Show, featuring Luke Evans as Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Cats: The Jellicle Ball — the ballroom-inspired reimagining led by André De Shields that has transformed the classic musical into a glitter-bombed party.
Learn more about this bold reimagining of the Andrew Lloyd Webber staple in my video below.
Actors Who Do It All
Film and television stars remain drawn to Broadway — including those who started in theatre and keep coming back to it. It's safe to say these actors are among the most skilled in Hollywood, because of their commitment and ability to oscillate between stage and screen.
Nominated for their excellence in plays this season are:
Daniel Radcliffe for Every Brilliant Thing
Nathan Lane for Death of a Salesman
Rose Byrne for Fallen Angels
Lesley Manville for Oedipus
The Biggest Tony Snubs of 2026
No nomination announcement arrives without controversy. One of the most discussed disappointments involved the revival of Chess. Many Broadway followers expected nominations for:
Aaron Tveit, who has consistently been a respected leading man for his whole career
Lea Michele, continuing her Broadway comeback after returning to the stage in Funny Girl
Although Chess missed major revival recognition, performer Nicholas Christopher still landed a Best Leading Actor nomination.
Other notable omissions include:
Kristin Chenoweth (The Queen of Versailles)
Jean Smart (Call Me Izzy)
Adrien Brody (Fear of 13)
Keanu Reeves (Waiting for Godot)
Best Musical: A Small But Mighty Race
At the Grammy's everyone holds their breath for the final award of the night; the one with the most bragging rights. At the Tony's thats the Best Musical award. Typically the category has more contenders than this, but in 2026, the hopeful few are:
Schmigadoon!
This stage adaptation of the popular Apple TV+ series opened in April and evidently is doing quite well. It's tied for most nominations (12) with one other show, and is also up for
Best Book
Best Score
Best Direction
Best Choreography
Several design categories
Featured & Leading Actresses (Ana Gasteyer & Sara Chase)
The Lost Boys
Based on the 1987 movie, The Lost Boys weaves an impassioned pop-rock score through the story of a single mom and her teenage sons as they encounter an alluring group of vampires in their new town. Like Schmigadoon!, The Lost Boys also boasts 12 nominations that echo the above list, including actor nods for:
Shoshana Bean (Featured Actress)
Ali Louis Bourzgui (Featured Actor)
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Unlike the others in this category, Two Strangers has a tiny cast of...two. Likely the underdog of the bunch, the British import is a whimsical but earnest romp across NYC for two new acquaintances (a Brit and a Yankee), on their way to a wedding. After major success in the UK, this new musical transferred to the U.S., eventually landing in New York (how meta). What further sets this one apart is that it's completely original — that is, it's not based on any pre-existing property.
Titanique
Perhaps the most unconventional nominee. Titanique is a satirical retelling of the monumental 1997 film, Titanic, according to a deranged Céline Dion. After an outstanding 3-year run Off-Broadway, the parody cruised its way onto the main stem, earning four Tony nominations. On top of Best Musical and Best Book, two of its cast members are shortlisted for acting prizes including one of the show's creators, Marla Mindelle for her uncanny portrayal the beloved Dion.
Don't Miss The Big Night!
The 79th annual Tony Awards ceremony is set for June 7 at Radio City Music Hall and will be hosted by global pop icon P!nk — another point of debate amongst the theatre community. Is she right for the role, or should the Tony's alway be hosted by a Broadway vet?
Will you be tuning in, and who are you crossing your fingers for?
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