Olivier Award 2026 nominees: Which shows are still on and how to get tickets?

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The nominations for the 50th Olivier Awards are out, and both Paddington and Into the Woods are frontrunners, with the most nominations overall. It’s shaping up to be a very musical awards season!

The awards show will celebrate a special anniversary on April 12, 2026, and Nick Mohammed, known for his role in ‘Traitors,’ will be the host.

I’m so excited to see some of last year’s best shows getting recognition! I was a huge fan of both “Good Night Oscar” with Sean Hayes and the “Much Ado About Nothing” with Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell. And honestly, it’s no surprise that Jamie Lloyd’s “Evita” is getting a lot of love – Rachel Zegler and Diego Andres Rodriguez both deserve the nominations they received!

Those shows have all closed now, leaving revivals or filmed versions as our only chance to see them again. But what about the plays and musicals currently running? If you follow award shows, now’s the perfect time to check out the Olivier Award nominees!

Here’s a list of the Olivier Award-nominated shows currently playing in London. Some are ending soon, while others will be around for a while. Let’s take a look!

All the Olivier Award nominees you can still see at the West End

Paddington the Musical

Nominated for

  • Best new musical
  • Best actor in a musical (James Hameed and Arti Shah)
  • Best actor in a supporting role in a musical (Tom Edden)
  • Best actress in a supporting role in a musical (Amy Booth-Steel/Victoria Hamilton-Barritt)
  • Best director (Like Sheppard)
  • Best choreographer (Ellen Kane)
  • Best costume design (Gabriella Slade and Tahra Zafar)
  • Best set design (Tom Pye and Ash J Woodward)
  • Best sound design (Gareth Owen)
  • Outstanding musical contribution (Matt Brind)

Okay, let me tell you, the buzz around Paddington the Musical is absolutely deserved! This show, which has been a long time coming, truly delivers. It captures everything we love about Paddington – his kindness, his sense of adventure, and his gentle wisdom – and brings it to vibrant life on stage. And yes, there’s plenty of marmalade! If you’re planning a trip to the Savoy Theatre – and you should! – know that it’s running until May 2027 with shows most days of the week. But a word to the wise: tickets are selling like hotcakes, so book well in advance if you want to snag a seat!

The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry

Nominated for

  • Best new musical
  • Best actress in a musical (Jenna Russell)

I was completely blown away by this show – it’s both beautiful and heartbreaking! It’s earned a couple of award nominations, and we even gave it a four-star review. It’s based on the popular novel The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and tells the story of a regular guy who embarks on an amazing walk across England. If you’re in London, you can still catch it at the Theatre Royal Haymarket – it’s running until April 2026!

American Psycho

Nominated for

  • Best musical revival
  • Best choreographer (Lynn Page)

The popular film American Psycho, which explores the troubled mind of Patrick Bateman, is now a musical playing at the Almeida Theatre until March 21st. The show, originally from Broadway, has been selling out, but tickets may still be available on the Almeida Theatre website.

Into the Woods

Nominated for

  • Best musical revival
  • Best actor in a musical (Jamie Parker)
  • Best actor in a supporting role in a musical (Jo Foster/Oliver Savile)
  • Best actress in a supporting role in a musical (Kate Fleetwood)
  • Best director (Jordan Fein)
  • Best costume design (Tom Scutt)
  • Best set design (Tom Scutt)
  • Best lighting design (Aideen Malone and Roland Horvath)
  • Best sound design (Adam Fisher)

After more than ten years, Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods is back in London’s West End, and it’s a triumph. Any worries about whether this beloved musical could be successfully revived have been put to rest, evidenced by its impressive 10 Olivier Award nominations. Our review called this production at the Bridge Theatre a ‘sheer force of nature,’ and the good news is you can still catch it until May.

The Producers

Nominated for

  • Best musical revival
  • Best actor in a musical (Marc Antolin/Andy Nyman)
  • Best actress in a musical (Katie Brayben)
  • Best actor in a supporting role in a musical (Trevor Ashley)

I absolutely loved seeing Mel Brooks’s The Producers! It’s a hilarious show that’s made its way from Broadway to London, and trust me, it will have you laughing until your sides hurt. The story is about two guys who try to create a truly terrible musical, but things don’t quite go as planned – it’s a brilliant comedy! It’s currently playing at The Garrick Theatre until September, and honestly, you won’t want to miss it.

1536

Nominated for

  • Best new play
  • Best director (Lyndsey Turner)

Originally staged at the Almeida Theatre, the popular play 1536 will move to London’s West End in May 2026. The historical drama tells the story of three women in Tudor England, drawing parallels between their lives and the infamous relationship of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, but with a contemporary feel.

Inter Alia

Nominated for

  • Best new play
  • Best actress (Rosamund Pike)

Inter Alia is a stunning play – we originally gave it five stars when it was performed at the National Theatre. Now, the acclaimed drama by Prima Facie playwright Suzie Miller is coming to the West End, and Rosamund Pike will reprise her role. It’s a must-see!

Oh, Mary!

Nominated for

  • Best new entertainment or comedy play
  • Best actor in a supporting role (Giles Terera)

The play “Oh, Mary!” has been a big hit in London, receiving excellent reviews and two Olivier Award nominations. It’s a darkly funny show that focuses on the life of Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks before her husband’s assassination, exploring her unfulfilled desires, struggles with alcohol, and hidden feelings. The 80-minute play gives a fresh look at Mrs. Lincoln’s often-overlooked life and ambitions. Originally starring Mason Alexander Park as Mary Todd, the show has been extended, and now features Catherine Tate – known from “Doctor Who” – in the lead role starting in April.

Paranormal Activity

Nominated for

  • Best new entertainment or comedy play

Last year, the popular horror film Paranormal Activity was adapted for the stage. This new version, directed by Felix Barrett and written by Levi Holloway, focuses more on building suspense and using theatrical effects than jump scares. It first opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in December and is still running, with a UK tour planned for later this year.

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Authors

Olivia Garrett

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2026-03-05 19:07