Tony Award Winners 2026: Broadway’s Best Shine as Pink, Ragtime and Schmigadoon! Dazzle
Broadway celebrated another unforgettable night as the 79th Tony Awards honored the best productions, performers, and creative talents from the 2025-26 theater season. Hosted by singer Pink at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, the ceremony combined spectacular performances, emotional acceptance speeches, and major victories for some of the season’s most acclaimed productions.
Pink made an impressive debut as host, immediately winning over the audience with an elaborate opening performance that showcased her trademark aerial abilities and theatrical flair. The Grammy-winning artist embraced Broadway’s spirit from the moment the show began, delivering a high-energy introduction that featured appearances from theater stars and celebrity guests. Her opening number culminated in a Broadway-inspired version of “Lady Marmalade,” setting the tone for an evening filled with celebration and entertainment.
The biggest musical prize of the evening went to Schmigadoon!, which captured the Tony Award for Best Musical. Based on the popular television series, the production impressed voters with its affectionate parody of classic Broadway musicals while delivering original songs and memorable performances. Creator Cinco Paul also earned honors for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, helping establish Schmigadoon! as one of the night’s dominant productions.
Another major winner was Ragtime, which claimed the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The beloved production, known for its sweeping story of race, class, and the American Dream, resonated strongly with audiences and critics throughout the season. In addition to winning Best Musical Revival, Ragtime earned acting victories for Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy, both of whom received their first Tony Awards for leading performances in the production.
In the play categories, Liberation emerged victorious as Best Play. Written by Bess Wohl, the drama explores themes connected to the women’s liberation movement and had already earned significant acclaim before Broadway’s biggest night. The win marked a historic achievement for Wohl, who became only the fourth woman to receive the Tony Award for Best Play.
Meanwhile, Death of a Salesman enjoyed one of the most successful nights of any production, capturing Best Revival of a Play and several additional honors. The acclaimed revival also earned awards for direction, technical achievements, and acting performances, further cementing its status as one of the season’s defining productions. Laurie Metcalf won for Featured Actress in a Play, while director Joe Mantello received recognition for his work bringing the classic drama back to the Broadway stage.
Among individual performers, veteran actor John Lithgow earned widespread praise after winning Best Leading Actor in a Play for his portrayal of author Roald Dahl in Giant. The award marked another milestone in his distinguished stage career and made him one of the night’s most celebrated winners. Actress Lesley Manville won Best Leading Actress in a Play for her acclaimed performance in Oedipus.
Other standout winners included Cats: The Jellicle Ball, which earned recognition for choreography, costume design, and musical direction. The production’s innovative interpretation of the classic musical attracted significant attention throughout the season and was rewarded with multiple Tony Awards.
The ceremony also celebrated Broadway’s continued strength following a record-breaking season that generated approximately $1.91 billion in revenue. Special performances honored legendary productions such as Chicago, Rent, and The Book of Mormon, while nominees from this year’s productions showcased the talent that made the season one of the industry’s most successful in recent memory.
Throughout the evening, many winners used their acceptance speeches to highlight the importance of theater as a platform for storytelling, inclusion, and social reflection. Themes of artistic freedom, diversity, and community were woven throughout the ceremony, reinforcing Broadway’s reputation as both an entertainment powerhouse and a cultural force.
As the curtain fell on the 2026 Tony Awards, Schmigadoon!, Ragtime, Liberation, and Death of a Salesman stood among the night’s biggest winners. Combined with Pink’s energetic hosting debut and a series of memorable performances, the ceremony delivered a fitting celebration of another remarkable year on Broadway.
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