The 2026 Tony Award nominations were announced on Tuesday, with two shows emerging as frontrunners: The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon!, each securing 12 nominations. Both productions are adaptations with established fan bases. The Lost Boys reimagines the 1987 teen vampire film, while Schmigadoon! brings the musical-loving spirit of the Apple TV series to the stage, playfully satirizing Broadway itself.
Close Contenders and Revivals
Following closely is a revival of Ragtime with 11 nominations, and Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller's classic about the unraveling American Dream, earned nine nods. In total, 24 shows received at least one nomination across 26 categories. Notable revivals include Chess, a Cold War-era love triangle set in the chess world, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball, which reinvents Andrew Lloyd Webber's feline classic through queer ballroom culture.
Best New Musical Race
The race for best new musical is especially competitive. Alongside The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon!, nominees include Titanique, a campy spin on the film Titanic, and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), a rom-com set over a single weekend in New York.
Best New Play Nominees
On the play side, the best new play nominees cover a wide range of themes. Giant stars John Lithgow and tackles allegations of antisemitism against Roald Dahl. Liberation, which recently won the Pulitzer Prize for drama, focuses on a 1970s women's group. The Balusters offers a comedic look at neighborhood drama, while Little Bear RidgeRoad follows a writer returning home after his father's death.
Historic Milestones
This year's nominations made history. At 96, June Squibb became the oldest Tony-nominated performer ever, surpassing Lois Smith's record. Squibb's Broadway career began with Gypsy in 1960 alongside Ethel Merman. Danny Burstein set a new milestone as the most-nominated male actor in Tony history, earning his ninth nod for Marjorie Prime, surpassing Jason Robards. Kelli O'Hara also hit a career high with her ninth nomination for Fallen Angels, tying Rosemary Harris for third-most all time.
Acting Categories
Daniel Radcliffe earned a nomination for Every Brilliant Thing, a solo show about coping with depression. That show competes in the best play revival category against Death of a Salesman, Oedipus, Becky Shaw, and Fallen Angels. John Lithgow, a two-time Tony winner, is nominated for best actor in a play against Nathan Lane, Radcliffe, Mark Strong, and Will Harrison. Rose Byrne becomes the 22nd performer to earn both Oscar and Tony nominations in the same year. Other nominees include Lesley Manville, Susannah Flood, and Carrie Coon. In musical acting categories, performers from Ragtime, Two Strangers, Chess, and The Rocky Horror Show are in the mix, including Joshua Henry, Brandon Uranowitz, and Stephanie Hsu.
The awards ceremony will take place June 7 at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Pink, and will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
