The 79th Tony Awards took place on June 7, 2026, at Radio City Music Hall, honoring excellence in Broadway theater. The ceremony saw “Liberation” take home the award for best play, while “Schmigadoon!” was named best musical. Awards were presented across various performance and creative categories throughout the evening.
Best Play and Musical Victors
The top honors of the night went to two distinct productions. “Liberation” secured the best play award, with Rachel Sussman, Daryl Roth, and Bess Wohl accepting the honor on behalf of the production, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the musical category, “Schmigadoon!” emerged as the winner. The musical’s producers include Lorne Michaels, No Guarantees Productions, Micah Frank, Caroline Maroney, Marylee Fairbanks, James L. Nederlander, SAMS Entertainment, Charles D. Urstadt, Bradford & Melissa Coolidge, Jeffrey Finn, the John Gore Organization, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Cinco Paul, Andrew Singer, and various other production partners, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.
The victory for “Schmigadoon!” marks a significant milestone for the production team, which drew from a broad consortium of industry leaders. The musical, recognized for its narrative and structural achievements, saw Cinco Paul receive individual recognition for his contributions to the book and score. The collaborative effort behind the production involved multiple entities, including the John Gore Organization and Theatrical Rights Worldwide, signaling a wide-reaching investment in the project’s development and Broadway run.
Performance and Creative Honors
The 2026 Tony Awards recognized several individual performances and creative contributions. Lesley Manville received the award for performance by an actress in a leading role in a play for her work in “Oedipus,” while John Lithgow won for performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for “Giant.”
In the musical performance categories, Caissie Levy won for performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical for “Ragtime,” and Joshua Henry took the award for performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for the same production. Alden Ehrenreich was honored for his performance by an actor in a featured role in a play for “Becky Shaw.”
- Book of a musical: Cinco Paul, “Schmigadoon!”
- Original score: Music and lyrics by Cinco Paul for “Schmigadoon!”
- Revival of a play: Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
- Revival of a musical: “Ragtime”
The recognition of “Ragtime” as the best revival of a musical underscored the evening’s focus on both new works and the reinterpretation of established classics. Lear DeBessonet, who accepted the honor for the production, was noted by the Los Angeles Times for her leadership on the project. The dual wins for Caissie Levy and Joshua Henry highlighted the strength of the production’s lead performances, further solidifying the revival’s standing within the 2026 theater season.
Production Recognition
While “Schmigadoon!” won best musical, other productions were recognized for their place in the 2026 season. “The Lost Boys” and “Titaníque” were among the nominated productions for best musical. The producers for “The Lost Boys” include James Carpinello, Marcus Chait, Patrick Wilson, and James L. Nederlander, among many others, according to Billboard. The production team for “Titaníque” includes Eva Price, Diamond Dog Entertainment, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue, among others.
The competitive field for best musical reflected a season marked by diverse production houses and creative partnerships. “The Lost Boys,” backed by a team including Patrick Wilson and James L. Nederlander, demonstrated the scale of production involved in this year’s nominees. Similarly, “Titaníque” highlighted the role of independent and specialty production groups, with Eva Price and Diamond Dog Entertainment receiving recognition for their efforts in bringing the show to the Broadway stage. These nominations and subsequent wins reflect the collaborative nature of the current Broadway landscape, where large-scale organizations like the John Gore Organization work alongside specialized producers to bring complex musical and dramatic works to life.
“Cinco Paul accepts the award for a book of a musical for ‘Schmigadoon!’ onstage during The 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall.” — Los Angeles Times, reporting on the 79th Tony Awards ceremony.
The ceremony at Radio City Music Hall served as the culmination of the 2026 Broadway season, providing a platform for both established veterans like John Lithgow and contemporary stars to be honored by their peers. As the industry continues to navigate the complexities of the current theater environment, the 79th Tony Awards reinforced the importance of sustained investment in both new theatrical concepts and the revival of significant dramatic works.
