If you’ve been paying attention to the West End this past year, you’ll know that one musical in particular has been extremely popular: Paddington The Musical. Sure, there’s also been plenty of conversation about the likes of Evita (and Rachel Zegler’s balcony performances), Rosamund Pike in Inter Alia, and Oh, Mary! arriving in London. But nothing has quite dominated the conversation like that marmalade-loving bear. And, perhaps predictably, that popularity was recognised this weekend as it swept the 2026 Laurence Olivier Awards.
The awards “celebrate the world-class status of London theatre and are Britain’s most prestigious stage honours”*. Akin to the Tonys for Broadway, or the Oscars, the Olivier Awards celebrate the brightest and the best who are treading the boards on the West End.
This year saw Paddington The Musical go home with an impressive seven awards. This sees the musical joining the likes of Hamilton, Sunset Boulevard, Cabaret, and Matilda with a record-equalling number of recognitions. Even more impressively, Paddington was the most nominated new musical at this year’s awards.
Following the success, the show has extended its run. The award-winning musical will now play at the Savoy Theatre all the way through to February 13, 2028.
What awards did Paddington The Musical win?
The musical, which features music & lyrics by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale, runs at the Savoy Theatre. At the 2026 Olivier Awards, Paddington The Musical won the following awards:
- Best New Musical
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Victoria Hamilton-Barritt
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Tom Edden
- Best Actor in a Musical – James Hameed & Arti Shah
- Best Director – Luke Sheppard
- Best Costume Design – Gabriella Slade (Costume Design) & Tahra Zafar (Paddington Design)
- Best Set Design – Tom Pye (Set Design) & Ash J Woodward (Video Design)
Other winners at the 2026 Laurence Olivier Awards
Best New Play
- Punch by James Graham at Young Vic & Apollo Theatre
Best Revival
- All My Sons by Arthur Miller at Wyndham’s Theatre
Best Musical Revival
- Into The Woods, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine at Bridge Theatre
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Paapa Essiedu for All My Sons at Wyndham’s Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Julie Hesmondhalgh for Punch at Young Vic & Apollo Theatre
Best Actress in a Musical
- Rachel Zegler for Evita at The London Palladium
Best Actress
- Rosamund Pike for Inter Alia at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Best Actor
- Jack Holden for Kenrex at The Other Palace
Best Sound Design
- Giles Thomas for Kenrex at The Other Palace
Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play
- Oh, Mary! by Cole Escola at Trafalgar Theatre
Best Family Show
- The Boy At The Back Of The Class, adapted by Nick Ahad at Rose Theatre
Best Theatre Choreographer
- Fabian Aloise for Evita at The London Palladium
Best Lighting Design
- Aideen Malone (Lighting Design) & Roland Horvath (Video Design) for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
Best New Production in Affiliate Theatre
- The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams at The Yard Theatre
Best New Opera Production
- Dead Man Walking by English National Opera at London Coliseum
Best New Dance Production
- Into The Hairy by Sharon Eyal for S-E-D at Sadler’s Wells
Outstanding Musical Contribution
- Chris Fenwick (Musical Supervision & Arrangements) & Sean Hayes (Live Piano Performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue) for Good Night, Oscar at Barbican Theatre
