Olivier Awards 2026 - How to watch on TV and BBC iPlayer and listen on Radio and BBC Sounds

Actor and comedian Nick Mohammed hosts the 50th anniversary Olivier Awards from the Royal Albert Hall, celebrating the very best of London’s world-leading theatre shows. The star-studded ceremony kicks off on BBC Two and iPlayer at 7pm, while on Radio 2 Jo Whiley brings backstage interviews with a dazzling line-up of stars from 8pm.

Highlights include performances from some of this year’s nominated shows including Paddington The Musical and Into the Woods - which each have 11 nominations - as well as Evita, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Shucked and The Producers. Plus, there will be spectacular celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of Phantom of the Opera and the 20th anniversary of Wicked.

Contenders for major awards include Cate Blanchett, Bryan Cranston, Paapa Essiedu, Tom Hiddleston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Rosamund Pike, Giles Terera and Rachel Zegler, plus Dame Elaine Paige will be honoured with this year’s Special Award.

Award presenters will include Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Helen Mirren, and Dame Arlene Phillips.

How to watch the Olivier Awards 2026 on TV and BBC iPlayer

Watch the Olivier Awards 2026 on BBC Two and iPlayer from 7pm on Sunday 12 April.

BBC Radio 2 is broadcasting a special two-hour show from 8-10pm, hosted by Jo Whiley, featuring performances from some of the night’s biggest shows and exclusive interviews with a dazzling line-up of stars.

Who is nominated?

A full list of Olivier Award nominations can be found here, which include:

• Two musicals lead the way, with 11 nominations each for Into the Woods and Paddington The Musical
• The most nominated plays are All My Sons, Kenrex and Stereophonic, with six nominations each
• Nominees for Best Actress are Cate Blanchett, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Julia McDermott, Rosamund Pike and Rosie Sheehy
• Nominees for Best Actor are Bryan Cranston, Sean Hayes, Tom Hiddleston, Jack Holden and David Shields
• Sean Hayes, Georgina Onuorah and Tom Scutt are nominated across two categories each, whilst Zachary Hart receives a double nomination in the same category
• Dame Elaine Paige will be honoured with this year’s Special Award
• Other nominees include Tracie Bennett, Corbin Bleu, Paapa Essiedu, Kate Fleetwood, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Jane Krakowski, Andy Nyman, Hayley Squires, Giles Terera, Sophie Thompson and Rachel Zegler

Who is performing?

The ceremony will include performances from Cunard Best New Musical nominees Paddington The Musical, Shucked, and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and Best Musical Revival nominees Evita, Into the Woods and The Producers.

A special performance marking 40 years of Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera will open the show, and a dazzling finale will celebrate 20 years of Wicked in the West End.

AT2

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