Who Won Big At The Olivier Awards?

For its 50th anniversary, the Olivier Awards have once again reminded the nation why we fell in love with the West End. With striking performances and tear-jerking speeches, narrowing it down was never going to be easy, but here are the top four highlights from the ceremony in 2026.

Rosamund Pike took an “exhilarating risk” in returning to theater after an absence of over a decade. Of course, it paid off. She won Best Actress award for her performance in 'Inter Alia', up against high competition from Cate Blanchett and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. The West End play explored themes of masculinity and grappling motherhood; in her tearful acceptance speech, she acknowledged the irony as she thanked her partner Robie Uniacke for caring for her children while she was working on this project.

Paapa Essiedu seized his opportunity under the spotlight to continue to inspire and advocate for preserving the arts. As he accepted Best Actor in a Supporting Role for 'All My Sons', he called the crowd’s attention to the growing lack of funding for national theater organisations. In order to keep theater alive, he urged government agencies to place funding of the arts as a high priority. While Essiedu’s initial acting career swayed towards Shakespearean theatre, he has recently been cast as Professor Snape for the upcoming HBO Harry Potter adaptation.

One of the most memorable moments was Rachel Zegler’s jaw-dropping rendition of ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.’ The American actress, who won Best Actress in a Musical for Evita, continues to stun audiences with her voice, following her performance of the song from a London balcony last year. This marked a historic moment for access to the West End, offering the public a chance to engage with theater for free.

As most decorated winner of the evening, 'Paddington the Musical' took home 7 out of its 11 nominations, including in the new category, Best New Musical. As a touching moment for the children’s franchise, the voice of James Hameed and actress Arti Shah brought the bear to life through puppetry and choreography. Their presence at the show encouraged kindness and curiosity, aligned with the message of the musical. Paddington Bear has been a British childhood figure for 65 years, and this musical continues his legacy through embracing adventure and reinforcing connection with the younger generation.