West End’s latest hit ‘Paddington The Musical’ swept the 2026 Olivier Awards on April 12, taking home seven trophies, including Best New Musical.
The musical tells the story of Britain’s beloved Peruvian bear character, Paddington.
It is based on Michael Bond’s 1958 children’s stories, with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher and a book by Jessica Swale.
Much like its iconic film counterparts, the show instantly became a favorite immediately after it opened at the Savoy Theatre in London in November 2025.
One of its amazing elements is the fascinating combination of live acting and puppetry in order to bring Paddington to the stage.
As such, this was recognized by the Oliviers, awarding the Best Actor in a Musical trophy to James Hameed and Arti Shah, who both played the titular character.
Hameed voices and remotely controls the puppet version of Paddington, while Shah dons the bear costume onstage.
Meanwhile, Tom Edden and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt also brought home awards for their supporting roles as Mr. Curry and Millicent Clyde, respectively.
The musical was also conferred the best director prize for Luke Sheppard, as well as the honor for both set and costume designs.
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Paddington may be Broadway-bound
Producer Sonia Friedman confirmed to Deadline on Sunday that they are planning to bring the Marmalade-obsessed bear to Broadway in 2027.
“I’d like it to be next year to keep the momentum going,” said Friedman, who is also the producer behind ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ and ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’, among others.
Sheppard also hinted about the transfer, telling the Associated Press that “it would be a dream for Paddington to pack his suitcase and visit some other cities around the world.”
But while Friedman assured that the move will happen, she admitted that the team will have to “look at the costs.”
“Broadway is expensive, prohibitively so in some instances,” she added.
Other Olivier winners
The ceremony held at the Royal Albert Hall also saw Rachel Zegler win Best Actress for her role as Argentine first lady Eva Peron in ‘Evita’, a musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The production created a buzz during its run at The London Palladium last year as Zegler performed the iconic song ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ on the theater’s exterior balcony, attracting huge crowds every time, while theatergoers inside watched on screens.
Stephen Sondheim’s classic fairytale reimagination, ‘Into the Woods,’ won the award for Best Musical Revival.
Rosamund Pike bagged the Best Actress in a Play award for her role as a conflicted judge in ‘Inter Alia’, which is set to open on Broadway this November.
Jack Holden was the year’s best actor in a play for portraying multiple roles in ‘Kenrex’, a true crime thriller that Holden wrote with Ed Stambollouian.
The play also won best sound design.
The other winners for the 2026 Olivier Awards, which celebrates London theater, opera and dance, are as follows:
New Play: “Punch”
New Entertainment or Comedy: “Oh, Mary!”
Family Show: “The Boy at the Back of the Class”
Revival: “All My Sons”
Supporting Actor-Play: Paapa Essiedu, “All My Sons”
Supporting Actress-Play: Julie Hesmondhalgh, “Punch”
Outstanding Musical Contribution: Chris Fenwick and Sean Hayes, “Goodnight Oscar”
Theater Choreography: “Evita”
New Opera Production: “Dead Man Walking”
New Dance Production: “Into the Hairy”
Lighting Design: “Into The Woods”
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theater: “The Glass Menagerie” at the Yard Theatre
Special Award: Elaine Paige
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