The 2026 Tony Awards delivered a fierce competition at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, as stars battled it out for the ultimate Broadway honors.
John Lithgow made history at 80 as he became the oldest winner in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category.
The victory marked his third Tony Award, and this time he took home the trophy for his captivating portrayal of Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt’s play Giant.
He triumphed over a stacked category of heavyweights, beating out Harry Potter alum Daniel Radcliffe (Every Brilliant Thing), Will Harrison (Punch), Nathan Lane (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman), and Mark Strong (Oedipus).
In Giant, Lithgow portrays Dahl during a turbulent period in the 1980s, when the children’s author faced backlash over a series of antisemitic comments.
The victory came a staggering 53 years after his very first Tony win.
John Lithgow, 80, made history on Sunday as he became the oldest winner in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category at the 2026 Tony Awards
The victory marked his third Tony Award, and this time he took home the trophy for his captivating portrayal of Roald Dahl in Giant (seen here in a scene from the play)
The performance previously earned Lithgow his very first Olivier Award during the production’s London run.
‘I’m such a lucky actor,’ he said during his acceptance speech, before joking, ‘The other gentlemen in my category, you all deserve this. I got it.’
He then turned serious, stating: ‘Because I play the lead role in an extraordinary play, Giant. A stunning play made by people full of love and kindness. But it’s a play about cruelty in a cruel age.’
He also thanked his wife Mary Yeager for seeing him through ‘two exhilarating but exhausting years bringing this incredible play to Broadway.’
‘Two Tony bookends, with 53 years between them. In those years, I have worked with hundreds of fantastic theater artists. I’ve had dozens and dozens of ecstatic moments onstage. But I have to tell you, this moment has got to be one of the best.’
Giant was directed by two-time Tony winner Nicholas Hytner.
Lithgow won his first Tony in 1973 for his performance as Nick in The Changing Room, just weeks after his Broadway debut.
He also won in 2002 for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance as J.J. Hunsecker in Sweet Smell of Success.
‘I’m such a lucky actor,’ he said during his acceptance speech, before joking, ‘The other gentlemen in my category, you all deserve this. I got it’
He also thanked his wife Mary Yeager for seeing him through ‘two exhilarating but exhausting years bringing this incredible play to Broadway’
‘Two Tony bookends, with 53 years between them. In those years, I have worked with hundreds of fantastic theater artists. I’ve had dozens and dozens of ecstatic moments onstage. But I have to tell you, this moment has got to be one of the best,’ he said
He triumphed over a stacked category of heavyweights, beating out Harry Potter alum Daniel Radcliffe (Every Brilliant Thing); Radcliffe pictured at the show with girlfriend Erin Darke
Lesley Manville, 70, took home the win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her role as Jocasta in Oedipus
‘Our genius director and writer Robert Icke took a 2,500 year–old play and brought it up to the present day with shocking, startling results,’ she shared during her acceptance speech
‘But really shocking, how little has changed in those two and a half 1,000–years for women. Been very slow,’ she added
She accepted the honor from Annette Bening
The actress pictured starring as Jocasta alongside Mark Strong (Oedipus)
Manville clinched the trophy over a formidable field of nominees, including Rose Byrne (Fallen Angels), Carrie Coon (Bug), Susannah Flood (Liberation), and Kelli O’Hara, (Fallen Angels); Byrne see with partner Bobby Cannavale
Caissie Levy, 45, won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her performance in Ragtime. Her co-star Joshua Henry, 41, took home the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Ragtime, directed by Lear DeBessonet (pictured), was also crowned the season’s Best Revival of a Musical
It was a massive night for Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, which emerged as the evening’s biggest victor by sweeping the board with six wins. The Lost Boys, Ragtime, and Schmigadoon! followed closely behind with four awards each.
Lesley Manville, 70, took home the win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her role as Jocasta in Oedipus.
Manville clinched the trophy over a formidable field of nominees, including Rose Byrne (Fallen Angels), Carrie Coon (Bug), Susannah Flood (Liberation), and Kelli O’Hara, (Fallen Angels).
‘Our genius director and writer Robert Icke took a 2,500 year–old play and brought it up to the present day with shocking, startling results,’ she shared during her acceptance speech.
‘And it was an extraordinary thing to do every night. But really shocking, how little has changed in those two and a half 1,000–years for women. Been very slow,’ she added.
The AppleTV series turned Broadway smash Schmigadoon! won the award for Best Musical.
Schmigadoon! follows a floundering couple who find themselves transported into the world of a classic Broadway musical.
The win went to the musical’s producing team, led by Lorne Michaels, No Guarantees Productions, Micah Frank, and Caroline Maroney.
Caissie Levy, 45, scooped up the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her performance in Ragtime, directed by Lear DeBessonet.
The AppleTV series turned Broadway smash Schmigadoon! won the award for Best Musical. The win went to the musical’s producing team, led by Lorne Michaels
Shoshana Bean, 48, won her first Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her turn in The Lost Boys. She was presented the award by Megan Thee Stallion
She portrayed Lucy Emerson in The Lost Boys, directed by Tony winner Michael Arden and based on the 1987 Warner Bros. film
Her co-star Ali Louis Bourzgui, 26, won for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for his portrayal of David
Alden Ehrenreich, 36, won for Featured Actor in a Play for his debut performance as Max in Becky Shaw
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, directed by Joe Mantello, won Best Revival of a Play; Actor Nathan Lane pictured accepting the award
His co-star Laurie Metcalf, who played Linda Loman, took home the win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch won for Best Direction of a Musical for Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Qween Jean accepted the Best Costume Design of a Musical award for Cats: The Jellicle Ball
Mikaal Sulaiman received the Best Sound Design of a Play award for Death of a Salesman
Her co-star Joshua Henry, 41, took home the prestigious award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.
Ragtime was also crowned the season’s Best Revival of a Musical. The musical is based on the 1975 novel by E. L. Doctorow.
Shoshana Bean, 48, won her first Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her turn in The Lost Boys. She was presented the award by Megan Thee Stallion.
She portrayed Lucy Emerson in The Lost Boys, directed by Tony winner Michael Arden and based on the 1987 Warner Bros. film.
Her co-star Ali Louis Bourzgui, 26, won for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for his portrayal of David.
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, directed by Joe Mantello, won Best Revival of a Play. Actor Nathan Lane – who starred as Willy Loman in the play – accepted the award.
‘We all wouldn’t be standing here without the genius of Joe Mantello, who created this revelatory production, and most importantly, the genius of Arthur Miller, who created this monumental masterpiece, which is still sadly as relevant as it was in 1949 and still continues to teach us who we are as humans and Americans,’ Lane said while accepting the honor.
His co-star Laurie Metcalf, who played Linda Loman, took home the win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play.
Alden Ehrenreich, 36, won for Featured Actor in a Play for his debut performance as Max in Becky Shaw, directed by Trip Cullman. It was his first Tony win and first nomination.
Pink made her debut as host and enjoyed a number of outfit changes
Kristin Chenoweth pictured onstage at the event
She interacted with the crowd
Broadway Queen Bernadette Peters pictured speaking onstage
Criss and Scherzinger presented two of the awards
Laura Benanti was among the presenters
JaHan Wang and Carrie Coon addressed the audience
Pink kicked off the show with a Lady Marmalade inspired opening number
The singer changed into a pink bustier and black fishnets
She started off the number with some aerial acrobatics in a Peter Pan costume
She was joined by Harris
Megan Thee Stallion also made a surprise cameo, fresh off her recent split from NBA star Klay Thompson
The hip hop star made her Broadway debut this season in Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Later in the night Pink performed with the cast of Chicago
She thrilled fans with an unforgettable show
Luke Evans performed Time Warp from Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show in a very daring look
He wore high heel boots and a black bustier
He was also joined by Juliette Lewis
Zegler was also among the performers
Parsons put on gender-bending performance at the Tonys
‘This art of acting has given me so much. It has given me a life. It has given me opportunity to be around artists like the people in this room. Most of all, it has shown me that when I am very afraid and things are very hard, there is, in this present moment, right here, right now, a sustaining mystery that is there to catch you, and I am grateful for that, and the magic that it is allowed to happen in my life,’ he said while accepting the award.
The other nominees in the category were Christopher Abbott (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman), Danny Burstein (Marjorie Prime), Brandon J. Dirden (Waiting for Godot), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone), and Richard Thomas (The Balusters).
Liberation, written by Bess Wohl, won for Best Play.
Other winners of the night included Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, who triumphed for Best Direction of a Musical for Cats: The Jellicle Ball.
It was an eventful night, as singer Pink made her awards show hosting debut with a Lady Marmalade inspired opening number for which she changed into a pink bustier and black fishnets.
She started off the show with some aerial acrobatics in a Peter Pan costume.
The star’s performance featured a handful of surprise cameos including Megan Thee Stallion, who took the stage just weeks after her high-profile split from NBA star Klay Thompson.
Later in the night Pink performed with the cast of Chicago.
In one of the night’s most memorable showstoppers, a fiercely styled Luke Evans tackled Time Warp from Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show in a provocative black bustier and high heels, rounding out an electric evening of performances that also featured a turn from Rachel Zegler.
