2026 Tony nominations: 7 standouts, surprises and snubs

Despite a mediocre season for new musicals, the 2026 Tony Award nominations still have our hearts in a flutter. Broadway’s biggest night arrives on June 7. But some of our favorite theatermakers will be watching from their couches just like us. We couldn’t resist a hot take on the nominations, including anticipated wins, surprise appearances, and a few head-scratching omissions.

Standouts

Best Costume Design of a Musical

The cast of "Cats: The Jellicle Ball." — The cast of “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.

Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball — Those who saw the Off-Broadway production need to pounce their way to the Broadhurst Theatre, where audiences can marvel at nearly 500 looks inspired by New York City’s ballroom scene, couture, and Black culture.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Laurie Metcalf, Christopher Abbott, and Ben Ahlers in "Death of a Salesman." — Laurie Metcalf, Christopher Abbott, and Ben Ahlers in “Death of a Salesman.” Photo by Emilio Madrid.

Laurie Metcalf, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman — Joe Mantello’s watershed production lives up to the buzz. Playing wife Linda to Nathan Lane’s tragic Willy Loman, Metcalf exudes the exhaustive determination of a woman reconciling what it means to achieve the American Dream.

Surprises

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Rachel Dratch in "The Rocky Horror Show." — Rachel Dratch in “The Rocky Horror Show.” Photo by Joan Marcus.

Rachel Dratch, The Rocky Horror Show — Does Dratch wrangle the confused audience, not sure if they should be screaming, applauding, or sitting quietly at this mediocre revival? Absolutely. But this is a musical award—how about considering a performance that actually sings?

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

(l-r) Cedric "The Entertainer," Taraji P. Henson, Joshua Boone, Nimene Sierra Wureh, and Savannah Commodore in "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." — (l-r) Cedric “The Entertainer,” Taraji P. Henson, Joshua Boone, Nimene Sierra Wureh, and Savannah Commodore in “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.” Photo by Julieta Cervantes.

Caroline Shaw, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Steve Bargonetti, August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

The most conflated of this year’s Tony nominations, these inclusions indicate just how weak a season it was for new musicals. While there is no discredit to Shaw’s or Bargonetti’s contributions, which absolutely enhance their respective productions, the Tony committee may want to rethink how we define “original score.”

Snubs

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Jessica Vosk in "Beaches." — Jessica Vosk in “Beaches.” Photo by Marc J. Franklin.

Jessica Vosk, Beaches — The adaptation of the hit 1988 film arrived at low tide, but nobody can deny that Jessica Vosk as Cee Cee Bloom delivers a knockout performance. Onstage nearly the entire time, she carries the emotional weight, comedic chops, and vocal prowess to at least deserve a nod.

Best Scenic Design of a Play

The cast of "The Balusters" on Broadway. — The cast of “The Balusters.” Photo by Jeremy Daniel.

Derek McLane, The Balusters — Admittedly a crowded field, McLane’s stunning Victorian-era parlor room, decorated with contemporary Black artists, tells a story before the first-rate ensemble of David Lindsay-Abaire’s play utters a word.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

LJ Benet and Ali Louis Bourzgui in "The Lost Boys." Photo by Matthew Murphy. — (l-r) LJ Benet and Ali Louis Bourzgui in “The Lost Boys.” Photo by Matthew Murphy.

LJ Benet, The Lost Boys — Perhaps his brooding honesty as a new kid in a vampire-filled town hit too close to home for the nominating committee? LJ Benet propels The Lost Boys with a dynamic, earnest performance on par with this year’s contenders. Fear not, LJ. Pull out that wooden stake and keep clocking in your eight shows a week—audiences are thirsty for you!

Read the full list of nominees.