Ticketmaster Blog of the Year 2014 award winner West End Wilma is one of the longest running UK theatre blogs, founded in 2012.
The West End Wilma Awards (hosted by Tim McArthur) were launched in 2014 to help recognise those who often go overlooked in other theatrical award shows like Rising Stars, Understudies, Ensemble Performers and Swings.
This year, I am excited to be taking the ceremony back to where it all began – at Freedom in the heart of Soho where the first ever Wilma Awards took place!
The winners will be revealed on Friday 30 October 2026 at a VIP invitation-only event.
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For performances between September 2025 – August 2026.
The rising star award is for any up and coming performers that you have seen shine and think will go far.
These are the people who you have seen something special in and think they are going to have a very bright future.
Previous winners include Cynthia Erivo, Evelyn Hoskins, Charlie Stemp, Olivia Moore, Hannah Lowther, Jak Malone and more.
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A new category last year for 2025 but I am sure one which I will keep for a while because Swings and Understudies are the backbone of the theatre industry.
Previous winners include Fergie Fraser.
Previous winners include Grace Swaby Moore (Back to the Future), Honey Joseph (Moulin Rouge), Hannah Lowther (Heathers), Jack Butterworth (Hamilton) and more!
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Previous winners include Grace Mouat (Waitress), Geri Allen (Operation Mincemeat), Hannah Lowther (Heathers), Jordan Fox (Kinky Boots), Alice Fearn (Wicked).
Previous winners include The Great Gatsby, The Comedy About Spies, Operation Mincemeat, Waitress, Kinky Boots, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Gypsy and more!
Previous winners include Urinetown (St James Theatre), Carrie (Southwark Playhouse), Titanic (Charing Cross Theatre), Side Show (Southwark Playhouse), Heathers (The Other Palace), Little Shop of Horrors (Open Air Theatre) and more!
Previous winners include Kinky Boots, SIX, Waitress, Jersey Boys, The Addams Family, The Rocky Horror Show, Wicked, Avenue Q and more!
Previous winners include Jon Jon Briones (Miss Saigon), Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon), Mazz Murray (Mamma Mia!), Emma Williams (Half A Sixpence, Noel Coward Theatre), Sharon Sexton (Bat Out Of Hell – Dominion Theatre), Marisha Wallace (Waitress), Jordan Luke Gage – Bonnie & Clyde, Charlie Stemp (Crazy For You) and Jamie Muscato (The Great Gatsby) and more!
Previous winners include Jeevan Braich (Starlight Express), Ailsa Davidson – Heathers, Luke Bayer (Fiver – Southwark Playhouse), Carrie Hope Fletcher (Heathers), Claire Machin (Titanic) and more!
Previous winners include Rachel Tucker (St James Theatre), Kerry Ellis (Hippodrome Casino), Lea Salonga (Nottingham Royal Concert Hall), Lucie Jones Live at the Adelphi, Samantha Barks – Live at the London Palladium and many more!
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The award for Best Edinburgh Fringe Festival Show award was launched in 2025 to recognise the amazing work that takes place every year during the month of August.
Last year’s winner was I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical.