Taking it back to where it all began, the exclusive VIP only ceremony will take place at Freedom Bar in Soho, the same venue where it all began.
Due to the economic climate, the ceremony will sadly no longer be able to take place at Leicester Square Theatre as originally planned but I am super excited to return to the place where these awards were born.
Public nominations will open on Friday 10 July for theatre lovers to say who and what they think deserves to be shortlisted this year. Performances between September 2025 and July 2026 are valid.
Help to make the 10th year of the West End Wilma Awards bigger and better than ever before by coming on board as one of this years sponsors. Find out more
If you can’t sponsor but would like to make a contribution of any size, please donate to my Just Giving page, where I am hoping to raise £2,500 from theatre lovers who believe in everything the West End Wilma Awards stands for. Find out more
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.
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!
Sponsored by Healthy Tailz: Physio for Dogs
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!
Sponsored by Mischief
Best Edinburgh Fringe Festival Show was introduced as a category last year in 2025 and was received so well that it is back again for 2026!
Last year’s award went to I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical and I can’t wait to see what gets nominated this year!
