AceShowbiz - The 79th annual Tony Awards celebrated Broadway’s finest this year, marking the occasion with an exciting and heartfelt televised ceremony. Taking place on Sunday and hosted by the dynamic Pink, the event honored the outstanding achievements in theater from the past season, with a focus on celebrating diversity and inclusion during the kickoff of Pride Month.

This year’s awards broadcast spanned three hours and distributed more than two dozen trophies, recognizing the incredible talent both onstage and behind the scenes that has kept Broadway thriving. Among the musicals, Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys dominated with 12 nominations apiece, closely followed by the revival of Ragtime with 11 nominations. Not far behind were two notable productions: Cats: The Jellicle Ball, a ballroom-inspired reinterpretation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original work, and Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show, a star-studded revival of the cult classic, both earning nine nominations.

In the plays category, the revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman led the pack with nine nods. The feel-good family play Oedipus followed with seven nominations. A group of diverse productions, including The Balusters, Fallen Angels, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and Liberation, each secured five nominations, showcasing the eclectic nature of this year's theater offerings.

Presenting the awards was an impressive lineup of celebrated personalities from stage and screen. This year’s presenters included Adrien Brody, Annette Bening, Ariana DeBose, Ben Platt, Bernadette Peters, Billy Crystal, Bowen Yang, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Carrie Coon, Cole Escola, Darren Criss, Jack O’Brien, Jeremy Pope, John Leguizamo, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kara Young, Kelli O’Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, Law Roach, Lena Waithe, Lily Rabe, Maya Rudolph, Megan Thee Stallion, Neil Patrick Harris, Nicole Scherzinger, Patrick Wilson, Paul Rudd, Rachel Zegler, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Sarah Paulson, and Sting.

As the winners were announced, some productions and performers stood out for their stellar achievements. In the Best Play category, Liberation took home the award, edging out competitors such as The Balusters, Giant, and Little Bear Ridge Road. For Best Musical, the trophy went to Schmigadoon!, triumphing over The Lost Boys, Titaníque, and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).

The Best Revival of a Play was awarded to Death of a Salesman, while Ragtime claimed Best Revival of a Musical, beating out the likes of Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show. These wins underscored the enduring appeal and artistic vitality of classic works revisited with fresh perspectives.

Outstanding individual performances were also recognized. John Lithgow won Best Leading Actor in a Play for his role in Giant, while Lesley Manville earned Best Leading Actress in a Play for Oedipus. On the musical side, Joshua Henry received Best Leading Actor for Ragtime, and Caissie Levy won Best Leading Actress in a Musical, also for Ragtime.

Supporting roles were equally celebrated. Alden Ehrenreich took home Best Featured Actor in a Play for his work in Becky Shaw, while Laurie Metcalf was honored as Best Featured Actress in a Play for Death of a Salesman. In musicals, Ali Louis Bourzgui won Best Featured Actor for The Lost Boys, and Shoshana Bean was named Best Featured Actress for the same production.

The ceremony also highlighted excellence in directing and creative design. Joe Mantello received Best Direction of a Play for Death of a Salesman, and the duo Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch won Best Direction of a Musical for Cats: The Jellicle Ball. In the category of Best Book of a Musical, Cinco Paul won for Schmigadoon!, which also earned him Best Original Score for music and lyrics.

Technical achievements were not overlooked. Chloe Lamford’s scenic design for Death of a Salesman was awarded Best Scenic Design of a Play, while Dane Laffrey’s work on The Lost Boys took Best Scenic Design of a Musical. In costume design, Jeff Mahshie received Best Costume Design of a Play for Fallen Angels, and Qween Jean was honored for Best Costume Design of a Musical with Cats: The Jellicle Ball.

Lighting and sound design awards went to notable artists such as Jack Knowles for Best Lighting Design of a Play with Death of a Salesman, and Michael Arden along with Jen Schriever for Best Lighting Design of a Musical with The Lost Boys. Mikaal Sulaiman was recognized for Best Sound Design of a Play for Death of a Salesman, while Kai Harada won Best Sound Design of a Musical for Ragtime.

Choreography awards highlighted the dynamic movement on stage, with Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles winning Best Choreography for their work on Cats: The Jellicle Ball. The award underscored the show’s innovative fusion of ballroom dance with theatrical storytelling.

Overall, the 2026 Tony Awards showcased a diverse array of productions and talents that pushed creative boundaries while honoring theatrical traditions. The evening was a testament to Broadway’s resilience and ongoing evolution, marked by a blend of revivals, new works, and groundbreaking performances that captivated audiences and critics alike.

As the curtain falls on this year’s awards, fans and theater enthusiasts alike are invited to reflect on the season’s successes and share their thoughts on the winners. Did the Tonys celebrate the right shows and performers? Time will tell, but the night certainly highlighted the vibrant, ever-changing landscape of American theater.

This article is based on reporting originally published by TVLine.