70th Drama Desk Awards

The 70th Drama Desk Awards winners were announced on May 17, 2026, recognizing excellence in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions during the 2025–26 season. Nominations were announced at The Lambs on April 29, 2026, with Beau the Musical and Mexodus receiving the most nominations with 10 each. The most-nominated Broadway productions were Ragtime and The Balusters, with eight nominations each.

Ragtime won the most awards, winning five including Outstanding Revival of a Musical. Following closely, the revival of Death of a Salesman and adaptation of Oedipus by Robert Icke were the most winning plays, winning four each, with the former winning Outstanding Revival of a Play and the latter winning Outstanding Adaptation. The Balusters won Outstanding Play, while Schmigadoon won Outstanding Musical.

Winners and nominees

The 70th Drama Desk Award nominations were announced on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, by Raúl Esparza and Helen J. Shen. The winners were announced on May 17, 2026 in an awards gala held at The Town Hall, hosted by Marla Mindelle.

Category

Winner and nominees

Outstanding Play

*The Balusters by David Lindsay-Abaire

  • Caroline by Preston Max Allen
  • Cold War Choir Practice by Ro Reddick
  • Meet the Cartozians by Talene Monahon
  • Prince Faggot by Jordan Tannahill
  • The Porch on Windy Hill by Sherry Stregnack Lutken, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Morgan Morse, and David M. Lutken
  • Well, I'll Let You Go by Bubba Weiler

Outstanding Musical

*Schmigadoon!

  • Beau the Musical
  • Mexodus
  • The Seat of Our Pants
  • Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Outstanding Revival of a Play

*Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

  • Becky Shaw by Gina Gionfriddo
  • Ceremonies in Dark Old Men by Lonne Elder III
  • Los Soles Truncos by René Marqués
  • Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare
  • You Got Older by Clare Barron

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

*Ragtime

  • Amahl and the Night Visitors
  • Chess
  • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  • The Baker's Wife
  • The Rocky Horror Show

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play

*John Lithgow, Giant'' andLesley Manville,Oedipus''

  • Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Well, I'll Let You Go
  • Noah Galvin, The Reservoir
  • Synnøve Karlsen, Pygmalion
  • John Krasinski, Angry Alan
  • Nathan Lane, Death of a Salesman
  • Laurie Metcalf, Death of a Salesman
  • Aigner Mizzelle, The Monsters
  • Patrick Page, Titus Andronicus
  • Anika Noni Rose, The Balusters
  • Kara Young, Gruesome Playground Injuries

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play

*Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw'' andRuben Santiago-Hudson,Joe Turner’s Come and Gone''

  • Caroline Aaron, The Reservoir
  • Edoardo Benzoni, Are the Bennet Girls Ok?
  • Maria-Christina Oliveras, The Balusters
  • Nathan Darrow, (un)conditional
  • Emily Davis, Well, I'll Let You Go
  • West Duchovny, Diversion
  • Linda Emond, Becky Shaw
  • David Greenspan, Prince Faggot
  • River Lipe-Smith, Caroline
  • Lizan Mitchell, Cold War Choir Practice
  • Richard Thomas, The Balusters

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical

*Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy, Ragtime

  • Nicholas Christopher, Chess
  • Micaela Diamond, The Seat of Our Pants
  • Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show
  • Dulé Hill, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
  • Amber Iman, Goddess
  • Brian Quijada, Mexodus
  • Nygel D. Robinson, Mexodus
  • Matt Rodin, Beau the Musical
  • Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
  • Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime

Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical

* Judy Kuhn, The Baker's Wife'' andBen Levi Ross,Ragtime''

  • Chris Blisset, Beau the Musical
  • Max Clayton, Schmigadoon!
  • Lilli Cooper, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  • Stephanie Hsu, The Rocky Horror Show
  • McKenzie Kurtz, Schmigadoon!
  • Ruthie Ann Miles, The Seat of Our Pants
  • Erin Morton, Heathers: The Musical
  • Jackson Kanawha Perry, Saturday Church
  • Jasmine Amy Rogers, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  • Layton Williams, Titanique

Outstanding Solo Performance

* Jack Holden, Kenrex

  • Savon Bartley, Holes in the Shape of My Father
  • Hailey McAfee, and her Children
  • Natalie Palamides, Weer
  • Julia McDermott, Weather Girl
  • Josh Sharp, ta-da!

Outstanding Direction of a Play

* Joe Mantello, Death of a Salesman

  • Jesse Berger, Titus Andronicus
  • David Cromer, Caroline
  • Trip Cullman, Becky Shaw
  • Kenny Leon, The Balusters
  • Tarell Alvin McCraney and Bijan Sheibani, The Brothers Size
  • Jack Serio, Well, I'll Let You Go

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

* Lear deBessonet, Ragtime

  • Gordon Greenberg, The Baker's Wife
  • Danny Mefford, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  • David Mendizábal, Mexodus
  • Josh Rhodes, Beau the Musical
  • Leigh Silverman, The Seat of Our Pants

Outstanding Choreography (tie)

*Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!, and Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

  • Edgar Godineaux and Jared Grimes, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
  • Natalie Malotke, Jonathan Platero, and Oksana Platero, Blood/Love
  • Toran X. Moore, Try/Step/Trip
  • Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys

Outstanding Music

*Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, Mexodus

  • The Lazours, Night Side Songs
  • Ethan Lipton, The Seat of Our Pants
  • Douglas Lyons and Ethan D. Pakchar, Beau the Musical
  • Michael Thurber, Goddess

Outstanding Lyrics

*Jim Barne & Kit Buchan, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

  • Dahlak Brathwaite, Try/Step/Trip
  • Ethan Lipton, The Seat of Our Pants
  • Douglas Lyons, Beau the Musical
  • Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, Mexodus

Outstanding Book of a Musical

*Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, Mexodus

  • Dahlak Brathwaite, Try/Step/Trip
  • Ethan Lipton, The Seat of Our Pants
  • Douglas Lyons, Beau the Musical
  • Jesse Malin & Lauren Ludwig, Silver Manhattan

Outstanding Orchestrations

*Sherry Stregnack Lutken, The Porch on Windy Hill

  • Bryan Carter, The Fear of 13
  • Daniel Kluger, The Seat of Our Pants
  • John McDaniel, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
  • The Bengsons & Or Matias, My Joy is Heavy

Outstanding Music in a Play

*John Patrick Elliott, Kenrex

  • Donald Lawrence, Oh Happy Day!
  • Stan Mathabane and Munir Zakee, The Brothers Size
  • Johnathan Moore, The Imaginary Invalid
  • Ro Reddick, Cold War Choir Practice
  • Darron L West and Alexander Sovronsky, The Wild Duck

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play

*Chloe Lamford, Death of a Salesman

  • Harry Feiner, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
  • Soutra Gilmour, Waiting for Godot
  • Tatiana Kahvegian, Meet the Cartozians
  • Derek McLane, The Adding Machine
  • Derek McLane, The Balusters

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical

*Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys

  • Daniel Allen, Beau the Musical
  • dots, The Rocky Horror Show
  • Rachel Hauck, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
  • Arnulfo Maldonado, Goddess
  • Jason Sherwood, The Baker's Wife

Outstanding Costume Design of a Play

*Paul Tazewell, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

  • Kindall Almond, Initiative
  • Enver Chakartash, Meet the Cartozians
  • Enver Chakartash, Tartuffe
  • Qween Jean, Oh Happy Day!
  • Emilio Sosa, The Balusters

Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical

*Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

  • Qween Jean, Saturday Church
  • David I. Reynoso, The Rocky Horror Show
  • Kaye Voyce, The Seat of Our Pants
  • Catherine Zuber, The Baker's Wife

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play

*Jack Knowles, Death of a Salesman

  • Isabella Byrd, Prince Faggot
  • Jeff Croiter, The Adding Machine
  • Stacey Derosier, Well, I'll Let You Go
  • Kate McGee, without mirrors
  • Studio Luna, Marcel on the Train

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical

*Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

  • Mextly Couzin, Mexodus
  • Adam Honoré, Amahl and the Night Visitors
  • Adam Honoré and Donald Holder, Ragtime
  • Japhy Weideman, Beau the Musical
  • Bradley King, The Baker's Wife

Outstanding Sound Design of a Play

*Tom Gibbons, Oedipus

  • Angela Baughman, Initiative
  • Caroline Eng, The Unknown
  • Kieran Lucas, Weather Girl
  • Nevin Steinberg, Anna Christie
  • Giles Thomas, Kenrex

Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical

*Mikhail Fiksel, Mexodus

  • Jordana Abrencia, Beau the Musical
  • Jason Crystal, The Baker's Wife
  • Kai Harada, Ragtime
  • Alex Hawthorn and Drew Levy, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole

Outstanding Projection and Video Design

*Tal Yarden, Oedipus

  • David Bengali, My Joy is Heavy
  • Akhila Krishnan, Kyoto
  • Johnny Moreno, Mexodus

Outstanding Wig and Hair

*Nikiya Mathis, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

  • Alberto “Albee” Alvarado, The Rocky Horror Show
  • David Brian Brown, The Lost Boys
  • David Brian Brown and Victoria Tinsman, Fallen Angels
  • Robert Pickens, Tartuffe

Outstanding Puppetry

*Axtell Expressions, Amaze

  • Emily Batsford, Yuliya Tsukerman and Cumulo Julian Crouch, Goddess
  • Monkey Boys Productions, The Burning Cauldron of Fiery Fire

Outstanding Fight Choreography

*Gerry Rodriguez, The Monsters

  • Thomas Schall, The Balusters
  • Rick Sordelet, Titus Andronicus
  • Rick Sordelet, Ulster American
  • Sordelet Inc., The Lost Boys

Outstanding Adaptation

*Oedipus, Robert Icke

  • and her Children Rosie Glen-Lambert and Hailey McAfee
  • Are the Bennet Girls Ok?, Emily Breeze
  • Pride & Prejudice, Abigail Pickard Price, with Sarah Gobran and Matt Pinches
  • Room 204, Zusammen Theatre Project (Dennis Flanagan and Anjelica Fellini)
  • The Imaginary Invalid, Lucie Tiberghien

Outstanding Revue

*About Time

  • Baile Cangrejero
  • I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical

Unique Theatrical Experience

*Burnout Paradise

  • Amaze
  • Color Theories
  • ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
  • Rheology
  • Slanted Floors

Special awards

Award

Recipient

Ensemble Award

The cast of Marjorie Prime: Danny Burstein, Christopher Lowell, Cynthia Nixon, and June Squibb

The cast of Spread: Daniel Bravo Hernandez, Danny Gómez, Ishmael Gonzalez, Jaden Perez, and Luis Vega

Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award

Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland

Drama Desk Special Award

Initiative by Else Went, director Emma Rosa Went, ensemble: Olivia Rose Barresi, Brandon Burk, Greg Cuellar, Harrison Densmore, Carson Higgins, Andrea Lopez Alvarez, Jamie Sanders, and Christopher Dylan White

Masquerade and Diane Paulus

Productions with multiple nominations

Nominations

Production

10

Beau the Musical

Mexodus

9

The Seat of Our Pants

8

Ragtime

The Balusters

7

The Baker's Wife

6

Death of a Salesman

The Rocky Horror Show

5

The Lost Boys

Well, I'll Let You Go

4

Becky Shaw

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Goddess

Lights Out: Nat "King Cole"

Oedipus

Schmigadoon!

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Titus Andronicus

3

Caroline

Cold War Choir Practice

Kenrex

Meet the Cartozians

Prince Faggot

Try/Step/Trip

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

2

Amahl and the Night Visitors

Amaze

and her Children

Are the Bennett Girls Ok?

Ceremonies in Dark Old Men

Chess

Initiative

Joe Turner's Come and Gone

My Joy is Heavy

Oh Happy Day!

Saturday Church

Tartuffe

The Adding Machine

The Brothers Size

The Imaginary Invalid

The Monsters

The Porch on Windy Hill

The Reservoir

Weather Girl

See also

  • 79th Tony Awards
  • 92nd Drama League Awards
  • 41st Lucille Lortel Awards
  • 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards
  • 2026 Laurence Olivier Awards
  • New York Drama Critics' Circle
  • Theatre World Award
  • Obie Award
  • Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography

References