Celebrating the very best of London theatre, the prestigious Olivier Awards ceremony will return to its original broadcast home on the BBC.
The BBC has been named the official broadcast partner of the 50th-anniversary Olivier Awards, celebrating five decades of excellence in British theatre. The ceremony will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 12 April, with highlights to be broadcast on BBC TV and radio.
This year, the ceremony will return to its original broadcast home on the BBC, revisiting a historic relationship that began with the first televised Olivier Awards in 1981.
Audiences can expect a celebration of the best London theatre has to offer, featuring award presentations and special performances by stage stars. The ceremony will also highlight UK theatre’s role in nurturing creative talent, reconnecting with memorable award winners and nominees from across the decades, and the venues that shaped them.
Suzy Klein, Head of BBC Arts and Classical Music TV, said, “As the leading cultural broadcaster in the UK, BBC Arts is committed to sharing world-class performances from across the country. We are delighted to be the official broadcast partner for the 2026 Olivier Awards, bringing the magic of theatre into homes across the nation as part of a rich season of arts programming on the BBC.”
Kash Bennett, President of the Society of London Theatre, added, “I am thrilled that the Olivier Awards are working with the BBC for our 50th anniversary. This prestigious broadcast partnership enables us to shine a spotlight on the past fifty years of London theatre and the vitality of arts and culture.”
The Olivier Awards 2026 will be delivered in partnership with the Society of London Theatre and Penny Lane Entertainment. It was commissioned for BBC Arts by Suzy Klein. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Stephen James-Yeoman.
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