Nominations have been announced for the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards, which honor excellence across Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway productions from New York City’s 2025–2026 theater season. The milestone ceremony is set for Sunday, May 17, 2026, at The Town Hall in New York City, marking a return to the historic venue for the first time since the 2020 theater shutdown.
Raúl Esparza and Helen J Shen revealed this year’s nominees at The Lambs in New York City, spotlighting a season defined by bold new works, ambitious revivals, and a strong Off-Broadway presence. Beau the Musical and Mexodus lead all productions with 10 nominations each, while Ragtime and The Balusters follow closely with eight nods apiece.
Winners will be announced at the May 17 ceremony hosted by Marla Mindelle, get into the 2025–2026 Drama Desk Award Nominees below:
Outstanding Play
- Caroline, by Preston Max Allen
- Cold War Choir Practice, by Ro Reddick
- Meet the Cartozians, by Talene Monahon
- Prince Faggot, by Jordan Tannahill
- The Balusters, by David Lindsay-Abaire
- The Porch on Windy Hill, by Sherry Stregnack Lutken, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Morgan Morse & David M. Lutken
- Well, I’ll Let You Go, by Bubba Weiler
Outstanding Musical
- Beau the Musical
- Mexodus
- Schmigadoon!
- The Seat of Our Pants
- Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Outstanding Revival of a Play
- Becky Shaw
- Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
- Death of a Salesman
- Los Soles Truncos
- Titus Andronicus
- You Got Older
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
- Amahl and the Night Visitors
- Chess
- Ragtime
- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- The Baker’s Wife
- The Rocky Horror Show
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
- 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
- John Lithgow, Giant
- Lesley Manville, Oedipus
- 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 Lead Performance in a Musical
- Nicholas Christopher, Chess
- Micaela Diamond, The Seat of Our Pants
- Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show
- Joshua Henry, Ragtime
- Dule Hill, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
- Amber Iman, Goddess
- Caissie Levy, Ragtime
- 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 Play
- 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
- Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw
- Linda Emond, Becky Shaw
- David Greenspan, Prince Faggot
- River Lipe-Smith, Caroline
- Lizan Mitchell, Cold War Choir Practice
- Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
- Richard Thomas, The Balusters
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
- Chris Blisset, Beau the Musical
- Max Clayton, Schmigadoon!
- Lilli Cooper, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Stephanie Hsu, The Rocky Horror Show
- Judy Kuhn, The Baker’s Wife
- 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
- Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime
- Layton Williams, Titaníque
Outstanding Solo Performance
- Savon Bartley, Holes in the Shape of My Father
- Jack Holden, Kenrex
- Hailey McAfee, and her Children
- Natalie Palamides, Weer
- Julia McDermott, Weather Girl
- Josh Sharp, ta-da!
Outstanding Direction of a Play
- Jesse Berger, Titus Andronicus
- David Cromer, Caroline
- Trip Cullman, Becky Shaw
- Kenny Leon, The Balusters
- Joe Mantello, Death of a Salesman
- Tarell Alvin McCraney & 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
- Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!
- Jared Grimes, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
- Natalie Malotke, Jonathan Platero & Oksana Platero, Blood/Love
- Toran X. Moore, Try/Step/Trip
- Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
- Lauren Yalango-Grant & Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys
Outstanding Music
- The Lazours, Night Side Songs
- Ethan Lipton, The Seat of Our Pants
- Douglas Lyons, Beau the Musical
- Michael Thurber, Goddess
- Quijada & Robinson, Mexodus
Outstanding Lyrics
- Jim Barne & Kit Buchan, Two Strangers
- Dahlak Brathwaite, Try/Step/Trip
- Ethan Lipton, The Seat of Our Pants
- Douglas Lyons, Beau the Musical
- Quijada & Robinson, Mexodus
Outstanding Book of a Musical
- Dahlak Brathwaite, Try/Step/Trip
- Ethan Lipton, The Seat of Our Pants
- Douglas Lyons, Beau the Musical
- Jesse Malin & Lauren Ludwig, Silver Manhattan
- Quijada & Robinson, Mexodus
Outstanding Orchestrations
- Bryan Carter, The Fear of 13
- Daniel Kluger, The Seat of Our Pants
- Lutken/Morse/Johanson team, The Porch on Windy Hill
- 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!
- Mathabane & Zakee, The Brothers Size
- Johnathan Moore, The Imaginary Invalid
- Ro Reddick, Cold War Choir Practice
- Darron L. West & Alexander Sovronsky, The Wild Duck
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play
- Harry Feiner, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
- Soutra Gilmour, Waiting for Godot
- Tatiana Kahvegian, Meet the Cartozians
- Chloe Lamford, Death of a Salesman
- Derek McLane, The Adding Machine
- Derek McLane, The Balusters
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
- Daniel Allen, Beau the Musical
- dots, The Rocky Horror Show
- Rachel Hauck, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
- Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys
- Arnulfo Maldonado, Goddess
- Jason Sherwood, The Baker’s Wife
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play
- Kindall Almond, Initiative
- Enver Chakartash, Meet the Cartozians
- Enver Chakartash, Tartuffe (New York Theatre Workshop)
- Qween Jean, Oh Happy Day!
- Emilio Sosa, The Balusters
- Paul Tazewell, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
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
- Isabella Byrd, Prince Faggot
- Jeff Croiter, The Adding Machine
- Stacey Derosier, Well, I’ll Let You Go
- Jack Knowles, Death of a Salesman
- Kate McGee, without mirrors
- Studio Luna, Marcel on the Train
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
- Mextly Couzin, Mexodus
- Adam Honoré, Amahl and the Night Visitors
- Adam Honoré & Donald Holder, Ragtime
- Bradley King, The Baker’s Wife
- Jen Schriever & Michael Arden, The Lost Boys
- Japhy Weideman & Adam Honoré, Beau the Musical
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play
- Angela Baughman, Initiative
- Caroline Eng, The Unknown
- Tom Gibbons, Oedipus
- Kieran Lucas, Weather Girl
- Nevin Steinberg, Anna Christie
- Giles Thomas, Kenrex
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical
- Jordana Abrenica, Beau the Musical
- Jason Crystal, The Baker’s Wife
- Mikhail Fiksel, Mexodus
- Kai Harada, Ragtime
- Alex Hawthorn & Drew Levy, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole
Outstanding Projection and Video Design
- David Bengali, My Joy is Heavy
- Akhila Krishnan, Kyoto
- Johnny Moreno, Mexodus
- Tal Yarden, Oedipus
Outstanding Wig and Hair Design
- Alberto “Albee” Alvarado, The Rocky Horror Show
- David Brian Brown, The Lost Boys
- David Brian Brown & Victoria Tinsman, Fallen Angels
- Nikiya Mathis, Cats: The Jellicle Ball
- Robert Pickens, Tartuffe (New York Theatre Workshop)
Outstanding Puppetry
- Axtell Expressions, Amaze
- Emily Batsford & Yuliya Tsukerman, 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
- and her Children, Rosie Glen-Lambert & Hailey McAfee
- Are the Bennet Girls Ok?, Emily Breeze
- Oedipus, Robert Icke
- Pride & Prejudice, Abigail Pickard Price with Sarah Gobran & Matt Pinches
- Room 204, Taylor Massa
- The Imaginary Invalid (Molière in the Park), Lucie Tiberghien
Outstanding Revue
- About Time
- Baile Cangrejero
- I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical
Unique Theatrical Experience
- Amaze
- Burnout Paradise
- Color Theories
- ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
- Rheology
- Slanted Floors
Special Awards
Ensemble Awards
- Marjorie Prime (Second Stage Theater revival ensemble)
- Spread (Intar Theatre ensemble cast)
Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award
- Xhloe Rice & Natasha Roland
Additional Special Awards
- Initiative creative team and ensemble
- Diane Paulus and creative team of Masquerade
William Wolf Award
- Richard Maltby Jr. & David Shire
Harold S. Prince Award
- Tom Schumacher