The 2026 Pantomime Awards celebrated leading figures in UK pantomime with Brian Conley and Lesley Joseph receiving the inaugural Panto Icon Awards. The ceremony, held at High Wycombe’s Wycombe Swan, also recognised a range of creative and performance achievements across the nation.

Winners of the 2026 Pantomime Awards were announced at a ceremony on 19 April at Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe. The awards, staged in partnership with Trafalgar Entertainment and ATG Entertainment, recognise excellence across the pantomime industry.

Brian Conley and Lesley Joseph were presented with the first-ever Panto Icon Awards, recognising their longstanding contributions to the artform. Vernon Kay hosted the event, which also celebrated veteran designer Terry Parsons with an Outstanding Achievement award.

Gary Wilmot won Best Direction for his work on Cinderella at Richmond Theatre, while Jeevan Braich received Best Newcomer to Pantomime for his performance in Cinderella at Norwich Theatre Royal. The event additionally honoured categories such as Best Choreography awarded to Claire Cassidy for Sleeping Beauty at Harlow Playhouse.

Other winners included Nigel Harman as Best Villain for Jack and the Beanstalk at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre and Allan Stewart taking the Stanley Baxter Award for Best Dame in the same production at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre. Best Principal Lead went to Sario Solomon in Aladdin at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre.

Anita Harris, president of the UK Pantomime Association, praised the ceremony as a “meaningful celebration” of pantomime and highlighted Terry Parsons’ “extraordinary imagination and artistry” in shaping the genre’s identity.

The awards also recognised backstage and technical achievements, including Best Lighting for Nic Farman’s work on Sleeping Beauty at Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall Theatre and Best Set Design awarded to Kenny Miller for Gallus in Weegieland at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre.

The Pantomime Awards mark their fifth anniversary this year, underpinning the sustained vitality and innovation within pantomime across the UK theatre landscape.