The 2026 Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland were revealed at Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre, recognising standout productions and performances from the season. Karine Polwart’s Windblown and The High Life: The Musical emerged as key winners.

The awards ceremony took place on 21 June at the Citizens Theatre, which recently reopened following refurbishment. Windblown, created by Karine Polwart and Raw Material, won Best Production and the award for music and sound. This work explores the history of a Sabal palm tree in Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden.

Outstanding Performance prizes were awarded to Jessica Hardwick for her role in Gush at the Traverse Theatre and Johnny McKnight for She’s Behind You!, a joint production by the National Theatre of Scotland and Traverse Theatre. Hardwick’s win marks her second time receiving this accolade.

Best Ensemble went to The High Life: The Musical, a co-production involving the National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep, with support from Aberdeen Performing Arts and Capital Theatres. The cast features notable names including Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Siobhán Redmond, and Patrick Ryecart.

Dominic Hill took home Best Director for his work on Waiting for Godot, a collaboration between Citizens Theatre, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, and Octagon Theatre Bolton. This was Hill’s sixth time winning in this category.

Milly Sweeney’s Water Colour was named Best New Play. The production was staged by the Byre Theatre alongside Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and Pitlochry Festival Theatre, and stood out among over 90 new works presented across Scotland in the 2025–26 period.

Other winners included Citizens Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast for Best Production for Children and Young People, and Perth Theatre’s The Snow Queen for Outstanding Pantomime. Design awards went to Mai Katsume for set and costume and Simon Wilkinson for lighting in the Vanishing Point and Katapult Teater co-production What I’m Here For.

Shotput Theatre garnered the technical award for Arlington. The evening was hosted by actor Gavin Mitchell, marking a celebratory return to Citizens Theatre’s stage after its refurbishment.

The awards reflect a diverse and vibrant theatre scene in Scotland, highlighting both new works and established talents across multiple venues and styles.