The Ian Charleson Awards 2026 nominees have been announced, recognising outstanding performances by actors under 30 in classical theatre roles. The winners will be revealed later this year at a ceremony hosted by the National Theatre.

The annual Ian Charleson Awards celebrate actors under the age of 30 who have delivered exceptional performances in classical stage productions, specifically plays written before 1918. This year’s nominees include performers from prominent theatre companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the National Theatre.

Notable nominees include Daniel Adeosun, aged 26, for Much Ado About Nothing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Nia Towle, 28, for her role in Hamlet with the same company. Mason Alexander Park, 29, is also nominated for performances in The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The list features a range of emerging talent across the UK’s classical theatre circuit, including Isis Hainsworth for Measure for Measure at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Francesca Mills for Hamlet at the National Theatre. Other nominees cover a diverse set of classical plays from Romeo and Juliet to The Seagull and Three Sisters.

Established in memory of the late Ian Charleson, the awards have a longstanding reputation for highlighting promising young actors in demanding classical roles. Winners will be announced later in the year at a ceremony held at the National Theatre, a venue synonymous with British theatrical heritage.

The full list of nominees reflects the strength and breadth of young classical acting talent in British theatre, with many actors receiving recognition for performances in well-known plays staged at some of the country’s most respected theatres.