The Stage Debut Awards 2026 have announced their winners, recognising emerging theatre talent across the UK, including Sadie Sink and Ava Pickett. The awards celebrate first-time professional and West End appearances by performers and creatives.

The 2026 Stage Debut Awards, held in association with Netflix, revealed winners encompassing a range of disciplines from acting and writing to directing and design. The ceremony highlights new professionals making notable debuts in the UK theatre scene, with performances across West End stages, tours, and regional venues.

Sadie Sink won Best West End Debut Performer for her role in Romeo and Juliet at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Ava Pickett took the award for Best Creative West End Debut for her writing on the production 1536, staged at the Ambassadors Theatre.

Other acting winners included Robert Aramayo and Zoë Armer, who shared Best Performer in a Play for their work in Guess How Much I Love You? at the Royal Court Theatre and The Virgins at Soho Theatre, respectively. Julianne Pundan and James Spence jointly won Best Performer in a Musical for their roles in Miss Saigon and Thespians.

Chris Ashworth-Bennion’s writing for The Red Rogue of Bala was among nominees, but the Best Writer award went to Georgie Dettmer for Are You Watching? at the Royal Court Theatre. Tommaso Giacomin won Best Director for The Uncontainable Nausea of Alec Baldwin at New Diorama Theatre.

Design recognition was given to Natalie Roar for costume design on Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre, while composer and lyricist Jordan Luke Gage was named Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer for Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse Borough.

The awards also included nominations for notable West End debuts by performers such as Liv Hill in 1536 and seasoned actors like Brendan Gleeson in The Weir at the Harold Pinter Theatre. The event continues to shine a light on the early stages of promising theatre careers across the UK.