NEW YORK — On Sunday, June 7, 2026, the theater world gathered under the glittering chandeliers of Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards, and from the very first moment, it was clear this would not be a typical ceremony. With pop superstar Pink serving as an unexpected but electrifying host, the night unfolded as a celebration of resilience, record-breaking achievements, and the sheer, joyful spectacle of live performance.
Here are some of the key moments and major winners from Broadway’s biggest night.
A Host in Perfect Pink
In a move that raised eyebrows at first, the producers tapped Grammy-winning singer Pink to helm the ceremony. By the end of the night, critics and audiences agreed it was a stroke of genius. Pink admitted her outsider status in the opening number—”For some reason, I’m the host”—before launching into a dizzying nine-minute spectacle.
Suspended in mid-air as Peter Pan before flipping into a high-energy rendition of “Lady Marmalade” alongside a 170-person cast including Lea Michele and Megan Thee Stallion, Pink showed that charisma and raw vocal power can cross any genre line. The New York Times praised her as “warm but not cloying, shiny but not slick,” noting that as the mother of a Broadway superfan, she perfectly embodied the idea “that theater is meant to be loved by everyone”.
History Made at 80: Lithgow and Manville Shine
While the evening celebrated several first-time winners, the most emotional moments belonged to seasoned veterans making history.
John Lithgow, at 80 years old, became the oldest male actor ever to win a competitive Tony Award for his searing performance as a cantankerous Roald Dahl in the play Giant. The win also marked a staggering 53-year gap since his first Tony in 1973, the longest span between acting wins in the awards’ history. “Two Tony bookends with 53 years between them,” Lithgow marveled on stage. “I’ve had dozens of ecstatic moments on stage… but this moment has got to be one of the best.”
British actress Lesley Manville also took home her first Tony for her Broadway debut as Jocasta in Oedipus. At 70, she won Best Leading Actress in a Play, joking to her fellow nominees, “Would someone like to write a play for five women? We are quite bankable.”
The Big Winners: ‘Salesman’ Dominates, ‘Liberation’ Surprises
The night’s top awards were spread across several productions, reflecting a season of “shrinkflation” (only 11 musicals opened compared to 21 the previous year) that was still rich in quality.
The revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman was the numerical victor, taking home six awards including Best Play Revival. Director Joe Mantello won for his direction, Laurie Metcalf won for her performance as Linda Loman, and the production also swept the design categories.
In the biggest upset of the night, Bess Wohl’s Liberation—about a 197s women’s consciousness-raising group—won Best New Play. It was a surprise victory over the heavily favored Giant, and marked the first time an American woman had won the category since Wendy Wasserstein in 1989. “I want to honor women everywhere who have the courage to use their voice,” an emotional Wohl said.
On the musical side, Schmigadoon! (adapted from the Apple TV+ series) won Best New Musical, while the revival of Ragtime won Best Musical Revival. Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy, both stars of Ragtime, won their first Tony Awards for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Musical.
Ballroom, Vampires, and a ‘Time Warp’
Beyond the trophies, the performances made the night unforgettable. Cats: The Jellicle Ball brought ballroom culture to the Tonys stage, complete with a surprise cameo from Paul Rudd waving a cat sign from the audience. The show won three awards, including Best Choreography and a history-making win for Qween Jean (Best Costume Design of a Musical), who became the first openly transgender person to win a Tony Award.
The cast of The Lost Boys brought punk-rock vampire energy to Radio City, while Rachel Dratch and Luke Evans led the audience in a stadium-style “Time Warp” during The Rocky Horror Show segment. Ali Louis Bourzgui, who won Best Featured Actor for The Lost Boys, gave the most politically charged speech of the night, shouting out immigrants, queer rights, and the people of Palestine.
During the In Memoriam segment, Leslie Odom Jr. delivered a somber performance of “Without You” from Rent, honoring the musical’s 30th anniversary while paying tribute to the stars the industry has lost.
Final Tally
- Death of a Salesman: 6 wins
- The Lost Boys: 4 wins
- Ragtime: 4 wins
- Schmigadoon!: 4 wins
- Cats: The Jellicle Ball: 3 wins
As the curtain fell on Radio City Music Hall, the message of the 2026 Tonys was clear: Broadway is back, it’s stranger than ever, and in the hands of legends like Lithgow and newcomers alike, the show will always go on.
by SANDRA KANE