How to watch 'Olivier Awards 2026' – live stream ceremony for FREE

Press shot of the bust of the Olivier Award on a plinth. — (Image credit: BBC)

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The "Olivier Awards 2026" from the Royal Albert Hall will be hosted by actor-comedian Nick Mohammed and remain the highest honor bestowed in British theater. This will be the event's 50th anniversary, marking a year in which "Phantom of the Opera" and "Wicked" have chalked up four and two decades, respectively on the West End...

Here's how to watch "Laurence Olivier Awards 2026" online from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE

"Olivier Awards 2026" - Dates, time, channel

The "Olivier Awards 2026" will be on BBC Two at 7 p.m. BST on Sunday, April 12. It will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer on demand.
• WATCH FREE — BBC Two / BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free

It's a night for the luvvies worldwide, even if technically it's only London shows that are up for gongs. Hollywood royalty will also be in attendance as Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett and Rosamund Pike are all up for best actor/actress awards

Expect performances from musicals "Paddington" and "Into The Woods" (11 nominations each), "Evita" (five), "The Producers" (four), "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" (two) and "Shucked" (two) and a Special Award for singer and actress Elaine Paige.

Those on award presenting duty will include Adjoa Andoh, Monica Barbaro, Minnie Driver, Ambika Mod, David Harewood, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren, Richard Osman, Arlene Phillips, Sam Ryder, Russell Tovey and Matt Willis.

Read on to find out how to watch "Olivier Awards 2026" online, on TV and from anywhere.

How to watch 'Olivier Awards 2026' for FREE in the U.K.

How to watch 'Olivier Awards 2026' abroad

Thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), the "Laurence Olivier Awards 2026" should be available to Brits no matter where they are. The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you find yourself. Our favorite is NordVPN.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from the U.K. and want to view a U.K. service, you'd select U.K. from the list.

3. Sit back and watch the show. Head to BBC iPlayer to watch "Olivier Awards 2026" online and on-demand.

How to watch 'Olivier Awards 2026' around the world

How to watch 'Olivier Awards 2026' in the United States live and on demand

Though the "Olivier Awards 2026" don't have a dedicated broadcaster in the U.S., there is still a way to watch.

That's because organizers The Official London Theatre will be showing the event live and on demand on its YouTube channel for free if you live in any country that isn't the U.K.. Yep, the U.S. included.

Remember, if you are a Brit in the States for work or on vacation you can catch the show for FREE now by using a VPN such as NordVPN, choosing U.K. from the list and selecting BBC iPlayer.

British flag — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Watch 'Olivier Awards 2026' online and on demand in the U.K.

The "Olivier Awards 2026" will be shown on BBC Two at 7 p.m. BST on Sunday, April 12. It will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

And, you don't have to miss it if you a Brit exiled abroad because you can unblock BBC iPlayer with a VPN. We recommend NordVPN.

Watch 'Olivier Awards 2026' online or on TV in Canada

Canadian flag — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

As with the U.S., the "Olivier Awards 2026" will be available to stream for FREE on the Official London Theatre's YouTube channel in Canada.

Are you a Brit in the Great White North for work or on vacation and want to watch the BBC iPlayer coverage? you'll a VPN such as NordVPN.

Watch the 'Olivier Awards 2026' online in Australia

Australian flag — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Yep, same again Down Under, where theater lovers can watch the "Olivier Awards 2026" for FREE via the Official London Theatre YouTube channel.

However, if you are a Brit working or on vacation Down Under and you want to catch the show on the BBC you can do so by using a VPN such as NordVPN.

Watch 'Olivier Awards 2026' online in New Zealand

New Zealand flag — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Kiwis can also watch the "Olivier Awards 2026" for FREE on the Official London Theatre YouTube channel.

Remember, if you are a Brit currently in the land of the kiwi for work or vacation you can catch the show on BBC iPlayer by using a VPN such as NordVPN.

'Olivier Awards 2026' - Nominees (major awards)

BEST NEW PLAY

· 1536 by Ava Pickett – Almeida Theatre

· Inter Alia by Suzie Miller – National Theatre Lyttelton

· Kenrex by Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian – The Other Palace

· Punch by James Graham – Young Vic and Apollo Theatre

BEST NEW MUSICAL

· Here We Are – National Theatre Lyttelton

· Paddington – Savoy Theatre

· Shucked – Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

· The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry – Theatre Royal Haymarket

BEST REVIVAL

· All My Sons – Wyndham's Theatre

· Arcadia – The Old Vic

· Much Ado About Nothing – Theatre Royal Drury Lane

· The Seagull – Barbican Theatre

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL

· American Psycho – Almeida Theatre

· Evita – London Palladium

· Into the Woods – Bridge Theatre

· The Producers – Garrick Theatre

BEST ENTERTAINMENT OR COMEDY PLAY

· The Comedy about Spies by Henry Lewis and Henry Shields – Noël Coward Theatre

· Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe – @sohoplace

· Oh, Mary! by Cole Escola – Trafalgar Theatre

· Paranormal Activity by Levi Holloway (based on original text by Oren Peli) – Ambassadors Theatre

BEST FAMILY SHOW

· The Boy at the Back of the Class – Rose Theatre

· The Boy with Wings – Polka Theatre

· The Firework-Maker's Daughter – Polka Theatre

· The Three Little Pigs – Unicorn Theatre

BEST ACTOR

· Bryan Cranston as Joe Keller in All My Sons – Wyndham's Theatre

· Sean Hayes as Oscar Levant in Good Night, Oscar – Barbican Theatre

· Tom Hiddleston as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing – Theatre Royal

· Jack Holden as Performer in Kenrex – The Other Palace

· David Shields as Jacob Dunne in Punch – Young Vicand Apollo Theatre

BEST ACTRESS

· Cate Blanchett as Irina Arkadina in The Seagull – Barbican Theatre

· Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Kate Keller in All My Sons – Wyndham's Theatre

· Julia McDermott as Stacey in Weather Girl – Soho Theatre

· Rosamund Pike as Jessica Parks in Inter Alia – National Theatre Lyttelton

· Rosie Sheehy as Her in Guess How Much I Love You? – Jerwood Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

· Marc Antolin as Leo Bloom in The Producers – Garrick Theatre

· James Hameed and Arti Shah as Young Man and Paddington in Paddington – Savoy Theatre

· Andy Nyman as Max Bialystock in The Producers – Garrick Theatre

· Jamie Parker as The Baker in Into the Woods – Bridge Theatre

· Diego Andres Rodriguez as Che in Evita – London Palladium

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

· Katie Brayben as The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods– Bridge Theatre

· Danielle Fiamanya and Georgina Onuorah as Fiona Maclaren in Brigadoon – Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

· Jane Krakowski as Marianne Brink in Here We Are – Royal National Theatre

· Jenna Russell as Maureen Fry in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry – Theatre Royal Haymarket

· Rachel Zegler as Eva Perón in Evita – London Palladium

BEST DIRECTOR

· Jordan Fein for Into the Woods – Bridge Theatre

· Luke Sheppard for Paddington – Savoy Theatre

· Ed Stambollouian for Kenrex – The Other Palace

· Lyndsey Turner for 1536 – Almeida Theatre

· Ivo van Hove for All My Sons – Wyndham's Theatre

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL CONRIBUTION

· Matthew Brind for arranging and orchestrating Paddington – Savoy Theatre

· Will Butler for orchestrating and songwriting and Justin Craig for orchestrating Stereophonic – Duke of York's Theatre

· John Patrick Elliott for Kenrex – The Other Palace

· Chris Fenwick for arranging and music supervising and Sean Hayes for live piano of Rhapsody in Blue in Good Night, Oscar – Barbican Theatre

BEST NEW DANCE PRODUCTION

· Into the Hairy by Sharon Eyal, S-E-D – Sadler's Wells

· Mimi's Shebeen by KVS and Alesandra Seutin – Sadler's Wells East

· Random Taranto by María del Mar Suárez (La Chachi), Dance Umbrella: Change Tempo – The Pit at Barbican

· She's Auspicious by Mythili Prakash – Sadler's Wells East

BEST NEW OPERA PRODUCTION

· Dead Man Walking, English National Opera – London Coliseum

· The Makropulos Case, Royal Opera – Royal Opera House

· Tosca, Royal Opera – Royal Opera House

· The Valkyrie, Royal Opera – Royal Opera House

SPECIAL AWARD

· Elaine Paige

'Olivier Awards 2026' - FAQ

Who was Laurence Olivier?

Olivier (May 1907 to July 1989) was an English actor/ director from the early 1930s onwards and soon became one of the pre-eminent stars of the stage renowned for acclaimed performances as Hamlet, Richard III and Coriolanus.

He was also an Oscar-winning actor with a glittering film career and, latterly, delivered landmark performances on television.

The Olivier Awards have been named in his honor since 1984

What else can I watch on BBC iPlayer?

Lots – including "Riot Women", "Mr Nobody Against Putin", "Tár", "Doctor Who: Joy to the World", "Strictly Come Dancing", "Outnumbered" and plenty more.

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Bill Borrows is an award-winning journalist, feature writer and columnist (Times Magazine/ Guardian/ Telegraph/ Daily Mirror/ Mail On Sunday/ Radio Times), former editor-at-large at Loaded magazine, author (The Hurricane: The Turbulent Life and Times of Alex Higgins) and book editor. A frequent contributor on talkSPORT and talkRADIO, his areas of specialisation include sport, history, politics, TV and film. He doesn’t get much free time but does admit to an addiction to true crime podcasts, following Man City home and away, and a weakness for milk chocolate cookies.

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How to watch 'Olivier Awards 2026' for FREE – live stream ceremony online from anywhere