Heart Musicals has been confirmed as the exclusive broadcast partner for the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, taking listeners live backstage at the London Palladium on Sunday 8 March 2026.
Now in their 26th year and their third at the London Palladium, the WhatsOnStage Awards remain the only major UK theatre awards decided entirely by theatregoers.
This year’s nominees span productions across the UK, with Paddington The Musical leading with a record 14 nominations. Other recognised shows include Evita, The Great Gatsby and Hercules. In the play categories, nominated performers include Jonathan Bailey, Ncuti Gatwa, Tom Hiddleston and Rosamund Pike, with titles such as The Importance of Being Earnest, Much Ado About Nothing, Stereophonic and Among other things also represented.
 
 
 
 
Broadcasting from 7pm to 10pm, Heart Musicals will interview winners the moment they leave the stage and share highlights from the ceremony, alongside a playlist celebrating nominated and award‑winning productions.
The station champions the biggest musical theatre hits from stage and screen and promises to bring listeners the atmosphere of the night.
The broadcast will be hosted by Heart’s Lindsey Russell, a passionate theatre fan known to listeners of Heart’s Early Breakfast Show.
Lindsey said: “It’s been another brilliant year of theatre and I can’t wait to celebrate the best of the West End at the legendary London Palladium. I’m looking forward to chatting to all the winners backstage and bringing Heart Musicals listeners all the excitement from the awards.”
Alex Wood, Editor‑in‑Chief at WhatsOnStage, said: “We’re thrilled to be linking up with Heart Musicals as exclusive broadcast partner for this year’s WhatsOnStage Awards. As an audience-voted awards with national scope, it’s only right that listeners can tune in and hear first-hand from the exciting talents staging brilliant theatre night after night. Bring on Sunday!”
This year’s ceremony is co‑produced with creative directors Alex Parker and Damian Sandys and will feature live performances accompanied by a 24‑piece orchestra.
 
 
 
 
Gina Murray and Mazz Murray will return as hosts after leading last year’s event and will open the ceremony with a performance.
Planned performances include numbers from 13 Going On 30 the Musical, Hercules the Musical, Paddington The Musical, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and Hope Mill Theatre’s revival of Young Frankenstein. A further performance from an upcoming musical revival will also be announced.
Final tickets for the ceremony are now on sale, with voting having closed last month.
More information can be found here.
