Join us at The Hannah on 6 December for the Wellington Theatre Awards, Ngā Whakarākei O Whātaitai 2026, celebrating excellence in theatre.
We are excited to announce our new creative team for 2026: Co-hosts Maeve O'Connell and Raureti Ormond, and Creative Director, Parekawa Finlay.
For more information, please go to News page.
Photography Credit: Renati Waaka
Nominations open for 2027 Judging Panel
We are seeking expressions of interest for three new judges to join our wonderful judging panel for 2027! This is a volunteer position. For more information, please go to Current Vacancies page. Or submit your nomination here:
Nominations open for 2026 Community &
Backstage Awards
⭐️ Community Awards: We invite you to submit your nominations for individuals or companies that have made a significant and positive impact on our community in their work and practice across the last year for a
Especially those whose efforts are behind the scenes and sometimes go unnoticed - from Ushers, Volunteers, Publicists and all our unsung heroes across Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
⭐️ Backstage Award: We invited you to submit your nominations to recognise the theatre practitioners that work backstage and have demonstrated excellence vital to the success of theatre in Wellington this year. The Backstage Award is open to nominations from the wider sector and the winner is selected by the judges.
The specific roles that are eligible are Operators, Production Managers, Stage Managers. This can be summed up as: Excellence in the fields of Technical Operation (Sound, Lighting, Vision) or Arts Management (Stage, Production or Technical).
Community Award Nominations and Backstage Award Nominations also close at 10pm on Thursday 12th November 2026.
Submit your nomination here:

The 2026 Awards are proudly supported by:

Wellington Theatre Awards 1998

Scriptwriter
Gerald Bryan
Ceremony Director
Donna Akersten
Judges
Laurie Atkinson - The Evening Post
Susan Budd - The Dominion
Lynn Freeman - Capital Times
Denis Welch - New Zealand Listener
Outstanding New Writer
Victor Rodger - Sons
Also nominated:
Virginia Fenton - Purple Frog
Lucy Schmidt - Trash
Outstanding New New Zealand Play
Sons by Victor Rodger
Also nominated:
The Farm by David Geary
Home Fires by Hone Kouka
Production of the Year
Closer directed by Cathy Downes
Also nominated:
Cabaret directed by Colin McColl
Vita and Virginia directed by Cathy Downes
Most Original Production of the Year
Dirt - Bret McKenzie, Jeremy Randerson, Jackie van Beek, Gentiane Lupi, Jason Whyte
Also nominated:
Frangipani Perfume - Erolia Ifopo
The Abattoir - Stephen Bain & France Hervé
Most Promising Male Newcomer
Robbie Magasiva - Sons
Also nominated:
Adam Brookfield - Wolf Lullaby
Mark Sant - Tricycle
Most Promising Female Newcomer
Helen Jones - The Farm
Also nominated:
Gentiane Lupi - The Abattoir
Konstantina Tsinas - Wolf Lullaby
Costume Designer of the Year
Paul Jenden - Dirty Weekends
Also nominated:
Sean Coyle - Heretic
Nic Smillie - A Christmas Carol
Lighting Designer of the Year
Lisa Maule - Home Fires
Also nominated:
Michael Leger - An Unreasonable Fall of Snow
Helen Todd - The Butterfly's Evil Spell
Set Designer of the Year
Tony Rabbit - A Christmas Carol
Also nominated:
Nicole Cosgrove - An Unreasonable Fall of Snow
Mark McEntyre - Home Fires
Sound Designer of the Year
Nigel Scott - An Unreasonable Fall of Snow
Also nominated:
Christiaan Ercolano & David Downes - Closer
Outstanding Performance
Helen Moulder - Vita and Virginia
Outstanding Performance
Jennifer Ludlam - Vita and Virginia
Outstanding Performance
Anna McPhail - Wolf Lullaby
Actress of the Year
Alice Fraser - Amy's View
Actor of the Year
David Fane - Sons
Also nominated in the acting categories:
Marton Csokas - Closer
Katherine McRae - Closer
Lucy Schmidt - Trash
Brian Sergent - Closer
Jeffrey Thomas - An Unreasonable Fall of Snow
Director of the Year
Cathy Downes - Closer
Also nominated:
Colin McColl - Cabaret
Susan Wilson - Amy's View
Significant Contribution to Theatre
John McDavitt - Former director of Playmarket
