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 2004


Presenters
Cohen Holloway & Cath Harkins
Ceremony Director
Damon Andrews
Judges
Laurie Atkinson - The Dominion Post
Mary-Ann Bourke - Sunday Star Times
Emily Bournstein - Salient
Lynn Freeman - Capital Times
Harry Ricketts - New Zealand Listener
John Smythe - The National Business Review
The Absolutely Positively Outstanding New New Zealand Play of the Year
Niu Sila by Oscar Kightley and Dave Armstrong
Also nominated:
The Love of Humankind by Brian Sergent
The Prophet by Hone Kouka
Peter Harcourt Award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year
Brian Sergent - The Love of Humankind
Also nominated:
Vela Manusaute - The Taro King
Paul Rothwell - Golden Boys
Production of the Year
Albert Speer - Albert Speer Collective
Also nominated:
Niu Sila - directed by Conrad Newport
The Shape of Things - directed by Colin McColl
Most Original Production of the Year
Sniper - The 24/7 Project and BATS Theatre
Also nominated:
The Peculiar Case of Clara Parsons - The Clinic
Yatra - The Untouchables
Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year
Kip Champan - Big River
Also nominated:
Jamie McCaskill - When Sun and Moon Collide
Erroll Shand - The Ghost of Woody Allen
Most Promising Female Newcomer of the Year
Danielle Mason - Collected Stories
Also nominated:
Anya Tate-Manning - Ugly Customers
Sonia Yee - Monkey
Most Promising New Director of the Year
Ryan Hartigan - After Kafka
Also nominated:
Rachel More - This Lime Tree Bower
Kerryn Palmer - Sniper
Outstanding Performance
Danielle Mason - The Shape of Things
Outstanding Performance
Matt Wilson - Vincent in Brixton
Actress of the Year
Carmel McGlone - Macbeth
Actor of the Year
Paul McLaughlin - Albert Speer
Also nominated for acting awards:
David Fane - Niu Sila
Brian Sergent - The Love of Humankind
Irene Wood - Collected Stories
Supporting Actress of the Year
Heather O'Carroll - The Shape of Things
Also nominated:
Tanea Heke - The Prophet
Loren Horsley - Up for Grabs
Supporting Actor of the Year
KC Kelly - Macbeth
Also nominated:
Jed Brophy - Wednesday to Come
Robert Tripe - The Cherry Orchard
Costume Designer of the Year
Gillie Coxill - Big River
Also nominated:
Tony De Goldi - Cloud Nine
Donna Jefferis - She Stoops to Conquer
Lighting Designer of the Year
Jennifer Lal - Oho Ake
Also nominated:
Lisa Maule - Cloud Nine
Martyn Roberts - Albert Speer
Set Designer of the Year
John Parker - Big River
Also nominated:
John Hodgkins - Vincent in Brixton
Kerryn Palmer - Sniper
Sound Designer of the Year
Stephen Gallagher - Oho Ake
Also nominated:
James Dunlop - Wheeler's Luck
.leyton - The Peculiar Case of Clara Parsons
Outstanding Composer of Original Music
Jane Pierard - Sniper
Also nominated:
Dan Adams - Romeo and Juliet
Gareth Farr - Monkey
Director of the Year
David O'Donnell - Albert Speer
Also nominated:
Ross Jolly - The Shape of Things
Conrad Newport - Niu Sila
Mayor's Award for Significant Contribution to the Theatre
Bill Brien
