Theatre Washington celebrated the region’s vibrant professional theater community on Monday, May 18, 2026, during the 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards at The Anthem on the District Wharf. More than 1,600 theater artists, administrators, supporters, and industry leaders gathered for an evening recognizing outstanding achievement across Washington-area stages. This year’s ceremony was hosted by Felicia Curry, Holly Twyford, and Derrick Truby, who guided audiences through a celebratory evening featuring performances from the Helen Hayes Awards Ensemble and reflections of the creativity and vibrancy of the local theater community.
Recognizing productions presented during the 2025 calendar year, the Helen Hayes Awards honored work from 149 eligible productions, including 42 musicals, 107 plays, and 33 world premieres. Awards were presented across 41 categories, including gender-inclusive performance categories.
Topping the list of individual theater organizations receiving Helen Hayes Awards this year were Arena Stage with eight, followed by Round House Theatre with six, Adventure Theatre MTC and Spooky Action Theater with five and Signature Theatre with four.
The most-awarded productions of the evening included Damn Yankees from Arena Stage with eight honors, followed by The Inheritance: Parts One and Two from Round House Theatre, and Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show from Spooky Action Theater, each with five honors.
Outstanding Productions in 2025 went to Kimberly Akimbo from Broadway at the National (Non-Resident Production), Not Your Mother’s Goose! from Adventure Theatre MTC (Theatre for Young Audiences), Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show from Spooky Action Theater (Musical, Helen), Damn Yankees from Arena Stage (Musical, Hayes), The Immigrant from Synetic Theater in association with Theater J (Play, Helen), and The Inheritance: Parts One and Two from Round House Theatre (Play, Hayes).
Additional highlights from the evening included honors for Lili-Anne Brown for Outstanding Director of a Musical, Hayes for Play On! at Signature Theatre; Tom Story for Outstanding Director of a Play, Hayes for The Inheritance: Parts One and Two at Round House Theatre; and Alexandria Wailes for Outstanding Director of a Musical, Helen for A Strange Loop from Visionaries of the Creative Arts & Deaf Austin Theatre and Autumn Angelettie for Outstanding Director of Play, Helen for Furlough’s Paradise from Theater Alliance.
The evening also featured the presentation of the inaugural Transformative Cultural Impact Award to philanthropist, business leader, and arts advocate Adrienne Arsht in recognition of her decades long commitment to advancing arts and culture nationally and internationally. Arsht’s transformational support of cultural institutions includes landmark investments in the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and numerous initiatives supporting civic engagement, resilience, and the arts.
The 2026 Helen Hayes Awards were supported by a distinguished group of sponsors and community partners, including Events DC, Destination DC, Downtown DC BID, Share Fund, TodayTix, Giant Food, Tang Reserve Tea, University of Maryland College Park School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, and OTJ Architects. Honorary Chairs were Luke Frazier and Robert Pullen, with Leadership Circle Committee, Jan Du Plain, Edie Fraser, Catherine Hand, Beth Mendelson, Annie Simonian Totah, Robin Phillips, Jose Alberto Ucles and Tom Noll and Bonnie Nelson Schwartz, Founder of the Helen Hayes Awards.
Produced and administered by Theatre Washington, the Helen Hayes Awards recognize excellence in professional theater throughout the greater Washington region and celebrate one of the nation’s most dynamic theatre communities. Named for legendary actress Helen Hayes, a Washington native known as the “First Lady of the American Theatre,” the awards have recognized outstanding achievement in professional theater throughout the Washington region for more than four decades.
LINKS TO COME
Complete lists of 2026 Helen Hayes Award recipients:
Recipients (alpha order by name)
Recipients by Production (count)
Recipients by Production (alpha)
Recipients by Theatre (count)
Recipients by Theatre (alpha)
About Theatre Washington
Through collaborative partnerships and programs, Theatre Washington supports the Washington, DC-area’s professional theater community, celebrating artistic achievement, strengthening the theatrical workforce, supporting institutional growth, and cultivating collective action. Core programs include the Helen Hayes Awards, Theatre Week, Theatre Summit, Theatre Work, and the Taking Care Fund.
SEE ALSO:
Theatre Washington announces nominees for 2026 Helen Hayes Awards (news story, February 23, 2026)
Theatre Washington to host 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards (news story, April 15, 2026)
