The 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards: everything you need to know

When and where?

Guess who’s back, back again!? For the second consecutive year, we’re making a grand return to the iconic London Palladium. Being our silver anniversary, the 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards promises to be the best ceremony yet. On Sunday, 9 February at 7pm we’ll welcome an almost sold-out auditorium of 2,200 theatre-lovers.

How can I follow on the day?

As always, there are several ways to follow the awards on the big night…

Secure yourself a ticket and be there in person!

You can grab the last remaining tickets for the event itself here and be right in the room where it happens. There you’ll see winners being crowned, alongside all the performances we have lined up, and witness our special surprises first-hand! If you’re a member of the public, you’re free to dress as glamorously as you might want to – but most importantly, feel comfortable!

TikTok

WhatsOnStage are thrilled to be continuing our partnership with TikTok and this year actor and creator Hannah Lowther (Six) will be right in the action on the red carpet. Keep an eye out for all of her videos as nominees and special guests arrive in style. Meanwhile, in the media room, Dujon Anderson will be asking the all-important questions for his channel.

X (formerly Twitter)

As with previous years, we’re going to be live posting about the event as it happens. This will be the perfect place for immediate results, where you can find out who has taken home the coveted prizes. Follow @WhatsOnStage for all the live updates and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WOSAwards to join in with the conversation and to see some exciting glimpses behind-the-scenes!

Instagram

Our Instagram feed will be filled to the brim with announcements, videos, photos and much more. Follow our Instagram story on the day and check out all our posts using the #WOSAwards hashtag for all the glitz and glamour.

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Who’s hosting the awards?

This year we have a sister act taking on hosting duties! Between them, Gina and Mazz Murray have performed in such titles as Chicago, We Will Rock You, and Fame in the West End. Mazz is currently serenading audiences as Donna in Mamma Mia! while Gina was most recently in the Hairspray tour. We’re expecting these killer queens to be the most glamorous guides for the evening.

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Who’s performing at the concert?

We’re proud that the Awards Concerts are known for their exclusive, one-off performances, which in the past have included sneak-peeks, new melodies and re-orchestrated versions of contemporary classics – all performed by some of the most notable stage names performing in theatres around the world, no less. And this year is no exception!

Performing alongside our 24-piece orchestra at The London Palladium will be representatives from the following shows:

• 42 Balloons
• Becoming Nancy
• Mean Girls
• MJ the Musical
• The Artist

In addition, we have plenty of surprises up our sleeve that you won’t want to miss. It is a special occasion, after all!

Who’s nominated this year?

This year, Starlight Express is full steam ahead, leading the pack with nine nominations! It’s followed by the world premiere of Drew McOnie’s The Artist, which matches the most nominated play of the year, Macbeth (led by David Tennant and Cush Jumbo), each with six nods.

My Fair Lady stars Molly Lynch, David Seadon-Young and Minal Patel had the honour of announcing this year’s nominees on stage at Leicester’s Curve theatre last December. You can watch the announcement below:

There are a total of 24 categories at the 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical, Best New Play, Best Musical Revival, Best Play Revival, Best Studio Production, Best Regional Production, Best Concert Event, Best West End Show, Best Performer in a Musical, Best Supporting Performer in a Musical, Best Performer in a Play, Best Supporting Performer in a Play, Best Professional Debut Performance, Best Takeover Performance, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Set Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design, Best Video Design, Best Musical Direction/Supervision, Best Casting Direction and Best Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Design.

The Best Off-West End Production Award has been rechristened as Best Studio Production, to recognise smaller performance spaces across the UK. Excitingly, this year we have introduced an award recognising Best Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Design – a category supported by BBC’s Glow Up.

In addition, our 2025 recipient for Services to UK Theatre will also be revealed on the night.

Read the full list of 2025 nominees here.

How should I prepare?

The best way to get involved is to get social! Give us a like, a follow, or whatever you need to do across our channels: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, Threads and Bluesky to be among the first to know a play-by-play. Whether you are with us in person or following online, prepare for a night of fanfare, frolics and fun with a wealth of surprises and special performances, as well as winners voted for by yourselves, our loyal WhatsOnStage readers.

Once the curtain falls and the clock strikes 10pm, the fun doesn’t stop there. Keep your eye on our site, YouTube and social channels in the aftermath of the ceremony for all the exclusive highlights. And if you have a ticket, we’ll see you there on the big night!