You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 17 categories from October this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2026.

• Read on for reasons including 9 of 17 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2026 so far

As summer comes to a close, we have a look across those categories (see below), remind you of our 2025 winners and our thoughts about the frontrunners from 2026’s 1st 8 months. Longlist part 2

BEST THEATRE ACTRESS 2025 winner: Rachel Zegler, EVITA, London Palladium Review

Linda Bassett, Care, Young Vic Review

Romola Garai, A Doll’s House, Almeida Review

Lesley Manville, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, National Theatre Olivier Review

Rosie Sheehy, Guess How Much I Love You?, Royal Court Review

Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Teeth’n’Smiles, Duke Of York’s Theatre Review

BEST PERFORMANCE OF A SONG 2025 winner: Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, EVITA, London Palladium Review

A Million Things I Know, Redcliffe, Southwark Playhouse (Borough) Review

Eclipse, Delta Goodrem, Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Review

Gethsemene, Jesus Christ Superstar, Palladium and tour Review and Tickets

You’re Going To Live, Pride The Musical, National Theatre Dorfman Review and Tickets

Maggie’s Song, Teeth’n’Smiles, Duke Of York’s Review

BEST REVIVAL 2025 winner: EVITA, London Palladium Review 

A Doll’s House, Almeida Theatre Review

Deep Azure, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, Review

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Old Vic Review

Teeth’n’Smiles, Duke Of York’s Theatre Review

The Oresteia, Bridge Theatre Review and Tickets

BEST THEATRE ACTOR 2025 winner: Bryan Cranston, All My Sons, Wyndham’s Theatre Review

Adeel Akhtar, Mass, Donmar Warehouse Review

Samuel Barnett, Pride the musical, National Theatre Dorfman Review and Tickets

Jordan Luke Gage, Redcliffe, Southwark Playhouse (Borough) Review

Jack Holden, KENREX, Other Palace Review

Ben Platt, Midnight At The Never Get, Menier Chocolate Factory Review and Tickets

BEST NEW PLAY: 2025 winner: Punch, Young Vic Theatre Review

Care, Young Vic Review

Guess How Much I Love You?, Royal Court Review

Heart Wall, Bush Theatre Review

KENREX, Other Palace Review

1536, Ambassadors Theatre Review and Tickets

BEST NEW MUSICAL: 2025 winner: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Ambassadors Review

Midnight At The Never Get, Menier Chocolate Factory Review and Tickets

Pride the musical, National Theatre Dorfman Review and Tickets

Redcliffe, Southwark Playhouse (Borough) Review

Ride The Cyclone, Southwark Playhouse (Elephant) Review

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Theatre Royal Haymarket Review

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 2025 winner: Andrea Riseborough, Mary Page Marlowe, Old Vic Review

Laura Elsworthy, How The Other Half Loves, Old Vic Review and Tickets

Liv Hill, 1536, Ambassadors Theatre Review and Tickets

Siena Kelly, 1536, Ambassadors Theatre Review and Tickets

Tanya Reynolds, 1536, Ambassadors Theatre Review and Tickets

Rosie Sheehy, The Oresteia, Bridge Theatre Review and Tickets

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 2025 winner: Callum Scott Howells, Ghosts, Lyric Theatre Hammersmith Review

Joel Harper Jackson, Daniel’s Husband, Marylebone Theatre Review

Tom Glynn-Carney, The Oresteia Bridge Theatre Review and Tickets

Kasper Hille, Romeo and Juliet, Harold Pinter Theatre Review

Daniel Krikler, Redcliffe, Southwark Playhouse (Borough) Review

Kedar Williams-Stirling, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Old Vic Review

BEST VENUE 2025 winner: London Palladium Review and Tickets

Camden Electric Ballroom Pet Shop Boys Tickets

Cruilla Festival, Parc Del Forum, Barcelona David Byrne Tickets

Sala Apollo, Barcelona The Divine Comedy Tickets

Soho Theatre Walthamstow The End Of The Rainbow, Tickets

The 02 Rosalia Tickets

• Picture via Facebook courtesy Teeth’n’Smiles and ATG Tickets
• Have you seen any of these shows or heard the songs? Let us know what you thought in the comments below. Part 2 follows in the next week
• Enjoyed this review? Follow its author on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook