Black British Theatre Awards cancelled for 2026
Organisers say the annual ceremony will not take place this autumn, citing “unforeseen circumstances”, but insist their commitment to championing Black British theatre remains unchanged
The Black British Theatre Awards will not take place in 2026, organisers have announced.
The annual ceremony, which had been due to return this October, has become a significant fixture in the cultural calendar, recognising Black performers, creatives and productions across the UK theatre industry.
In a statement addressed to its community, the Black British Theatre Awards team said it had made the “difficult decision” not to hold this year’s event due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
“We know this will be disappointing news for our supporters, partners and the wider theatre community, and it was not a decision we took lightly,” the statement said.
The Black British Theatre Awards were established in 2019 by Solange Urdang and Omar F. Okai.
Its inaugural ceremony was held at Old Finsbury Town Hall in London that October, coinciding with Black History Month.
Over the years, the awards have celebrated Black British theatre-makers on and off stage, recognising productions and performances across the industry.
Past winners include Beverley Knight for Marie and Rosetta at the Rose Theatre; The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre; Karis Anderson for TINA - The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre; and Elèna Gyasi for Mean Girls at the Savoy Theatre.
Organisers said the BBTAs had always been “more than a one-day event”, pointing to the community that has developed around its work over the past decade.
“For the past decade, the BBTA has celebrated and championed the outstanding talent, creativity and achievements of Black British theatre,” the team said.
“We remain incredibly proud of everything the awards have achieved and of the community that has grown around them.”
While there will be no ceremony this year, organisers said their commitment to recognising Black British theatre remained unchanged.
They added that they would use the pause to consider how best to build on the awards’ legacy in the years ahead, with further updates expected in the coming months.
The cancellation will be felt across a sector in which the awards have provided a dedicated platform for Black theatre talent, achievement and contribution.
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A crying shame. And with no more explanation about the reasons why!