Arthur Miller revival wins six Tonys as Lesley Manville and John Lithgow triumph

The 2026 Tony Awards delivered a night of major victories, emotional speeches, and Broadway history as a revival of Death of a Salesman emerged as the biggest winner of the evening.

The acclaimed production dominated the ceremony, collecting six awards and setting a new record as the most awarded play revival in Tony Awards history.

The revival was named Best Revival of a Play, adding another milestone to the legacy of Arthur Miller’s celebrated drama. Director Joe Mantello praised the enduring relevance of the work, saying the story continues to speak across generations.

Actor Nathan Lane accepted the award on behalf of the production and reflected on the lasting impact of the play. He described it as a work that continues to teach audiences important truths about humanity and American society.

The production’s six wins further strengthened its place in Broadway history. Death of a Salesman previously won Best Play in 1949 and had already secured Tony victories for revival productions in 1984, 1999 and 2012.

Another major winner of the evening was Laurie Metcalf, who earned her third Tony Award. Metcalf won Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in Death of a Salesman, overcoming competition from several high-profile nominees.

The acting categories also produced memorable moments.

British actor Lesley Manville secured the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play for her performance in Oedipus. The award marked a significant achievement in her first appearance on Broadway.

Speaking after her victory, Manville admitted she felt overwhelmed by the recognition and described the achievement as a major milestone in her career.

Meanwhile, John Lithgow claimed Best Leading Actor in a Play for portraying author Roald Dahl in Giant.

The win carried additional significance. At the age of 80, Lithgow became the oldest man ever to win a competitive acting Tony Award. During his acceptance speech, he described Giant as an especially important production for contemporary audiences.

The award was Lithgow’s third Tony victory.

The ceremony also celebrated new writing.

Bess Wohl won Best Play for Liberation. The production recently received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and its Tony triumph marked a historic moment.

Wohl became the first female playwright to win the category since 2009 and only the fourth woman ever to receive the honour.

In the musical categories, Schmigadoon! emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home Best Musical along with three additional awards.

Producer Lorne Michaels celebrated the production’s success and highlighted its joyful combination of music, comedy and entertainment.

A revival of Ragtime also enjoyed a strong evening, winning four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.

Performers Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy both secured leading musical acting awards for their performances.

Elsewhere, The Lost Boys earned four trophies, while Cats: The Jellicle Ball collected three awards.

One of the evening’s historic moments came when costume designer Qween Jean became the first openly transgender recipient of a Tony Award.

The ceremony was hosted by Pink, who opened the event with a theatrical entrance inspired by Peter Pan before leading a star-filled performance that set the tone for a celebratory night.

The awards capped a remarkable Broadway season that generated nearly $1.91 billion in ticket sales, underlining the industry’s continued strength and popularity.