NEW YORK—The Drama Desk Awards will return to The Town Hall on Sunday, May 17, 2026. The ceremony marks the organization’s 70th anniversary and a major milestone in New York theater history.

Historic return to The Town Hall

The event will take place at The Town Hall, located at 123 West 43rd Street. The venue hosted the Drama Desk Awards many times before the 2020 theater shutdown. Now, the awards return to a familiar home.

Honoring the full New York theater community

Notably, the Drama Desk Awards stand apart from other honors. They remain the only major New York City theater awards to recognize Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway productions equally. As a result, the ceremony reflects the full scope of the city’s theatrical landscape.

Eligibility and nominations timeline

Meanwhile, the eligibility deadline for the 2025–26 season arrives on April 26, 2026. Productions must open by that date to qualify. Shortly after, the organization will announce nominations on April 29.

A legacy of distinguished honorees

Over the years, the Drama Desk Awards have honored generations of theater artists. Past recipients include Cynthia Erivo, Bryan Cranston, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Viola Davis, Al Pacino, James Earl Jones, Stephen Sondheim, Audra McDonald, Nathan Lane, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Julie Taymor, George C. Wolfe, Suzan-Lori Parks, and André De Shields. Together, these artists helped shape the American stage.

Production and leadership

The Drama Desk organization presents the awards in partnership with Drama Desk Awards Productions. Scene Partners produces the ceremony alongside The Season. David Barbour and Charles Wright serve as Co-Presidents of the Drama Desk organization. At The Season, Mike Karns and Steven Tartick act as Co-Founders. Victoria Weinberg leads Drama Desk Awards Productions.

Learn more

Additional information is available at https://www.dramadesks.com. Follow the Drama Desk Awards on social media or visit https://www.dramadesks.com/about to learn more about the organization’s history.

About the Drama Desk Awards

Since 1955, the Drama Desk Awards have championed excellence across New York theater. The organization honors work from large-scale productions to bold new voices. Above all, the awards celebrate innovation, artistry, and creative ambition on New York stages.

The 2025–26 Drama Desk Nominating Committee includes Martha Wade Steketee (Chair), Linda Armstrong, Daniel Dinero, Peter Filichia, Kenji Fujishima, Margaret Hall, and Raven Snook.

The Drama Desk Awards celebrate their 70th anniversary in 2026.