The Interested Bystander: Final 2025-26 Tony Award Nomination Predictions

The Lost Boys (c) Matthew Murphy

Most of the precursors have been announced. The Tony committee made their final rulings on category eligibility. It’s time for my final predictions for the 79th Tony Award Nomination, which will announced on Tuesday, May 5. There is a question in some categories as to how many nominees will be allowed, but I will make my best educated guess. 

Enjoy. 

The Interested Bystander’s 

2025-26 Tony Nomination Predictions 

Giant (c) Joan Marcus

PLAYS 

Play 

The Balusters by David Lindsay-Abaire
Liberation by Bess Wohl
The Fear of 13 by Lindsey Ferrentino
Giant by Mark Rosenblatt
Punch by James Graham

(possible) 

Dog Day Afternoon by Stephen Adly Guirgis
Little Bear Ridge Road by Samuel D. Hunter

Becky Shaw (c) Marc J. Franklin

Play Revival 

Becky Shaw by Gina Gionfriddo
Fallen Angels
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone 
Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison
Oedipus adapted by Robert Icke

Death of a Salesman 
Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahue

Actress (Play) 

Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels 
Carrie Coon, Bug 
Ayo Edebiri, Proof 
Lesley Manville, Oedipus 
Kelli O’Hara, Fallen Angels 

Taraji P. Henson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone 
Laurie Metcalf, Little Bear Ridge Road 

Actor (Play) 

Adrien Brody, The Fear of 13 
Nathan Lane, Death of a Salesman 
John Lithgow, Giant 
Daniel Radcliffe, Every Brilliant Thing 
Mark Strong, Oedipus 

Jon Bernthal, Dog Day Afternoon 
Cedric The Entertainer, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone 

Liberation (c) Little Fang

Featured Actress (Play) 

Betsy Aidem, Liberation 
Aya Cash, Giant 
Linda Emond, Becky Shaw 
Laurie Metcalf, Death of a Salesman 
June Squibb, Marjorie Prime 

Marylouise Burke, The Balusters 
Cynthia Nixon, Marjorie Prime 

Death of a Salesman (c) Emilio Madrid

Featured Actor (Play) 

Christopher Abbott, Death of a Salesman 
Danny Burstein, Marjorie Prime 
Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw 
Ruben Santiago Hudson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone 
Richard Thomas, The Balusters 

Patrick Ball, Becky Shaw 
Don Cheadle, Proof 

The Balusters (c) Jeremy Daniel

Director (Play) 

Kenny Leon, The Balusters 
Nicholas Hytner, Giant 
Whitney White, Liberation 
Anne Kauffman, Marjorie Prime 
Robert Icke, Oedipus 

Joe Mantello, Death of Salesman 
Trip Cullman, Becky Shaw 

MUSICAL

Musical 

The Lost Boys 
Schmigadoon! 
Titanique 
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) 

Beaches 
The Queen of Versailles 

Ragtime (c) Matthew Murphy

Musical Revival 

Cats: The Jellicle Ball 
Ragtime 
The Rocky Horror Show 

Chess 
Mamma Mia! 

Chess (c) Matthew Murphy

Actress (Musical) 

Sara Chase, Schmigadoon! 
Stephanie Hsu, The Rocky Horror Show 
Caissie Levy, Ragtime 
Lea Michele, Chess 
Marla Mindelle, Titanique 

Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) 
Jessica Vosk, Beaches 

Actor (Musical) 

Nicholas Christopher, Chess 
Luke Evans, The Rocky Horror Show 
Joshua Henry, Ragtime 
Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) 
Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime 

LJ Benet, The Lost Boys 
Alex Brightman, Schmigadoon! 

The Rocky Horror Show (c) Joan Marcus

Featured Actress (Musical) 

Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys 
Rachel Dratch, The Rocky Horror Show 
McKenzie Kurtz, Schmigadoon! 
Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime 
“Tempress” Chasity Moore, Cats: The Jellicle Ball 

Hannah Cruz, Chess 
Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon! 

Cats: The Jellicle Ball (c) Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Featured Actor (Musical) 

Max Clayton, Schmigadoon! 
André de Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball 
Benjamin Pajak, The Lost Boys 
Jim Parsons, Titanique 
Bryce Pinkham, Chess 

Sydney James Harcourt, Cats: The Jellicle Ball 
Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime 

Director (Musical) 

Michael Arden, The Lost Boys 
Lear deBessonet, Ragtime 
Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon! 
Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball 
Sam Pinkleton, The Rocky Horror Show 

Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) 
Michael Meyer, Chess 

Titanique (c) Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Book of a Musical

Chess 
Schmigadoon! 
Titanique 
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) 

 

Beaches 
The Lost Boys 

Score of a Broadway Production 

Beaches 
The Lost Boys 
The Queen of Versailles
Schmigadoon! 
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) 

The Ballusters
Proof

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