WhatsOnStage Awards 2027: Everything You Need To Know

If you love theatre, the WhatsOnStage Awards night is the one when your opinion actually counts.

The 27th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards return to The London Palladium on Sunday, February 28, 2027, bringing together performers, productions and theatre creatives from across the UK. The ceremony begins at 6:30 PM and combines the awards themselves with exclusive live performances from leading stage talent.

The awards are particularly distinctive because they are decided by theatregoers themselves. WhatsOnStage readers nominate and vote for their favourites, making this one of the few major theatre awards where the public has a direct say in the results.

If you want to be in the room when the winners are announced, tickets are already on sale. Here is everything you need to know before booking.

What are the WhatsOnStage Awards?

The WhatsOnStage Awards are major UK theatre awards decided by theatregoers.

WhatsOnStage describes them as the only major UK theatre awards where the public nominates and votes for their favourites. That makes the awards different from ceremonies where winners are selected solely by critics, industry panels or professional juries.

For you as a theatregoer, that means the shows you actually paid to see can become part of the awards conversation. The ceremony also works as a live entertainment event. Alongside the winners being announced, the evening features live performances from leading theatrical talent and specially curated surprises.

That combination gives the night a different energy. You are not simply watching the industry celebrate itself. You are watching the results of a public vote unfold in front of you.

Why the 2027 Awards are returning to the London Palladium

The London Palladium will host the ceremony for the fourth consecutive year, continuing the awards' current relationship with one of the West End's best-known theatres.

The Palladium has been part of London's entertainment history since it opened in 1910. The theatre has hosted major variety performances, Royal Variety shows, concerts and musical theatre productions, making it a fitting setting for an evening celebrating the breadth of British theatre.

The current WhatsOnStage listing gives the venue as 8 Argyll Street, London W1F 7TF. With its central location close to Oxford Circus, the Palladium is also easy to reach if you are travelling into the West End for the ceremony.

What happens during the WhatsOnStage Awards?

The ceremony is structured as a combination of awards and live entertainment. You can expect winners to be announced across a wide range of theatre categories, alongside live performances from stage talent and specially curated moments created for the evening.

The exact performance lineup for 2027 has not yet been announced. That means it is too early to say which West End shows or performers will appear on stage during the ceremony. Those details are expected to emerge closer to the event.

What is already confirmed is that the evening will feature performances from leading theatrical talent, making it more than a ceremony where winners simply walk up to collect trophies.

When do WhatsOnStage Awards nominations open?

Nominations for the 27th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards open on Thursday, 5 November 2026.

The eligibility criteria for the 2027 awards are due to be published on the official WhatsOnStage Awards website shortly. A shortlist is then expected in early December 2026. This means there are still several important stages before the final ceremony.

The first is deciding which productions and performances are eligible. Once nominations open, theatregoers can put forward the shows and performers they believe deserve recognition. The shortlist then narrows those nominations before the public vote determines the winners.

If you have seen a show you loved during the eligibility period, it is worth keeping an eye on the official awards website so you know when you can nominate it.

How does the WhatsOnStage voting process work?

The awards are designed around public participation.

Theatregoers nominate their favourites, after which shortlisted productions and performers go forward for the final public vote. This is what gives the awards their defining identity. The people choosing the winners are people who actually engage with theatre as ticket buyers and theatregoers.

There is one important nuance to know. While the awards are publicly driven overall, previous WhatsOnStage eligibility information has stated that certain technical category shortlists can involve an independent panel of industry experts before the final vote by readers. The exact 2027 eligibility and category rules are expected to be published in September.

So if you want to nominate or vote, check the 2027 criteria once they are released.

What categories can you expect?

The final 2027 category list has not yet been published.

Previous WhatsOnStage Awards have recognised a broad range of work, including performers, supporting performers, new musicals, musical revivals, new plays, play revivals, West End shows, concert events, regional productions and studio productions.

Technical categories have also included areas such as casting, choreography, costume, direction, lighting, musical direction, set design, sound and video design.

The exact categories and eligibility rules for the 27th edition should therefore be treated as pending until WhatsOnStage publishes the official 2027 information.

The 27th Awards are more than a red carpet night

One of the appeals of attending the ceremony is that you are experiencing the theatre season from the perspective of the people who watched it. The awards celebrate performers, writers, directors, designers and backstage creatives, alongside the productions themselves.

The official event description also highlights the wider theatre community, including people working on stage, backstage and off stage across the UK. That makes the evening particularly interesting if you spend a lot of time watching theatre. You get to see the people behind the productions recognised alongside the stars whose performances you already know.

The WhatsOnStage Awards supporter package

If you want a more premium way to experience the ceremony, WhatsOnStage is also offering a limited Supporter package.

The package costs £1,600 plus VAT and includes:

• Two premium tickets to the ceremony
• Two places at the pre-ceremony champagne reception
• Entry for two to the post-show celebration party
• Recognition in the official souvenir programme
• Recognition on the WhatsOnStage Awards website
• Recognition on nominee e-invitations

The packages are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For most theatregoers, standard tickets will be the more relevant option. The Supporter package is aimed at people who want a more involved relationship with the event or businesses looking to support the awards.

How to get to The London Palladium

The London Palladium is in the heart of the West End at 8 Argyll Street, London W1F 7TF.

By Tube

Oxford Circus is the closest Underground station, served by the Central, Bakerloo and Victoria lines. From the station, the Palladium is only a short walk away.

By Bus

Multiple bus routes serve Oxford Street and Regent Street, both of which are immediately around the theatre.

By Foot

The Palladium is within easy walking distance of:

• Oxford Street
• Regent Street
• Carnaby Street
• Soho
• Piccadilly Circus

Because the ceremony begins at 6:30 PM on a Sunday, public transport is generally the simplest option.

What can you do before the ceremony?

The Palladium's central location makes it easy to turn the awards into a full evening in the West End.

You could arrive early and explore Oxford Street or Regent Street, have dinner around Soho or Carnaby, or simply head towards the theatre for a drink before the ceremony. It is worth allowing extra time for the journey because the West End can become busy around major events.

Most importantly, make sure you have your ticket ready before arriving and check the latest venue instructions ahead of the ceremony.

Everything you need to know at a glance

Event: 27th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards
Date: Sunday, February 28, 2027
Time: 6:30 PM
Venue: The London Palladium
Address: 8 Argyll Street, London W1F 7TF
Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus
Tickets: Click here to book
Nominations open: Thursday, 5 November 2026
Shortlist: Expected in early December 2026
Awards: Publicly driven nominations and voting, with category rules to be confirmed for 2027
Supporter package: £1,600 plus VAT

If you already love London theatre, the WhatsOnStage Awards offer something you rarely get at another major awards ceremony. You get to be part of the process.

The 27th edition also has the added significance of returning to The London Palladium for a fourth consecutive year, while the evening itself promises live performances alongside the awards. And because the event is built around the choices of theatregoers, the atmosphere is set to be more like a celebration of the shows people actually went to see.

If you want to attend, you can already book your place. If you want to have a say in the awards themselves, mark 5 November 2026 in your calendar for nominations.