Broadway favorites Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess will host the 2026 Tony Awards pre-show as the ceremony prepares for one of theater’s biggest nights.
The pair will lead The Tony Awards: Act One, a live pre-show event that streams on Pluto TV before the main ceremony begins. The event takes place June 7 from Radio City Music Hall in New York City and will present the first round of Tony Award categories before the televised broadcast starts later in the evening.
The annual awards ceremony celebrates achievements across Broadway productions, including acting, directing, choreography and design. The show remains one of the entertainment industry’s highest honors and continues to attract major television audiences and theater fans around the world.
Three major stars lead Broadway’s biggest night
This year’s Tony Awards lineup includes three major entertainment names across the evening’s broadcasts.
- Laura Benanti will co-host the pre-show after years as a respected Broadway performer. She won a Tony Award for Gypsy and built a long theater career through productions such as Into the Woods, My Fair Lady and She Loves Me. Television audiences also recognize her from roles in The Gilded Age, Younger and No Hard Feelings.
- Tituss Burgess joins her as co-host. He became widely known for playing Titus Andromedon on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, a role that earned him four straight Emmy nominations. Burgess also returned to Broadway recently through productions including Oh, Mary! and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
- Pink will host the main Tony Awards ceremony later that night. The Grammy-winning performer previously shared her admiration for the Broadway community and praised the dedication of theater artists.
The 79th annual Tony Awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET after the Pluto TV pre-show concludes.
Tony Awards continue Broadway tradition
The Tony Awards remain one of the most recognized honors in live theater. The ceremony is presented by The Broadway League and American Theatre Wing.
The awards also hold special importance in entertainment history because they form the “T” in the EGOT distinction. The achievement recognizes performers who win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards during their careers.
Each year, the ceremony spotlights Broadway’s top productions and performances while helping introduce new musicals and plays to wider audiences. The televised event also boosts ticket sales and national attention for nominated productions.
2026 nominations bring strong competition
This year’s nominations feature several closely watched productions competing across major categories.
The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! lead the field with 12 nominations each. Other highly recognized productions include Ragtime, Titaníque, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) and CATS: The Jellicle Ball.
The nominations created strong buzz across the theater world as Broadway continues a busy post-pandemic recovery period. Producers and performers now rely heavily on televised events like the Tony Awards to build momentum for touring productions and extended runs.
With Benanti, Burgess and Pink leading this year’s broadcasts, organizers aim to combine Broadway credibility with mainstream entertainment appeal. The lineup also reflects the growing crossover between theater, television and music audiences.
Fans will be able to stream the pre-show through Pluto TV’s Live Music channel before the main ceremony begins live from Radio City Music Hall.
Source: PEOPLE.com
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