Lead Actor in a Play 2026

[Joyce 9]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 12:12pm

It’s all about the leading men in plays this year.  Who will win?

• Nathan Lane - Death of a Salesman
• Mark Strong - Oedipus
• Adrian Brody - Fear of 13
• Joshua Boone- Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
• Daniel Radcliffe- Every Brilliant Thing
• Will Harrison - Punch
• John Lithgow - Giant
• Jon Bernthal - Dog Day Afternoon
• Namir Smallwood - Bug
• Micah Stock - Little Bear Ridge Road
• Alex Winter - Waiting for Godot
• Keanu Reeves - Waiting for Godot
• Neil Patrick Harris - Art
• Bobby Cannavale - Art
• James Corden - Art

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 12:13pm

John Lithgow will win his third Tony this year. 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 12:14pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "John Lithgow will win his third Tony this year."

It is wild to me that Lithgow is 80. I mean, intellectually, yes, I know that's true, but it just doesn't feel true. 

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 3/15/26 at 1:10pm

I would love for Will Harrison to secure a nomination.

[bear882]

Posted: 3/26/26 at 12:26am

I only saw two of the candidates during my trip last week and it already seems like a tough call. Nathan Lane is heartbreaking as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, and does great, subtle work, while John Lithgow is a compelling, spellbinding Roald Dahl who regards his antisemitism as both sincere and as a naughty schoolboy prank. 

I considered myself lucky to see them both. Giant is built completely around Lithgow, which may give him an advantage. But I haven’t seen the other nominees.

Updated On: 3/26/26 at 12:26 AM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/26/26 at 1:24am

As of this moment ...?

LOCKS

• Nathan Lane - Death of a Salesman
• John Lithgow - Giant
• Mark Strong - Oedipus

STRONGER POSSIBILITY

• Will Harrison - Punch
• Daniel Radcliffe- Every Brilliant Thing
• Namir Smallwood - Bug
• Adrian Brody - Fear of 13 

POSSIBILITY

• Joshua Boone- Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (not in previews yet)
• Jon Bernthal - Dog Day Afternoon 
• Micah Stock - Little Bear Ridge Road
• James Corden - Art

Updated On: 3/31/26 at 01:24 AM

[surferbro24]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 10:15pm

saw both. john was great. nathan on a whole other level.

Updated On: 3/27/26 at 10:15 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/27/26 at 10:29pm

surferbro24 said: "saw both. john wasgreat. nathan ona whole other level."

Agreed. Lithgow is brilliant — but everyone knew he would be and his performance was exactly as I expected it to be. Lane is a revelation and is giving a career best performance (so far). 

[bear882]

Posted: 3/28/26 at 1:32am

JSquared2 said: "Lithgow is brilliant — but everyone knew he would be and his performance was exactly as I expected it to be. Lane is a revelation and is giving a career best performance (so far)."

When I was walking out of the Winter Garden after Death of a Salesman, several people around me - veteran theatergoers, older than me - were praising Lane in part because he seemed to have surprised them based on their expectations of how he would perform the role of Willy Loman.

I didn’t have any expectations, having never seen Lane on stage before. 

I thought Lane and Lithgow were both great in very different roles. But might Lane have an advantage because no one knew exactly what to expect from him, while Lithgow already had played Roald Dahl in London - and won an Olivier? 

I realize, of course, that neither actor might win.

 

[FLarnhill]

Posted: 3/30/26 at 7:32pm

Kad said: "WiCkEDrOcKS said: "John Lithgow will win his third Tony this year."

It is wild to me that Lithgow is 80. I mean, intellectually, yes, I know that's true, but it just doesn't feel true."

Lithgow's older than Alec Guinness when he first played Obi-Wan Kenobi.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 3/30/26 at 7:39pm

Kad said: "WiCkEDrOcKS said: "John Lithgow will win his third Tony this year."

It is wild to me that Lithgow is 80. I mean, intellectually, yes, I know that's true, but it just doesn't feel true."

That's six years older than Roald Dahl himself ever was!

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 3/30/26 at 7:52pm

I thought Lane was great, but that didn't surprise me at all after seeing hm in The Iceman Cometh and Angels in America.  I can easily imagine voting being quite close between Lane and Lithgow given what voters may associate with them and expect from them. 

Personally, I'd give a slight edge to Lithgow because while many people can do—and have done—a great Willy Loman, I don't think as many actors would be as masterful with Dahl as Lithgow is in Giant.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 3/30/26 at 8:32pm

GoldDerby.com: Why John Lithgow & Mark Strong Are the Early Frontrunners for Leading Actor in a Play

https://www.goldderby.com/theater/2026/2026-tonys-john-lithgow-mark-strong-lead-actor/

Updated On: 3/30/26 at 08:32 PM

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 1:04am

After the Dog Day Afternoon reviews tonight, I'm feeling good about having dropped Jon Bernthal from my nomination predictions in favor of Don Cheadle.

But as far as the winner goes, John Lithgow seems fairly safe, although there's a world where Nathan Lane or even Daniel Radcliffe takes it instead.

[tater tot]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 6:52am

Cheadle is in a featured role. 
 

I think it will be Lithgow, Lane, Strong, Brody, and for the last either Boone or Harrison 

[pathman2]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 8:46am

I would add Alden Ehrenreich to that list. One of my favorite performances and revivals this season, though he probably won’t secure a nomination given the other names involved.

[TheOtherOne2]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 9:13am

pathman2 said: "I would addAlden Ehrenreich to that list. One of my favorite performances and revivals this season, though he probably won’t secure a nomination given the other names involved."

Great actor, and I look forward to seeing his performance later this week, but is he considered lead or featured?

Updated On: 3/31/26 at 09:13 AM

[pathman2]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 9:34am

TheOtherOne2 said: "pathman2 said: "I would addAlden Ehrenreich to that list. One of my favorite performances and revivals this season, though he probably won’t secure a nomination given the other names involved."

Great actor, and I look forward to seeing his performance later this week, but is he considered lead or featured?"

I would consider Alden and Lauren Patten to be the leads, and you could argue as to whether the roles Patrick Ball and Madeleine Brewer play are lead or supporting. Linda Edmond is definitely supporting. 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 9:46am

KevinKlawitter said: "After theDog Day Afternoonreviewstonight, I'm feeling good about having dropped Jon Bernthal from my nomination predictionsin favor of Don Cheadle."

I would assume Cheadle is going to be considered featured? It's really not a leading role (and if either of the male characters were to be considered leading, it actually would probably be the other) and Larry Bryggman was considered featured in the original. 

[Sauja]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 10:23am

CoffeeBreak said: "As of this moment ...?

LOCKS

• Nathan Lane - Death of a Salesman
• John Lithgow - Giant
• Mark Strong - Oedipus

STRONGER POSSIBILITY

• Will Harrison - Punch
• Daniel Radcliffe- Every Brilliant Thing
• Namir Smallwood - Bug
• Adrian Brody - Fear of 13

POSSIBILITY

• Joshua Boone- Joe Turner’s Come and Gone(not in previews yet)
• Jon Bernthal - Dog Day Afternoon
• Micah Stock - Little Bear Ridge Road
• James Corden - Art

"

I agree on the three locks. Of the possibilities, I'd currently rank Radcliffe as the strongest based on the raves for his work and then would say Corden as #5 as of now, though I'd bump him for Alden Ehrenreich if he gets the reviews I think he deserves in Becky Shaw. I think Pullen was terrific but worry that show might be forgotten. Response to Smallwood and Stocke was mixed. Brody can be a polarizing figure. And those Dog Day Afternoon reviews might have sunk Bernthal's chances. Whether Boone is a real player (or anyone in The Balusters, maybe?)...we'll have to see! And then there's Cheadle. It IS a featured role, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him petitioned to lead, which would throw a wrench in things!

[MidWestTheater]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 10:28am

I just saw Becky Shaw this past Sunday and I have to completely agree with the other posts about Alden Ehrenreich. He was sensational in this very tricky role. He could be the dark horse of this season. I hope to hear his and Linda Edmond's names on Tony nomination morning.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 4:23pm

Broadway61004 said: "KevinKlawitter said: "After theDog Day Afternoonreviewstonight, I'm feeling good about having dropped Jon Bernthal from my nomination predictionsin favor of Don Cheadle."

I would assume Cheadle is going to be considered featured? It's really not a leading role (and if either of the male characters were to be considered leading, it actually would probably be the other) and Larry Bryggman was considered featured in the original."

I'm just going with what Gold Derby has listed right now. I'm guessing they have Cheadle in Lead and not Featured because his name is above the title.

Assuming he's going to be recategorized, I'd probaby swap him out for Alden Ehrenreich. And assuming he's recategorized, possibly Joshua Boone or Will Harrison.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 3/31/26 at 4:38pm

Wouldn't Ehrenreich be supporting ?

The role was nominated for a Lortel, Drama League etc. supporting when Off-Broadway.

He deserves a nomination in whatever category.

Updated On: 3/31/26 at 04:38 PM

[pathman2]

Posted: 4/1/26 at 1:37am

CoffeeBreak said: "Wouldn't Ehrenreich be supporting?

The role was nominated for a Lortel, Drama League etc. supportingwhen Off-Broadway.

He deserves a nomination in whatever category."

Actually, the role Patrick Ball is currently playing is what received a Lortel supporting nomination for Thomas Sadoski. I don’t think the original actor who played Max received any acting nominations. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 4/1/26 at 1:55am

Oh, I think that's right re: Lortel.  David Wilson Barnes (who played Max) was nominated for something else (The Big Meal) in 2012

David Wilson Barnes was nominated for the Drama League (distinguished performance) for Max in 2009.

So maybe he could go leading?  

Updated On: 4/1/26 at 01:55 AM