At the 2026 Tony Awards on June 7, Qween Jean won Best Costume Design of a Musical for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, becoming the first openly Trans person to win a Tony Award. In her acceptance remarks, she tied the moment to queer and trans legacy and the push to
When Qween Jean stepped into the spotlight on Sunday, June 7, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, it wasn’t just another Tony moment—it was a first.
Jean. the costume designer and LGBT+ rights activist. won Best Costume Design of a Musical for her work on Cats: The Jellicle Ball at the 2026 Tony Awards. earning the distinction of becoming the first-ever openly Trans person to win a Tony Award. The win came during the pre-show coverage, The Tony Awards: Act One.
“This experience has been monumental,” she said in her acceptance speech. “We are here for the legacy of queer people, trans people. We are taking up space in ways we have to take up space. We have to shift the paradigm.”
She added: “So I just want to say. thank you all so much for this incredible honor. ” continuing with a message that landed beyond the category she’d won. “The world right now is deeply. deeply combating so many ailments. and we know as a society that when we come together. we can make real. permanent change.”.
Cats: The Jellicle Ball didn’t stop at Jean’s win. The musical also took home Best Direction of a Musical for Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, along with Best Choreography for Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons.
The production was also in the mix across a wider field of honors. earning nominations for Best Revival of a Musical. Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for Andre De Shields. Best Scenic Design of a Musical. Best Lighting Design of a Musical. Best Sound Design of a Musical and Best Orchestrations.
Jean’s awards season wasn’t limited to Cats: The Jellicle Ball either. She was nominated for Best Costume Design of a Play for her work on Liberation.
For many in the room, the night’s historic milestone wasn’t only about a trophy—it was about the visibility behind it, and the space she said the community has to claim.
Qween Jean Tony Awards 2026 Best Costume Design of a Musical Cats: The Jellicle Ball Radio City Music Hall openly Trans Tony winner LGBT+ rights activist The Tony Awards: Act One Zhailon Levingston Bill Rauch Omari Wiles Arturo Lyons Andre De Shields Liberation