The 2026 Tony Awards on June 7 in New York crowned “Schmigadoon!” as a big winner, while performances and speeches carried their own weight—from Pink’s Broadway entrance to pro-Palestine remarks by Tony winner Ali Louis Bourzgui and Qween Jean’s historic win a
NEW YORK — By the time Tony Awards voters sank into “Schmigadoon!” at the June 7 ceremony, the night already felt like it was daring people to look up from their own playbills.
The new Broadway comedy. built from the Apple TV series. made its case as a home for big laughs and bigger stagecraft. It captured top prizes including best musical, best book and best score. “Schmigadoon!” is a throwback Broadway spoof that follows an on-the-rocks couple trapped in a town where people sing and dance constantly—an idea that clearly matched the mood of a telecast packed with performances meant to take your breath away.
Rachel Zegler delivered a gorgeous tribute to “A Chorus Line.” The cast of “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” turned Radio City Music Hall into what felt like a euphoric queer ball. Hollywood talent also showed up in force: John Lithgow for “Giant. ” Laurie Metcalf for “Death of a Salesman. ” and Alden Ehrenreich for “Becky Shaw. ” all scooping up acting prizes. Still, two acclaimed season offerings—“Titaníque” and “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)”—went home empty-handed.
The moments that lingered, though, weren’t only about who won. They were about what the winners chose to say—and what history they helped write in real time.
Pink kicked off the night with Megan Thee Stallion and a Broadway-ready “I Can Fly”
Pink delivered what was described as the best Tonys opening of the last decade. a joy-forward performance that mixed showbiz self-awareness with musical theater theatrics. The self-referential number began with Pink dangling from the ceiling in Peter Pan getup and singing “I Can Fly.” Neil Patrick Harris offered advice that helped steer the performance into a Broadway-themed direction. including a battle cry of “Defying Gravity.”.
From there. Pink pivoted to something firmly her own: a Broadway-themed spin on her “Moulin Rouge!” hit “Lady Marmalade.” She then brought the casts of all nominated Broadway musicals into the number for a steamy ensemble run of the song. The lineup included Deborah Cox. Lea Michele and “Titaníque” star Marla Mindelle. who appeared ingeniously in character as Celine Dion.
The set also welcomed the 96-year-old June Squibb and trans actress Dylan Mulvaney at various points, as well as rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who was lifted onto the stage. Stallion added a joke aimed at “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” while pointing to her backside.
“I don’t even know those guys,” the rapper said with a wink, pointing to her backside. “They were just two strangers carrying some cake!”
Ali Louis Bourzgui wins—and uses the podium to talk about immigrants, queer life, and Palestine
The night’s biggest surprises weren’t confined to costumes or choreography. Ali Louis Bourzgui—who plays a beguiling vampire rocker in “The Lost Boys”—beat presumed front-runners André De Shields for “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” and Ben Levi Ross for “Ragtime” to win best featured actor in a musical. In his speech, he tied the show’s themes to social issues ranging far beyond vampire mythology.
“This is dedicated to the beautiful tapestry of immigrant families who make this country really special,” Bourzgui said onstage. “May you one day not have to audition for the empathy that should be freely given by this country that benefits from your beauty. To the queer and trans communities that always will exist. no matter what people in power try to take away from them. To the people of Palestine who deserve to live a free life – a full life – without occupation.”.
He went on: “If there’s one thing we can learn from vampires, it’s that life is short but that’s its gift. Find beauty in the ephemeral, and gratitude in what is not promised, and always invest in the people that want to see you blossom.”
Qween Jean becomes the first openly trans person to win a Tony Award
History also landed on the stage through a single, unmistakable moment. Qween Jean brought the first win of her kind when she became the first openly trans person to win a Tony Award, taking home best costume design for her work on “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.”
“Happy Pride, y’all. Happy Pride!” Jean said at the top of her speech. “We are here for the legacy of queer people [and] trans people. We are taking up space in ways we have to take up space. We have to shift the paradigm.”
Jean is described as an activist and founder of the Black Trans Liberation organization. Her win joined a growing group of trans and gender-nonconforming actors who have been nominated for Tonys. The night’s framing also pointed to earlier milestones: in 2023, J. Harrison Ghee for “Some Like It Hot” and Alex Newell for “Shucked” became the first nonbinary Tony winners in the show’s nearly 80-year history.
Pink later proved her Broadway stamina with “Chicago”
After the opening number, Pink kept going. Her tribute to “Chicago” was presented as irrefutable proof that she belonged on Broadway “ASAP. ” with showmanship and sultry vocals delivered in the showstopper “All That Jazz.” Pink stepped into the role of Velma Kelly made famous by Chita Rivera and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Queen Latifah introduced the anniversary performance. Latifah co-starred with Zeta-Jones in the Oscar-winning 2002 “Chicago” movie. The performance included cheeky cameos from Cedric the Entertainer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Whitney Leavitt in the “Cell Block Tango.”
“From one mother hen to another,” Latifah said as she passed the torch to her fellow Matron Mama Morton, Alex Newell, who then took the stage for a full-throated rendition of “When You’re Good to Mama.”
Comedy and emotion from presenters Maya Rudolph and Cole Escola
The night also offered its own sharp contrast in tone during the announcing portion. Cole Escola. who created and starred as Mary Todd Lincoln in “Oh. Mary!. ” presented the first award of the night alongside “Saturday Night Live” favorite Maya Rudolph. who currently plays the First Lady in the outrageous Broadway comedy.
“Family. Redemption. Justice,” Escola said solemnly as they walked up to the podium.
“Passion. Tuberculosis. A big shoe,” Rudolph added. “These are all words.”
The droll duo riffed on this year’s Tony nominees, including “Oedipus,” described as a Greek tragedy about a man who kills his dad and marries his mom. “[It’s] a play that asks the question: Can women really have it all?” Escola deadpanned.
“Yes, I have an SUV and a horse,” Rudolph said. “But enough about my love life!”
Shoshana Bean honors single moms and says “take up space”
For Shoshana Bean, the moment was both professional and personal. After two decades on Broadway and three Tony nominations. she finally picked up her first prize for best featured actress in a musical for “The Lost Boys.” In the vampire spectacle based on the 1987 cult classic. Bean plays the single mom of two teenage sons. LJ Benet and Benjamin Pajak.
“This is for the mommas,” Bean said breathless and emotional during her acceptance speech. “This for the single mommas. This is for my single momma. You are the wild heroes. This is for the incredible army of women that surround and uplift me. This is for every woman who ever felt like she was too much or not enough.”.
She continued: “I beg you not to wait for permission to be all of who you are,” Bean said. “Take up space, make your own path, make mistakes, make messes, make new things, be free, be loud, be brave.”
2026 Tony Awards Schmigadoon! Pink Megan Thee Stallion Ali Louis Bourzgui Qween Jean Cats: The Jellicle Ball Chicago Dylan Mulvaney Schoshana Bean Palestine Black Trans Liberation
So Pink was there and they won for Schmigadoon? Good for them I guess.
Not gonna lie, I only saw the headline about Palestine speeches and was like… why is this at the Tonys. But then it says they had like a bunch of big wins and performances. I guess Broadway really is a mix of everything.
Ali Louis Bourzgui got all political and then Qween Jean “historic win” like what year are we talking? I’m confused because Tony’s always feels like it’s about theater but half the time it’s about whatever’s trending on Twitter. Also Pink walking in on Broadway sounds staged like they planned it for cameras.
Schmigadoon! winning best musical makes sense because it’s from Apple TV so they probably had a huge promo push. Like I don’t even watch Broadway but I saw ads for it like crazy. If the whole point is “telecast packed with performances” then yeah it’s gonna win. Meanwhile Palestine remarks… I mean, can we not? But also people are gonna sing either way so whatever.