On Monday night, BBC’s The One Show exclusively revealed that this year’s recipient of the Special Award at the Olivier Awards 2026 with Cunard will be Dame Elaine Paige.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Olivier Awards, which return to the Royal Albert Hall. With all the big names that have graced the London stage over the past year, it’s sure to be a starry night, celebrating London’s world-leading theatre. You can watch the ceremony, hosted by Nick Mohammed, on prime time BBC on Sunday 12 April.
Elaine Paige is an Olivier Award-winning actress whose extraordinary career has made a defining contribution to musical theatre. Widely regarded as one of the leading stars of her generation, she has appeared in a remarkable number of smash-hit West End and Broadway productions, helping to shape and set the standard for the modern stage musical, and originating iconic roles such as Eva Perón in Evita and Grizabella in Cats.
In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the arts, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995. In 2025 she was further honoured by King Charles III who made her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to music and charity.
Alongside her celebrated stage career, Dame Elaine has starred in numerous television productions, performed in concert around the world and recorded more than 30 albums. She also continues to present her hugely popular weekly programme Elaine Paige on Sunday on BBC Radio 2, now in its 22nd year and regularly attracting over two million listeners.
A passionate supporter of the next generation of performers, she serves as Artistic Associate and Vice President of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and has established scholarships there and at BIMM University to support emerging musical theatre talent. Alongside this, she is deeply committed to charitable work, supporting a wide range of organisations across the arts, health and community sectors, including her own animal welfare charity, West End Woofs.
