What to know
- The 2026 Dora Mavor Moore Awards recognized the top productions, performers and creative teams across theatre, dance, opera, musical theatre and theatre for young audiences.
- Artists told Now Toronto that celebrating the arts is vital for fostering connection, telling Canadian stories and supporting culture during challenging times.
- Standout winners included Through the Eyes of God, The Division, Octet, Orfeo ed Euridice, She Holds Up the Stars and Make Banana Cry.
- This year’s awards honoured work from 214 productions by 99 TAPA-registered companies across 44 gender-inclusive categories.
The 46th annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards took over Meridian Hall on Monday, celebrating all things Canadian theatre in a big way with some of the city’s top theatre professionals being recognized for a year of incredible work.
The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) celebrated the city’s thriving performing arts community at the 46th edition of the Dora Awards, hosted by actor Amaka Umeh. The evening honoured the outstanding achievements of Toronto’s theatre, dance, and opera artists during the 2025–2026 season.
Named after Canadian theatre pioneer Dora Mavor Moore, the Dora Awards are Canada’s largest and longest-running awards program dedicated to professional theatre, dance, and opera, celebrating artistic excellence and the continued strength of Toronto’s performing arts community.
The importance of celebrating the arts
In the midst of laughter, colleagues catching up, decadent fashion and the general buzzing atmosphere of the award show, actors, directors and other theatre professionals told Now Toronto that moments like these are important, because they generate joy while highlighting what our country’s arts sector has to offer.
Liza Paul, the writer and associate director of the 2026 award show, told Now Toronto that now, more than ever, it is important to celebrate and do so joyfully.
“Is this dumpster fire of a world any reason to celebrate? No, but that’s why we have to find reasons to celebrate amongst ourselves,” she explained. “All these artists who are being honoured have done such amazing work, and it’s a nice moment for this whole community to come together and just celebrate each other.”
“I think it’s important to celebrate the arts at all times. I think it’s a means of expression and connection,” explained Stephen Colella, who was nominated in the outstanding direction category for his work on the production Love You Forever… And More Munsch To
“We’re really talking about stories; we’re really talking about identity and belonging and truth and courage and beauty. Who would Canadians be if we did not know our stories?” Sandra Laronde, who took home awards for an outstanding new play and outstanding direction in the Theatre for Young Audiences division for her work on She Holds Up The Stars.
“It’s an exciting time to be able to talk about the diversity of stories and what makes Canada Canada,” said Esie Mensah, who took home Outstanding Original Choreography and Outstanding Performance by an Individual awards in the Dance Division for her show ZAYO.
“From my perspective, they’re just as important as libraries, schools, and hospitals. It’s our culture. A world without art would not be a world worth living in,” Andrea Donaldson, who was nominated in the outstanding direction category for the show Enormity, Girl, and the Earthquake in Her Lungs in the General Theatre division, shared.
2026 Dora Award winners
This year’s Dora Awards recognized work from 214 productions by 99 TAPA-registered companies, with 221 nominations presented across 44 gender-inclusive categories.
In the General Theatre division, Through the Eyes of God from Theatre Passe Muraille won Outstanding Production, while Nicolas Billon earned Outstanding New Play for The Neighbours. Gregory Prest was recognized for directing Bremen Town, and Sophia Walker took home Outstanding Performance by an Individual for Slave Play. Through the Eyes of God also received the award for Outstanding Sound Design/Composition.
In the Independent Theatre division, The Division dominated, winning Outstanding Production, Outstanding New Play for Andrew Kushnir, Outstanding Direction, and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. The Green Line also earned multiple design honours, including Scenic/Projection Design and Sound Design/Composition.
The Musical Theatre division was led by Octet, which won Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble and Outstanding Achievement in Design for Olivia Wheeler’s sound design. Narnia received Outstanding New Musical, while its creative team also won Outstanding Creative Direction. Kaylee Harwood was recognized for her leading performance in Bright Star.
The Canadian Opera Company’s production of Orfeo ed Euridice swept the Opera division, winning Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance by an Individual for Iestyn Davies, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble for the Canadian Opera Company Chorus and Outstanding Creative Direction. Canuck Cantatas was named Outstanding New Opera.
In Theatre for Young Audiences, Love You Forever… And More Munsch won Outstanding Production, while Red Sky Performance’s She Holds Up the Stars earned three awards, including Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Direction for Sandra Laronde and Outstanding Achievement in Design.
The Dance division saw Make Banana Cry named Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. Esie Mensah won Outstanding Original Choreography for ZAYO, with Rose-Mary Harbans also recognized for her performance in the production. The National Ballet of Canada’s Reverence received awards for Outstanding Original Sound Composition and Outstanding Achievement in Design.
