Here are the winners of the Musical Awards 2026 (Netherlands)
The Musical Awards are back! Last Wednesday was D-Day for the Dutch theatre industry. Shows across the Netherlands were nominated for a night full of recognition, celebrating this beautiful industry, existing fan-favourites, and exciting new upcoming shows. Highlights of the evening included spectacular first-ever live performances of Titanique and & Juliet.
The Stichting Musical Awards was founded in the spring of 2000 on the initiative of Joop van den Ende. His goal was to honour the outstanding achievements of performing artists in musical productions with a special award. To this day, the foundation organizes this annual gala to celebrate talent and promote musical theater across the Netherlands.
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Large-Scale Musical)
Desi van Doeveren – ALETTA de musical - WINNER
Magtel de Laat – We Will Rock You
Tamar Floor – Hairspray
Teuntje Post – Foxtrot
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Small-Scale Musical)
Kim-Lian van der Meij – Stoornis of my Life - WINNER
Marieke Goemans – Hoe overleef ik alles wat ik niemand vertel
Mickey Vermeer – The WIZ
Sara Afiba – Hadestown
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Large-Scale Musical)
Joris Willem Smit – Willem van Oranje – De Musical
Richard Groenendijk – Hairspray - WINNER
Thijs Snoek – West Side Story
William Spaaij – Foxtrot
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Small-Scale Musical)
Alex Klaasen – Stoornis of my Life - WINNER
Jim Bakkum – Stoornis of my Life
Marcel Visscher – The WIZ
Mitch Blaauw – Hoe overleef ik alles wat ik niemand vertel
Best Supporting Actress
Esmée Dekker – West Side Story
Gerrie van der Klei – Foxtrot
Iris Bakker – Stoornis of my Life
Joy Wielkens – Hadestown - WINNER
Lisa Schol – Dear Evan Hansen
Best Supporting Actor
Edwin Jonker – Hadestown - WINNER
Han Oldigs – Doe Maar
Pepijn van den Berg – Dear Evan Hansen
Rein van Duivenboden – Hairspray
Stefan Rokebrand – BREL – de Musical
National Theater Fund Upcoming Talent
Maaike Franken – Doe Maar
Naima Bayo – We Will Rock You
Ward van Klinken – Dear Evan Hansen - WINNER
Wies Jansen Holleboom – GROND, een rouwe musical
Best Ensemble
Hairspray - WINNER
West Side Story
ALETTA de musical
Foxtrot
Best Direction
Daria Bukvić – ALETTA de musical
Joep Onderdelinden – Foxtrot
Peter van de Witte – Stoornis of my Life
Rachel Chavkin- Hadestown - WINNER
Best Choreography
Chiara Re – Hairspray
Daan Wijnands – ALETTA de musical - WINNEr
Eline Vroon – Foxtrot
Klevis Elmazaj – West Side Story
Best Set, Stage & Projection Design
Eric van der Palen – West Side Story - WINNER
Joris van Veldhoven – Doe Maar
Rachel Hauck – Hadestown
Roos Veenkamp – Stoornis of my Life
Best Lighting Design
Bart van den Heuvel – Foxtrot
Benno Barends – West Side Story - WINNER
Bradley King – Hadestown
Yuri Schreuders – ALETTA de musical
Best Sound Design
Jeroen ten Brinke – We Will Rock You
Jessica Paz, Nevin Steinberg – Hadestown
Maarten Houdijk – Doe Maar - WINNEr
Maarten Houdijk – Dear Evan Hansen
Best Costume, Hair & Makeup Design
Arno Bremers – Hairspray
Bobby Renooij – Hairspray (wigs)
Catherine Cuykens – Willem van Oranje – De Musical
Cocky van Huijkelom – Foxtrot
Dymph Boss – ALETTA de musical - WINNER
Best Score, Lyrics & Arrangements
Anaïs Mitchell – Hadestown - WINNER
Annie M.G. Schmidt & Harry Bannink – Foxtrot
Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim – West Side Story
Peter van de Witte & Alex Klaasen – Stoornis of my Life
Best Book & Dialogue
Alex Klaasen – Stoornis of my Life - WINNER
Anaïs Mitchell – Hadestown
Nathan Vecht & Maud Wiemeijer – ALETTA de musical
Steven Levenson – Dear Evan Hansen
Best Translation
Jon van Eerd – We Will Rock You
Allard Blom – Hairspray
Danny Westerweel – Dear Evan Hansen - WINNER
Koen van Dijk – West Side Story
Best Large-Scale Musical
West Side Story
Hairspray
Foxtrot - WINNER
Doe Maar
Best Small-Scale Musical
Stoornis of my Life - WINNER
Hadestown
Dear Evan Hansen
BREL – de musical
AFAS Best Original Dutch Musical
ALETTA de musical - WINNER
Willem van Oranje – De Musical
Hoe overleef ik alles wat ik niemand vertel
GROND, een rouwe musical
VriendenLoterij Audience Choice Award: Best Musical 2026
Hadestown
Hairspray
40-45, de musical - WINNER
Eventim Audience Choice Award: Best Family Musical 2026
De eindmusical
Doornroosje
Mees Kees, de husselrace - WINNER
Oeuvre Award
Gerrie van der Klei
Musical Award for Ultimate Excellence in Musical Theatre
Soldaat van Oranje
