Broadway stars arrive in style for the 2026 Tony Awards

Broadway’s biggest names turned Rockefeller Center into a branding stage as the 79th Tony Awards began unfolding at Radio City Music Hall, with the midnight blue carpet serving as the night’s first signal of momentum. Laura Benanti, Tituss Burgess, Uzo Aduba, Darren Criss and Jordan Fisher were among the arrivals as the industry’s top productions used the runway to make an opening statement before the first trophy was handed out.

The ceremony was hosted by P!NK and broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+ from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. ET, with THE TONY AWARDS: ACT ONE starting on Pluto TV at 6:35 p.m. ET. Tony officials said the pre-show included a first-round awards presentation, extending the event beyond the main telecast and giving the opening stretch of the night real stakes before the curtain rose inside Radio City Music Hall.

This season’s competition carried the weight of a full year on Broadway. The 2025-2026 Tony eligibility window ran from April 28, 2025, through April 26, 2026, and nominees were selected in 26 competitive categories by 857 designated Tony voters. That voting body gave the red carpet its larger meaning: every appearance outside the hall doubled as a campaign for visibility, relevance and awards-season traction.

Rockefeller Center returned as the official destination of the Tonys, hosting the red carpet as well as the related events that help define the ceremony’s social orbit. The Tony Nominee Luncheon, presented by Cunard, was held at the Rainbow Room, while the official after-party, presented by City National Bank, took place at the Rink Level. The coordination of those spaces underscored how the Tonys now function as a citywide showcase, with fashion, access and placement all folded into the night’s messaging.

The event’s momentum was amplified by the performers-and-presenters lineup announced on June 4, 2026, which added another layer of celebrity heat to an already packed evening. As Broadway’s biggest names arrived in waves, the carpet made clear that the Tonys have become more than an awards show. They are a public display of which productions are peaking, which stars are driving attention, and which teams believe they can own the night before the first envelope is opened.