This evening (Thursday, April 30, 2026) at 8 pm, winners of the 2026 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards, recognizing excellence in NYC theater of the 2025–2026 season, were announced immediately following its members 90th annual voting meeting. Founded in 1935, the NYDCC – comprised of d rama critics from newspapers, magazines, wire services, and websites in the New York metropolitan area – has, since 1936, presented the second-oldest award for playwriting (after the Pulitzer Prize for Drama), in addition to optional categories honoring musicals, performances, and special achievements. The Best Play Award comes with a $2,500 cash prize funded by the Lucille Lortel Foundation. The organization’s current voting members are President Adam Feldman, Vice President and Treasurer Zachary Stewart, David Barbour, David Cote, Joe Dziemianowicz, Greg Evans, Rhoda Feng, David Finkle, Elysa Gardner, Robert Hofler, Sara Holdren, Charles Isherwood, Chris Jones, Soraya Nadia McDonald, Jackson McHenry, Emily Nussbaum, Johnny Oleksinski, Frank Scheck, David Sheward, Tim Teeman, Elisabeth Vincentelli, and Matt Windman. Emeritus members include Melissa Rose Bernardo, Brian Scott Lipton, Michael Sommers, and Steven Suskin. And the recipients of the 2026 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards are: Best Play: Little Bear Ridge Road, by Samuel D. Hunter Best Individual Performance: Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw Best Ensemble Performance: Death of a Salesman Special Citations: Lincoln Center Theater revival of Ragtime; Wallace Shawn and André Gregory for career achievement; and Qween Jean for the costume design of Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Liberation, and Saturday Church. Congratulations to the winners and special honorees. The New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards will be presented on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in a private ceremony in NYC. ...read more read less