Review – The Pantomime Awards 2026 – Wycombe Swan Theatre

On Sunday 19 April, the winners of The Pantomime Awards 2026, staged in partnership with Trafalgar Entertainment and ATG Entertainment (ATGE), were announced by the UK Pantomime Association at a star-studded ceremony at Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe, presented by Vernon Kay.

• Terry Parsons who received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pantomime. Terry is a designer whose imaginative and iconic work, from Cinderella with Stanley Baxter to Mother Goose with Danny La Rue and Dick Whittington with Barbara Windsor, has shaped the look, spirit and craft of British pantomime for more than fifty years.
• The first ever Panto Icon Awards were presented to Brian Conley, whose tireless energy, definitive Buttons performances and unrivalled connection with audiences have made him one of the most recognisable figures in the form and Lesley Joseph, celebrated for her star presence and for consistently delighting audiences as a leading Fairy and Villain across the UK’s major pantomime stages. This category was introduced this year to recognise the sustained commitment to the artform, mastery of its unique craft, recognition and affection from audiences, and a consistently high standard of performance over many years.
• Johnny McKnight, who received the award for Achievement in Innovation, and whose brilliance as a writer, director and performer over more than twenty years has joyfully transformed pantomime through groundbreaking productions, bold inclusivity and creative courage.
• Keith Simmons, who received the Nigel Ellacott Special Recognition Award for Pantomime History, Tradition and Heritage. Keith is a leading performer, writer and director who has helped shape, preserve and pass on the traditions of British pantomime for more than fifty years.