The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) today announced that the 46th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards presented by the Romano D’Andrea Foundation will be held on Monday, June 29th, returning to Toronto’s Meridian Hall (1 Front Street East). This year’s show will be hosted by five-time Dora Award-winning actor Amaka Umeh, most recently seen by audiences as the love-to-hate Witch in Bad Hats Theatre’s Narnia, co-produced with Soulpepper and Crow’s Theatre. An accomplished actor, singer, and dancer, Amaka promises to bring a show to Meridian’s stage in their first time hosting the Dora Awards.

Says Amaka Umeh: “In the ever-renewing series of pleasant and unexpected chances with which this dream of a life has endowed me, this is a major plot twist! I am deeply honoured to follow in Peter Fernandes’ footsteps as this year’s Dora Awards host (fun fact: we’ve also both played Hamlet and Puck). Thank you, TAPA, for nurturing this ritual: in a world plagued with so much unnecessary destruction, gathering to celebrate our positive creative pursuits is a balm.”

The Dora Awards, Canada’s largest and oldest awards program, celebrates the incredible talent within Toronto’s professional theatre, dance and opera communities. The 46th annual celebration will include 42 gender-inclusive award categories across six divisions to honour the remarkable artistry of the 2025-2026 season. Learn more at tapa.ca.

“Toronto’s performing arts sector continues to set the standard for excellence, innovation, and impact. On World Theatre Day, we’re proud to announce this year’s Dora Mavor Moore Awards dates and look forward to honouring the artists who make this city a global cultural force. Their work doesn’t just reflect who we are—it shapes who we’re becoming, on our stages and far beyond them,” says annemieke wade, Executive Director, TAPA.

The 2026 Dora Awards ceremony in June will once again be led by multi-Dora Award-winning producer Victor Pokinko (Executive Producer of Bad Hats Theatre), written and associate directed by liza paul (Associate Artistic Director of The Theatre Centre), and, for her first year, directed and choreographed by Dora Award-winning choreographer Stephanie Graham. This year also sees the return of Kelly Read (Production Manager), Kevin Connery of Square Studio (Art Director) and Adam Sakiyama (Music Director).

“After the success of last year’s Doras - the fastest (and dare I say, the most fun) in recent history - I am so honoured to bring the Awards to life for another year,” shares Victor Pokinko, Producer, Dora Awards. “Last year was a true celebration of Toronto’s performing arts industry; both in the Awards themselves and in the laughter, dancing, and comradery of the community that gathered. The Doras belong to us all, and I hope artists feel welcome regardless of whether they are nominated this year or not, whether they created art this year or not, whether they saw many shows this year or not. I can promise you that this year’s Awards will bring back accessible pricing while bringing the same, raucous energy to Meridian Hall, with an incredible host, a dynamic ceremony, and exclusive live streams from the red carpet and backstage.”

Nominations for the 46th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards will be announced at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 1 at The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre (189 Yonge St). This year’s eligible nominated shows and artists will be drawn from nearly 200 unique productions presented from May 2025 to May 2026. Fifty-dollar early bird tickets to the celebration on June 29 will go on sale on Thursday, April 2,12 p.m. Nominee tickets will be available as of June 1, 12 p.m.

The Dora Awards are peer-nominated by respected members of Toronto’s professional performing arts community. Jurors include performers, designers, directors, producers, administrators, arts educators and more, representing a spectrum of ages, gender identities, sexualities, experience, training, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and company affiliations.

Events and Dates:

The 46th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards presented by the Romano D’Andrea Foundation

June 1, 2026

DORA PRESS CONFERENCE & NOMINEE ANNOUNCEMENT

Doors at 9:30 a.m. / Show runs 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre (189 Yonge St).

A complete list of the 2026 Dora Award nominations will be available at www.tapa.ca/doras immediately following the announcement. The 2026 press conference will also announce recipients of the following:

 • Announced at the press conference for the first time: Dora Award recipients in the categories of Outstanding Innovative Experience and Outstanding Touring Production.

 • The Pauline McGibbon Award, for an Ontario resident professional artist (this year, a designer will be honoured) in the early stages of their career.

 • The George Luscombe Mentorship Award, supported by The Kingfisher Foundation, which recognizes an individual for their extraordinary mentorship in performing arts.

 • The Ray Ferris Innovation and Sustainability Grant, a $25,000 annual grant to recognize advances in theatrical design and the promotion of environmental sustainability in live theatre.

 • Voting will also open for the Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award sponsored by Now Toronto, here. Voting starts at 11:30 a.m. ET on June 1, and will be open until Monday, June 22.

June 29, 2026

CEREMONY AND AWARD PRESENTATION

The 46th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards presented by the Romano D’Andrea Foundation

Doors at 6:00pm / Show at 7:30 p.m.

Meridian Hall (1 Front St. E).

Hosted by Amaka Umeh, featuring special guests and VIP presenters, the event will start at 7:30 p.m. ET and will acknowledge the recipients of this year’s Dora Awards, as well as the Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award winner, and the Silver Ticket Award for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the stage in the Toronto area. The Dora Awards After-Party will be held at Meridian Hall immediately after the awards ceremony, with live music, entertainment, food, and a cash bar.

For additional information, please visit tapa.ca.