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Photo collage featuring a metal award statue of an abstract figure, arms forming a circle above the head (left side of image). In the background is a nighttime close-up of the front overhang of a performing arts venue, with rows of small lights running on the underside. At the right, is the CN Tower, a needle-like structure with an a pod-like observation space about two-thirds of the way up, and city buildings.
Photo collage featuring a metal award statue of an abstract figure, arms forming a circle above the head (left side of image). In the background is a nighttime close-up of the entrance of a performing arts venue, with rows of small lights running on the underside and people outside the door. Parked and moving cars along the street in front of the building.
Photo: Dora Mavor Moore Awards/TAPA.

Theatre, dance & opera Theatre, dance & opera

celebrated at an annual awards show & party.

Photo: Dora Mavor Moore Awards/TAPA.

Home Events Performance The Dora Mavor Moore Awards

The Dora Mavor Moore Awards

One night only – on Monday, June 29, 2026 – the 46th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards celebrate the outstanding theatre, dance and opera that filled Toronto stages last season. Presented by the Romano D’Andrea Foundation and administered by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA). At Toronto’s Meridian Hall (1 Front Street East).

You’re invited to Toronto’s performing arts party of the year!

The annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards are the oldest and largest professional theatre, dance and opera awards program in Canada. Join the city’s artistic community to rub elbows with Toronto’s most celebrated stage artists, with red carpet interviews, a jam-packed award show, VIP presenters and guests, musical performances and a super fun party, all in one iconic venue.

This year’s Doras celebrate 221 nominations across 44 gender-inclusive award categories within seven divisions, reflecting the remarkable artistry of the 2025-2026 season. Check out the full list of 2026 nominees here. Additionally, the event will acknowledge the recipients of this year’s 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 Doras will be hosted by five-time Dora Award-winning actor Amaka Umeh, most recently seen as the love-to-hate Witch in the Dora-nominated production of Narnia.  All Dora Award event tickets include access to the show’s After Party, which will be held at Meridian Hall immediately after the awards ceremony and have live music, entertainment, food and a cash bar.

Medium close-up of a Black woman with short hair, wearing a green blazer and blue striped pants, sitting in front of a white draped background as she gazes at us, head tilted back slightly, and her right arm folded across her waist.

(Photo credits: Amaka Umeh. Photo by Shani K. Mornan.)

Vote for your favourite show!

Voting is now open for the annual Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award. The award goes to the most outstanding production as decided by the public via online voting. You can vote here for your favourite show from the list of Outstanding Production nominees across all divisions, or you can write in your own selection. Voting closes Monday, June 22 at 11:59 PM ET.

TAPA ancillary award recipients announced

TAPA ancillary award winners announced on June 1 include: Michael Caldwell as this year’s recipient of the George Luscombe Mentorship Award for extraordinary mentorship in the performing arts and Ashley Naomi Skye as this year’s Pauline McGibbon Award recipient. Clay and Paper Theatre was awarded the Ray Ferris Innovation and Sustainability Grant of $25,000 to recognize advances in theatrical design and the promotion of environmental sustainability in live theatre.

New this year, the recipients of two Dora Award categories were announced at the nominee press conference on June 1. The award for Outstanding Touring Production was awarded to What the Day Owes to the Night (Luminato Festival), a performance featuring twelve dancers who balance raw power with startling delicacy. The award for Outstanding Innovative Experience went to The Haunting (UnSpun Theatre), a collaborative performance written and performed by Shira Leuchter, where each show is for one audience member only.

About the Dora Mavor Moore Awards

The Doras are named for Dora Mavor Moore (1888-1979), a teacher and director who helped establish Canadian professional theatre in the 1930s and 1940s. Recognizing the outstanding achievements in Toronto’s performing arts industry, the Doras honour the creators of numerous theatre, dance and opera productions annually in the following divisions: General Theatre, Independent Theatre, Musical Theatre, Dance, Opera, Theatre for Young Audiences, Touring and Innovation.

The 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.

The Doras are administered by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), an organization dedicated to supporting the growth of the Toronto performing arts sector by facilitating learnings, connections and partnerships across industries, communities, organizations, groups and professionals.

Photo collage featuring a metal award statue of an abstract figure, arms forming a circle above the head (left side of image). In the background is a nighttime close-up of the entrance of a performing arts venue, with rows of small lights running on the underside and people outside the door. Parked and moving cars along the street in front of the building.

(Photo credits: Dora Mavor Moore Awards/TAPA.)

 

Event details

Presented by: The Romano D’Andrea Foundation, administered by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) 

Type of event: performing arts awards show

Jurors: See the list of jurors here 

Produced by: Victor Pokinko 

Written and associate directed by: liza paul 

Directed and choreographed by: Stephanie Graham 

Music direction by: Adam Sakiyama

Host: Amaka Umeh, with special guests & VIP presenters

Nominees: See the list of 2026 nominees here 

Date: Monday, June 29, 2026

Start time: Pre-show from 6:00 PM ET & show starts at 7:30 PM ET. After Party runs from 10:30 PM ET until late.

Duration: The awards show is approx. 3 hours. After Party TBA.

Cost: All Dora Award event tickets include access to the show’s After Party.

  • Early bird tickets (available until June 8): C$61.25 (taxes and fees included)
  • Regular price (after June 8): C$100.00 (plus taxes and fees)

Location: Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East, Toronto, ON, M5E 1B2

Booking link: Book your tickets here. For accessible bookings and support by phone or email, contact the TO Live Box Office team at (416) 366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754 or by email at boxoffice@tolive.com.

Contact details: Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), 1100 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON, M5R 3G9, Canada; (416) 536-6468, info@tapa.ca, tapa.ca

 

Content warning: This is a child-friendly event.

Accessibility: Meridian Hall offers several accessibility features for patrons, including wheelchair-accessible seating for patrons using wheelchairs and their companions. Seating is subject to availability. Meridian Hall also offers limited accessible parking available on a first-come, first-served basis. The venue is accessible from the street, and a lift is available for accessing balcony seating. Assistive Listening Devices are available at the box office upon request for those needing hearing assistance. More info here and here. The Dora Awards will have audio-description available. TAPA is working with Superior Description for the Dora award show ceremony. An advance, audio-described introduction of this service, venue description and additional program information are available to listen to here.