Joël Pommerat's Play Leads Nominations for 2026 Molières Awards in Paris

The nominations for the 37th Molières Awards, France's premier theater honors, were announced on April 2, 2026, with Joël Pommerat's production 'Les Petites Filles modernes' receiving the most nominations at five. The ceremony is scheduled for May 4, 2026, at the Folies Bergère in Paris and will be broadcast on France 2, hosted by comedian Alex Vizorek. Pommerat's play, a fantastical tale about childhood, is competing in categories including Best Public Theater Production and Best Director in Public Theater. Other notable productions with multiple nominations include 'Amadeus' by Peter Shaffer, 'Art' by Yasmina Reza, and 'Le Procès d'une vie' by Barbara Lamballais, each with four nods. In the musical theater category, contenders are 'La Cage aux folles' directed by Olivier Py and starring Laurent Lafitte, 'Chicago, le musical' by Bob Fosse, and 'La Petite Boutique des horreurs' directed by Valérie Lesort and Christian Hecq. Key acting nominees include Ludivine Sagnier, Elsa Lepoivre, Marina Hands, and Romane Bohringer for Best Actress in Public Theater, while Laurent Lafitte, Louis Arene, Eric Elmosnino, and Christophe Montenez are up for Best Actor in Public Theater. For private theater, François Morel, Olivier Saladin, Jean-Paul Rouve, and Jérôme Kircher are nominated for Best Actor, with Josiane Balasko, Clotilde Daniault, Charlotte Matzneff, and Magali Genoud in the Best Actress category. The comedy award features Ahmed Sylla, Alex Lutz, Alison Wheeler, and Valérie Lemercier. Additionally, the Comédie-Française received seven nominations across six categories, highlighting its significant presence. The Molières recognize achievements in French theater, with this edition showcasing a diverse range of works and performers.