The 2026 Tony Awards. Hosted by pop star Pink. Kicked off with a show-stopping performance that blended Broadway nostalgia with the singer’s signature high-flying theatrics. Pink’s opening number. Titled ‘Leading Lady Marmalade,’ drew comparisons to her role in Moulin Rouge!, and featured cameos from Broadway stars and celebrities like Megan Thee Stallion and Lea Michele. According to The Mirror US en Español, the performance included more than 100 artists on stage and in the aisles, and earned immediate praise on social media.

A High-Flying Opening

Pink began the show by donning a Peter Pan-style costume and swinging overhead on an aerial tap, a nod to the magical and fantastical elements of Broadway. Neil Patrick Harris, a former Tony host, joined her mid-air, and the two performed a synchronized dance routine while suspended. According to 20Minutos, Pink later removed the employ, donned a top hat, and led a reimagined version of ‘Lady Marmalade’ that included references to nominated shows. Her performance, which also featured a dramatic feathered gown and a glittering stage, was widely praised as one of the best Tony openings in years.

Pink’s energetic and inclusive opening set the tone for the evening. She addressed skeptics who questioned her suitability as host, saying she wanted to prove how much she loved theater. ‘I want to honor women everywhere who have the courage to use their voice,’ said Pink, echoing a theme that would carry through the night’s winners.

Winners Honor Women and Tradition

Among the big winners of the night was Schmigadoon!, a musical parody of golden-age Broadway classics. The show, which imagines a modern couple trapped in a Brigadoon-like fantasy world, won best musical. Its creator, Cinco Paul, received Tonys for score and book. The win marked a redemption for Paul, whose TV series was canceled after two seasons. According to AP News, Schmigadoon! also gave its producing studio, Apple, an unofficial ‘studio EGOT’ — awards from the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Tonys.

Another major winner was Liberation, a play by Wohl that explores second-wave feminism in 1970s Ohio. The play won best new play and had earlier earned Wohl the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Wohl is only the fourth woman to win the Tony for best play, joining Wendy Wasserstein, Yasmina Reza, and Frances Goodrich. In her acceptance speech, she said, ‘I want to honor women everywhere who have the courage to use their voice,’ and thanked her mother, daughters, and female producers. The play joins a list of 18 works that have won both the Pulitzer Prize and a Tony in the same year.

A Family Affair

Offstage, Pink made the event a family affair. According to stuttgarter-nachrichten.de, she brought her husband, Carey Hart, and their children, Willow and Jameson, to the red carpet. Pink wore a black, sleeveless gown with ruffled, feathered details, while her daughter Willow wore a nude-toned couture dress with complex detailing. The family photos, taken before the ceremony in New York’s Radio City Music Hall, added to the event’s emotional weight.

Pink’s opening performance, which included both high-flying stunts and heartfelt storytelling, set the stage for a night of celebration and recognition. With its mix of humor, music, and message, the 2026 Tony Awards proved that Pink was not just a surprise host — she was a star in her own right.