Seven nominations for the 2026 Thalia Awards for artists from the National Theatre

The Actors’ Association has announced the nominations for the 2026 Thalia Awards. This year’s shortlist includes representatives from the National Theatre’s Drama, Opera and Ballet companies, whilst other artists from our theatre have been included in the wider list of nominees. We would also like to congratulate our colleagues who have been nominated for their performances at other Czech theatres and whom audiences can also see regularly at the National Theatre.

In the ballet, dance and physical theatre category, two soloists from the National Theatre Ballet have been shortlisted. Aya Watanabe has been nominated for her solo role in Jiří Kylián’s choreography 27'52'', presented as part of the Avant-Garde programme. In its assessment, the jury highlighted her technical precision, musicality and distinctive style of expression. Principal dancer Giovanni Rotolo impressed in the title role of Neumeier’s Liliom, in which, according to the jury, he makes full use of the choreography’s possibilities and combines them with mature acting and a deep understanding of the character.

Three shortlisted nominees are performers from the National Theatre Opera. Jiří Brückler is nominated for the role of Midak in Otakar Ostrčil’s Legend of Erin, in which the jury praised both his vocal performance and his convincing portrayal of the character’s inner turmoil. Joachim Goltz impressed as Alberich in Wagner’s Das Rheingold with his vocal assurance, expressive delivery and a psychologically nuanced interpretation of the role. Štefan Margita received a nomination for his portrayal of Loge in the same production; the jury praised him for his vocal precision, stage charisma and elegantly ironic portrayal of the character

The National Theatre’s Drama Company is also represented twice among the shortlisted nominees. Pavla Beretová and Filip Kaňkovský were nominated for their performances in the production of Hedda Gabler, directed by Viktor Bodó. Pavla Beretová for the title role of Heda Tesman, in which the jury praised her precision, dynamism and ability to capture the contradictions of one of Ibsen’s most complex characters. Filip Kaňkovský received a nomination for the role of Dr Jørgen Tesman, whom he portrays with tragicomic flair and character ambiguity.

The National Theatre also has representatives in the wider nominations. From the National Theatre Ballet, these include Alina Nanu as Julia and Matěj Šust as Fiscura in Liliom, Kristýna Němečková and Francesco Scarpato for solo roles in 27'52'', and Mathias Deneux for Love Birds. In opera, Seth Carico was nominated for his role as Finn in The Legend of Erin and Jiří Hájek for his role as Amfortas in Parsifal; in drama, Denisa Barešová was nominated for her role as Viola in Twelfth Night.

We would also like to congratulate the artists associated with the National Theatre who have received nominations this year for their performances at other theatres. National Theatre Opera soloist Kateřina Kněžíková is on the shortlist for the title role in Janáček’s Káťa Kabanová at the National Theatre in Brno; on our stages, audiences currently know her, for example, as Rusalka, Mařenka in The Bartered Bride, Micaëla in Carmen or Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. Also shortlisted is the National Theatre Opera’s regular guest Ester Pavlů for her performance as Amneris in Verdi’s Aida at the National Theatre in Brno. In Prague, audiences can currently see her in roles such as Carmen, the Foreign Princess in Rusalka, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and Kundry in Parsifal.

We warmly congratulate all the nominees.

The winners of the 2026 Thalia Awards will be decided by expert juries on the day of the awards ceremony. The ceremony for the 33rd edition will take place on 3 October at 8.00 pm in the historic building of the National Theatre and will be broadcast live by Czech Television on the ČT1 channel.