ANNOUNCING THE FINALISTS OF THE 2026 SIMINOVITCH PRIZE
Canada’s most valuable theatre award, the Siminovitch Prize honours exceptional mid-career theatre artists whose groundbreaking work significantly contributes to advancing the art form.
Recognized by a jury of peers for being visionaries in their field, this year’s finalists bring distinct voices to the national and international stage. Representing a range of artistic practices and perspectives from across the country, the work of these artists and ensembles reflects the ambition, innovation, excellence and vitality of Canadian theatre. What this year’s finalists created, challenged, illuminated, and brought to audiences and the industry makes them celebrated luminaries within the country’s theatre landscape.
The finalists for the 2026 Siminovitch Prize are: Catherine Bourgeois (Montreal, QC), Olivier Kemeid (Montreal, QC), The Old Trout Puppet Workshop (Calgary, AB) and collaborators Sherry J. Yoon & Jay Dodge (Gibsons, BC)
On November 30, one finalist will be named the 2026 Siminovitch Prize Laureate and receive the $100,000 award. The remaining finalists will receive $10,000 each; the Protégé chosen by the Laureate will receive $25,000; and three additional emerging artists selected by the finalists will each receive $5,000. In addition, the four shortlisted artists will each be profiled in a short documentary about their work and artistic practice.
For this year’s award, the Siminovitch Theatre Foundation welcomed nominations of directors, playwrights, and designers, as well as multi-disciplinary theatre creators. The finalists honoured this year demonstrate an extraordinary range of Canadian innovation and outstanding talent.
“The 2026 Siminovitch Prize shortlist shows a drive to build bridges and see ‘the other’ differently. Whether it’s inviting audiences to see themselves in someone else’s experience, building creative partnerships that elevate everyone around them, or making room for collaborators too often left out of the room, these artists share a pull toward connection and possibility. That’s a hopeful thing to find in theatre right now, and it’s what this shortlist celebrates.” — Adrienne Wong, 2026 Jury Chair
THE FINALISTS ON BEING SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2026 SIMINOVITCH PRIZE
“It is an immense honour and a real joy to be named a finalist for the Siminovitch Prize. For nearly 25 years, through Joe Jack et John, I have questioned established ideas of who belongs on our stages, how we create, and what we recognize as theatre. To have this work recognized in this way is profoundly moving. I share this nomination with the many artists and collaborators who have shaped the company and my practice through dialogue, doubt, curiosity, and a willingness to imagine other possibilities.” — Catherine Bourgeois, 2026 Finalist
The Old Trout Puppet Workshop was founded in the wild days of youth, with no grander mandate than making art with our friends; but now that we’re older, we do sometimes wonder what it all adds up to. Being shortlisted for this prize is the sort of thing that reassures you about your life choices – the cherry that makes a bowl of ice cream into a sundae. The Siminovitch is a defining event for our whole community, and we’re enormously grateful to be a part of it.” — The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, 2026 Finalist
“To be named finalists for the 2026 Siminovitch Prize is an extraordinary honour, and a deeply meaningful recognition of the many artists, collaborators, communities and audiences who have shaped Boca del Lupo with us. Our work has always been driven by a belief that theatre can happen anywhere, that it can invite people into new kinds of presence with one another, and that artistic risk is most powerful when it is shared. This recognition affirms not only what we have made, but the ongoing possibility of theatre as a place of invention, generosity and connection. We are grateful to stand alongside the other finalists, and to be part of a national conversation about the future of live performance in Canada.” — Sherry J. Yoon & Jay Dodge, 2026 Finalist
ABOUT THE SIMINOVITCH PRIZE
The Siminovitch Prize is a celebration of Canadian theatre, honouring excellence and innovation since 2001. Awarded annually to exceptional theatre artists, the Siminovitch Prize encourages artists to deepen their artistic practice through financial and national recognition. Being named a Siminovitch Prize finalist places an artist among those recognized for exceptional contributions to Canadian theatre. Learn more about the founding story of the Prize and the other Siminovitch Theatre Foundation programs here.
We gratefully acknowledge Power Corporation of Canada as the presenter of the 2026 Siminovitch Prize shortlist. Their support enables the Siminovitch Theatre Foundation to celebrate and elevate four exceptional artists on a national stage throughout the year.
THE 2026 JURY
Olivier Arteau is a director, theatre creator and actor as well as the Artistic Director of Le Théâtre du Trident in Québec City, QC.
Keith Barker is the director of the Foerster Bernstein New Play Development Program at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, ON.
Leanna Brodie is a playwright, translator, librettist, and actor based in Montréal, QC.
Anna Cummer is an actor, playwright, and puppeteer as well as the Associate Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary in Alberta.
Eo Sharp is a set and costume designer based in Montréal, QC.
Adrienne Wong (Chair) is a theatre writer, director, performer, and creator, the Artistic Director of SpiderWebShow Performance, and co-curator of FOLDA based in Victoria, BC.
WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT
The 2026 Siminovitch Prize Laureate will be announced on November 30, 2026, following the premiere of short documentary portraits of each shortlisted artist on youtube.
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