Artistic Director & CEO of Birmingham Hippodrome, Jon Gilchrist, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours list 2026 for his services to British theatre.

Jon has worked tirelessly on behalf of his local community to create sustainable pathways for creative talent in the region. Under Jon’s leadership and five-year strategic plan, the Hippodrome has launched the UK’s first in house department for New Musical Theatre and a New Work & Artist Development department, enabling thousands of artists to create work in the West Midlands. The theatre’s Hippodrome Education Network now reaches over 40,000 young people a year, providing an essential first point of engagement with culture for schools in some of the most deprived areas of Birmingham.

He was also Joint President of UK Theatre 2022-2025. As Joint President of UK Theatre (alongside Stephanie Sirr MBE) Jon was instrumental in the recovery of the UK theatre community post-pandemic, successfully lobbying for the continuation of Theatre Tax Relief, a lifeline to the sector which has supported touring theatre and ensured there are more new shows in production across the country.

In recent months Jon has been appointed to the Creative Industries Council and as a National Council Member for Arts Council England.

Catherine Mallyon, Chair of Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust said: “We are thrilled for Jon. Jon is renowned for his generosity of spirit in championing the cultural sector. He is a tireless advocate, ambitious for everything theatre and the arts can contribute to everyone’s quality of life, and deeply committed to the development of creative talent.

Jon’s work and care for the City of Birmingham and its people has already created positive and lasting change to the cultural life of the West Midlands. In doing so he has set a national benchmark of how cultural institutions and artists can work collaboratively with every part of the community to create enjoyment and opportunity.”

SOLT & UK Theatre Co-CEOs Claire Walker and Hannah Essex said: “We are thrilled that Jon has been recognised for his profound and far-reaching contribution to British theatre. It has been an honour to work so closely with him during our tenure as Co-CEOs, and he is a true asset to our organisation.

The extraordinary success Jon has achieved in his local community, and for the recovery of the industry, has been astonishing. Through his leadership and tireless advocacy, he has helped shape a more dynamic and accessible theatre industry for the Midlands.”

Jon Gilchrist added: “I am extremely humbled to be recognised with an MBE. I have had the privilege to learn from and work alongside a huge number of extraordinary people throughout my career. This award is dedicated to so many friends and colleagues, especially those at Birmingham Hippodrome, for their inspiring commitment to the transformative power of theatre.”

Prior to his role at Birmingham Hippodrome, Jon was Executive Director of HOME in Manchester, the city’s centre for live performances and international contemporary art and film. He also worked as Executive Director of the Bush Theatre in West London, leading on their major capital redevelopment and expanding the organisation’s reach as a centre of excellence for diverse emerging talent. He worked in in venues across the Northwest, including The Lowry in Salford, the Octagon Theatre Bolton, and the Dukes in Lancaster.