Press photo of May in 1959 The following is a list of awards and nominations received by American comedian, writer, director, producer and actor Elaine May.

Together, they performed onstage from clubs in Greenwich Village to the Broadway stage.

For her work on the Broadway stage, she received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for Kenneth Lonergan's revival of The Waverly Gallery in 2019.

In 2013, May was awarded the National Medal of Arts for her lifetime contributions to American comedy by President Barack Obama in a ceremony in the White House.

She was awarded for her "groundbreaking wit and a keen understanding of how humor can illuminate our lives, Ms. May has evoked untold joy, challenged expectations, and elevated spirits across our Nation.