26 shows for 2026

Happy new year! Wondering what theatre there is to look forward to in 2026? Then read on to find out…

Let’s start with some new West End musicals:

1. Avenue Q (Shaftesbury Theatre, Mar – Aug)
Those naughty puppets are back at it again, this time in a production that brings back the original Broadway puppets and original Broadway director Jason Moore, alongside new creatives that include choreographer Ebony Molina (fresh from her recent work on Curve Theatre’s “The Sound of Music”). The question on everyone’s lips will be how much has changed from the original, which, first produced 20 years ago, could feel a little dated in places, with certain aspects (including the song “Everyone’s a little bit racist”) perhaps not striking the right chords with audiences in 2026. Playing to a reduced audience capacity whilst the Shaftesbury Theatre undergoes renovations, this musical is sure to appeal to old fans of the show, whilst perhaps attracting new viewers too.

2. Beetlejuice (Prince Edward Theatre, May – Apr)
Already a hit the other side of the pond, Beetlejuice arrives in the West End this Spring, telling the story of a teenager who finds herself haunted by a recently deceased couple, and based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film. Promising “outrageous fun, jaw-dropping effects and a killer score” this has got lots of theatre-goers very excited, and I can’t wait to see what all the hype is about.

3. The Last Five Years (London Palladium, Mar)
Playing only seven shows, this production of Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last Five Years” stars Rachel Zegler (Evita, West Side Story) and Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen). The musical tells the story of the relationship of Cathy and Jamie, a story that lasts five years and is narrated chronologically by Jamie, and in reverse by Cathy. The lure of huge stars such as Zegler and Platt was always going to be a huge draw for audiences, and the shows sold out in minutes – if you have tickets, let me know what it’s like!

Rachel Zegler and Ben Platt in “The Last Five Years”

4. CATS (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Jul-Sep, on tour Oct-Dec)
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “CATS” gets its first major revival since the film adaptation flopped in 2019. Featuring hit tracks such as Memory and Jellicle Ball, this “fresh re-imagining” will be given an extra touch of magic in this new open air production.

5. Kimberly Akimbo (Hampstead Theatre, Aug – Nov)
This new musical follows the story of teenager Kim, who suffers from a rare genetic condition that makes her look like a 72-year-old lady. This new musical, from writers David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori (who also worked on “Fun Home” and “Titanic the Musical”) has lots of promise, but one can’t help but feel that the plot might be a little too similar to recent hit “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.

What about some West End plays?

6. Arcadia (The Old Vic, Jan – Mar)
Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece gets revived by director Carrie Cracknell, whose 2024 production of opera ‘Carmen’ was described by ArtsJournal as the ‘worst thing […] at the Met in thirty years’. Surely Cracknell is on to a winner with Stoppard’s play though – which flickers between the present day and the early 19th Century, where a teenage maths prodigy unravels secrets that has implications for generations to come…

7. Romeo and Juliet (Harold Pinter Theatre, Mar – Jun)
Starring ‘Stranger Things’ alum Sadie Sink as Juliet, alongside Noah Jupe as Romeo, Robert Icke’s new production of Shakespeare’s tragic romance is the director’s first work since his controversial 2025 play “Manhunt”, and his less controversial 2024 adaptation of “Oedipus”. Playing in the intimate Harold Pinter setting, I look forward to seeing what new spins Icke can bring to this classic.

Noah Jupe and Sadie Sink in “Romeo and Juliet”

8. John Proctor is the Villain (Royal Court Theatre, Mar – Apr)
This new play written by Kimberly Belflower reimagines Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” but set amongst a group of teenage girls in small town USA. This play has already been making waves on Broadway, but how will it translate to a British audience? The show makes bold claims, saying that it “isn’t just a new play – it’s a reckoning”.

The poster for “John Proctor is the villain”

Enough about the West End, what about regional theatres?

9. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (RSC Stratford-upon-Avon, Feb/Mar)
Based on the true story of William Kamkwamba, this new musical tells the story of a teenager in Malawi who uses scrap materials to build a wind turbine to power his village. You can listen to a snippet of one of the songs on the RSC’s website by clicking here.

The poster for “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”

10. Henry V (RSC Stratford-upon-Avon, Mar/Apr)
Shakespeare’s historical epic, directed by Tamara Harvey, stars Alfred Enoch as the young King. Anyone who saw Harvey and Enoch’s last collaboration on “Pericles” in 2024 will know we’re in for a treat.

The poster for “Henry V” starring Alfred Enoch

11. Kiss of the Spider Woman (Leicester Curve, Apr)
From the creators of “Cabaret” and “Chicago”, this rarely revived musical hits Leicester Curve in April, telling the story of two prisoners who try to keep themselves sane with tales of the seductive Spider Woman. Starring Layton Williams (previously seen in “Titanique” and “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”), this production is a collaboration between Curve, Bristol Old Vic and Mayflower Southampton, with the show going on to further performances in these venues later in the year.

The poster for “Kiss of the Spider Woman”

12. Macbeth (Derby Theatre, Apr)
From Hull Truck Theatre’s artistic director Mark Babych comes a new adaptation of “Macbeth”, reimagined in a contemporary war zone setting and starring Oliver Alvin-Wilson in the title role. This collaboration between Derby Theatre, Hull Truck Theatre and Octagon Theatre Bolton follows successful productions of “Animal Farm” in 2024 and “Of Mice and Men” in 2025, and continues the theme of producing shows to align with the national GCSE curriculum. After playing in Derby, the show will go on to perform in both Hull and Bolton.

13. Next to Normal (Birmingham Old Joint Stock, Apr)
Teased at the end of their production of “Be More Chill” last summer, Old Joint Stock’s “Next to Normal” sees director James Edge tackle the moving story of a mother’s battle with bipolar disorder. This is sure to be an incredibly moving watch.

14. Little Shop of Horrors (Derby Theatre, May/Jun)
Premiering at Northern Stage in May, before moving to Derby Theatre later in the month, this musical, which tells the story of a man-eating plant let loose on Skid Row, will employ actor-musicians in the roles to give us a totally new spin on this well known tale. The show will also include B-movie-inspired integrated captions in all performances to make the show more accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing audiences.

15. Public – the musical (Leicester Curve, May/Jun)
Here’s an odd one – a musical set in a public toilet, where four strangers end up getting locked in. This 90 minute musical, which premiered to rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, is said to have “plenty of cracking melodies” and is a “pop-rock celebration of compassion and understanding”.

16. Something Rotten (Manchester Opera House, Jun/Jul)
The Broadway musical about the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, renaissance playwrights in Shakespeare’s shadow, arrives in the UK after playing a special concert in 2023. Starring Jason Manford as Nick Bottom, and Richard Fleeshman as Shakespeare, this promises to be an outrageously funny and uplifting show.

Looking for something coming to a theatre near you? Here’s some shows touring the East Midlands in 2026:

17. Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (Nottingham Theatre Royal in Jan)
A new spin off from “The Play that Goes Wrong” and “Peter Pan Goes Wrong”, Mischief Theatre are back with a brand new farce following a limited run in the West End at the end of 2025. Starring the key Mischief players such as Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Nancy Zamit, this will certainly be chaotic and hilarious.

The poster for “Christmas Carol Goes Wrong”

18. The Beekeeper of Aleppo (kicks off at Nottingham Playhouse in Feb)
A revival of the show that premiered in 2023, this play tells the story of Syrian beekeeper Nuri and his wife, who are forced to escape their homeland when war breaks out. This promises to be an incredibly moving and timely piece of theatre.

The poster for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”

19. Legally Blonde (kicks off at Leicester Curve in Feb, coming to Nottingham Theatre Royal in May)
Starring Strictly Come Dancing finalist Amber Davies as legal-wannabe Elle Woods, this musical is the next project for Nikolai Foster, who recently oversaw Curve’s festive production of ‘The Sound of Music’. With full cast still to be announced, this musical tells the story of a young woman who goes to study law to try to win back her childhood sweetheart.

20. Death on the Nile (Birmingham Alexandra in Apr, Nottingham Theatre Royal in Apr)
Ken Ludwig returns with an adaptation of a new Poirot mystery, following the acclaimed production of “Murder on the Orient Express” in 2024, again collaborating with director Lucy Bailey. The play, which stars Mark Hadfield as our favourite Belgian detective, sees Poirot on board a luxury cruise, which is cut short by a brutal murder. If anyone can solve the mystery, surely Poirot can!

21. Waitress (Birmingham Hippodrome in Apr/May, Nottingham Theatre Royal in Aug)
Telling the story of waitress Jenna who is abused by husband, this new tour will be brought to life by a female-led creative team, and feature Carrie Hope Fletcher in the lead role. Given that Fletcher is better known for outspoken, confident roles such as Veronica in “Heathers” and the title role in “Calamity Jane”, it will be interesting to see what she brings to the character of Jenna, which seems to be playing against her usual type. One thing is for sure though – I cannot wait to see Fletcher nail the song She used to be mine (which is, in my opinion, one of the greatest musical songs of all time).

22. Operation Mincemeat (Birmingham Alexandra in May, Nottingham Theatre Royal in Jul/Aug)
Reworking a WWII military operation into a musical, this show has been a hit with audiences in the West End, being hailed as the UK’s answer to “Hamilton”, and featuring a mix of pop and hip-hop inspired tracks. And if you can’t wait for the tour, the show continues its residency in the West End at the Fortune Theatre until at least May!

Announcement of the “Operation Mincemeat” tour

23. Mean Girls the musical (Leicester Curve in May, Nottingham Theatre Royal in November)
Direct from the West End, and based on the hit comedy film, this musical will see Vivian Panka (from “Heathers” and “Dear Evan Hansen” fame) take on the role of the formidable Queen Bee Regina George, whilst Faye Tozer from Steps will be starring as her mother (although Tozer is only confirmed currently for the first half of the tour, so will be appearing at Curve but not necessarily in Notts). Telling the story of new girl on the block Cady (Emily Lane), who tries to infiltrate the ‘mean girls’ clique, this show is going to be fetch!

24. The Choir of Man (Nottingham Theatre Royal in Jun, Leicester Curve in Jul, Birmingham Alexandra in Jul)
This musical celebrates pub culture, community and friendship, featuring a cast of nine men, and hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Adele and Guns and Roses. After playing on the West End for four years, this musical is finally touring the UK and Ireland in 2026!

25. Silence of the Lambs (Leicester Curve in Aug, Nottingham Theatre Royal in Sep, Birmingham Alexandra in Jan 27)
The first stage adaptation of Thomas Harris’s gripping literary masterpiece, this chilling production will follow FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she is sent to interview infamous murderer Hannibal Lecter. With an age guidance of 15+, this brutal, terrifying production will be enough to send chills down your spine…

26. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Birmingham Rep Sep, Nottingham Theatre Royal Oct)
Simon Stephens’ original adaptation of Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel premiered in 2012 at the National Theatre. The play tells the story of gifted teen Christopher Boone, who sets about to uncover the mystery of his neighbour’s dead dog. The story explores themes surrounding family and neurodivergence, and is incredibly moving and powerful. This new production, directed by Ned Bennett, promises to “reimagine the play for the 2020s”, so if you’ve seen this before, expect something different this time around!