Christmas is a cozy time for relaxing and thinking things over, but the New Year brings excitement for what’s to come. And for 2026, theatre lovers have plenty to look forward to with all the fantastic shows planned for London’s West End.
The UK theatre scene had a fantastic 2025, featuring both iconic shows like Evita and Paddington, exciting new musicals such as The Devil Wears Prada and The Great Gatsby, and appearances by stars like Ncuti Gatwa and Imelda Staunton.
With a fantastic lineup of shows already planned, 2026 promises to be just as successful as the previous year.
Here’s a list of the shows we’re most excited about in the new year, including both classic Shakespeare plays and completely original musicals.
As a movie critic, I always appreciate when theaters make it easy on your wallet. I’ve been checking around, and it looks like they’ve really done their homework to find the lowest possible ticket prices for every showing. Of course, prices will change based on where you sit, but if you’re trying to keep your New Year’s resolutions – and save some money while enjoying a film – you’ll find plenty of affordable options here.
We saw more than 30 theatre productions in London in 2025 – plays and musicals included – and now we’re sharing our official rankings.
Jump to:
- New West End shows at a glance
- Best new West End shows coming to London in 2026
- Limited-time West End shows
- Shows with big-name celebrities
- New West End musicals
- What other West End shows are rumoured for 2026?
New West End shows at a glance
- Dracula, from £30
- Jesus Christ Superstar, from £27.50
- Inter Alia, from £27
- Grace Pervades, from £36
- Avenue Q, from £30
- Kinky Boots, from £24
- The Last Five Years
- Romeo and Juliet, from £18
- The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, from £30
- Marie and Rosetta, from £36
- Teeth ‘n’ Smiles, from £25
- 1536, from £25
- Beetlejuice, from £24
Best new West-End shows coming to London in 2026
Limited-time West End shows
Teeth ‘n’ Smiles
I’m so excited! Rebecca Lucy Taylor, who you probably know as Self Esteem, is heading back to the West End! She was amazing as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and now she’s taking on a new role as Maggie Frisby – a rock singer dealing with some really tough stuff, like addiction. I can’t wait to see what she does with the part.
This performance celebrates the 50th anniversary of David Hare’s play, which first debuted at the Royal Court Theatre.
1536
Originally performed at the Almeida Theatre, the play 1536 has gained significant popularity and will move to a West End theatre in May 2026.
As a film buff, I’m really intrigued by this historical drama. It’s set in Tudor England and follows the stories of three women whose lives start to mirror the drama and scandal surrounding Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, but with a fresh, modern take. It feels like a fascinating blend of the past and present!
Shows with big-name celebrities
Dracula
Kip Williams, the director known for his work on ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ featuring Sarah Snook, now presents ‘Dracula,’ starring Cynthia Erivo.
Just like her past work, Cynthia Erivo will portray all 23 characters in this new production of Dracula. It’s a fantastic opportunity to witness a truly talented performer on stage.
The Last Five Years
Rachel Zegler, fresh off her acclaimed performance as Evita, is now sharing the stage with Broadway star Ben Platt. After a groundbreaking year, Zegler is reaching new heights in her career.
This show is only running for five days at the London Palladium and sold out incredibly quickly. Tickets are extremely difficult to find, but it’s so good we had to include it on our list.
Wow, Jamie Lloyd’s production of Evita has finished its run, but honestly, I think people will be discussing how amazing it was for a long time! I just read a five-star review, and it totally lives up to the hype.
Grace Pervades
Renowned actor Ralph Fiennes will be back on stage in London’s West End, starring in David Hare’s new play, Grace Pervades.
This play tells the story of famous Victorian actors Henry Irving and Ellen Terry. It’s coming to the Theatre Royal Haymarket after a successful run at the Theatre Royal Bath.
Inter Alia
Inter Alia is a remarkably powerful play. We were especially impressed with the original National Theatre production and gave it a perfect five-star rating.
The acclaimed play by Suzie Miller, who wrote Prima Facie, is coming to London’s West End. Be sure to catch it!
Romeo & Juliet
Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo & Juliet, is coming back to London’s West End. This new production will feature Sadie Sink, known for her role in Stranger Things, and be directed by acclaimed director Robert Icke.
If you’re a fan of Sadie Sink, we’ve got the details on when and how to watch her in Stranger Things season 5, including the release schedule and how long each episode is.
New West End musicals
Avenue Q
Okay, so this puppet musical from Lopez, Marx, and Whitty? Don’t let the cute puppets fool you! It’s way more like The Book of Mormon – seriously funny and surprisingly edgy – than anything you’d expect from a kids’ show like Sesame Street. It’s got a real bite to it, despite looking all sweet on the surface.
This show features puppets with surprisingly salty language, complaining about their lives. It’s a funny and deliberately crude mix of serious, realistic drama and the colorful world of kids’ puppet shows.
Kinky Boots
Get ready to dance! This musical, featuring a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, is guaranteed to be a hit.
The show will be performed at the London Coliseum, featuring Johannes Radebe, known from the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing.
If you’re a Strictly Come Dancing fan, don’t miss our preview of the songs and dances from the 2025 semi-finals!
Jesus Christ Superstar
It’s great to have Jesus Christ Superstar back on a major London stage! The last big performance was in 2019 at the Barbican.
Sam Ryder, known for representing the UK in Eurovision, will star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical at the London Palladium.
Beetlejuice
The musical Beetlejuice has been incredibly popular on Broadway and is now coming to audiences across the Atlantic.
The musical Beetlejuice received eight Tony Award nominations and is expected to appeal to those who enjoy quirky and unusual entertainment. Don’t miss out on tickets – we’ve already mentioned Beetlejuice three times, and it’s that good!
Marie and Rosetta
Before Elvis and Little Richard became famous, Marie Knight and Sister Rosetta Tharpe were pioneering artists. This show celebrates their incredible stories, finally giving them the recognition they deserve.
The show will be performed at Soho Theatre, featuring Beverly Knight and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu as the famous rock’n’roll stars.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
After being adapted into a film in 2023, the story of Harold Fry is now becoming a stage play.
Rachel Joyce, the author of the original story, has created a stage adaptation with music by the popular artist Passenger. It’s a wonderful way to experience the tale of Harold, who unexpectedly sets out to walk across England hoping to find someone he lost touch with.
What other West End shows are rumoured for 2026?
As usual in the theatre world, everyone’s talking about which show will be the next big hit in London’s West End.
Everyone’s excited about the possibility of the musical Death Becomes Her coming to London’s West End. After receiving ten Tony Award nominations in 2025 and building a strong following in the UK, rumors suggest it could open in late 2026 or early 2027. There’s even talk that a well-known, tall, blonde Olivier Awards host might be involved!
It’s no longer just speculation – a new musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber is officially in development. He announced the project, titled The Illusionist, while speaking with reporters at the 2025 Tony Awards. Jamie Lloyd and Michael Harrison will collaborate with him on the creative side, and the show is currently aiming to open in September 2026.
A new English-language stage adaptation of Death Note is being developed by Trafalgar Entertainment, working with Japanese company HoriPro. Details are still limited, but the musical will feature music by Frank Wildhorn, known for his work on Jekyll and Hyde. A release date hasn’t been announced yet.
Exciting news for fans of Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey! Reports suggest the pair may be starring together in a London production of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Sunday in the Park With George.’ While the Barbican theatre isn’t in the West End, the planned 2027 run is definitely worth mentioning!
As a total movie buff, I always love staying in the loop about what’s happening on the West End, so I’ll be checking back here often to get all the latest news and buzz. I recommend you do too if you want to be up-to-date!
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2026-01-01 12:13