London Shows playing in May 2026

Dale Wasserman and Clint Dyer bring to life Ken Kassey's iconic 1962 novel about the inmates in a psychiatric facility, living under the cruel reign of the cruel Nurse Ratched, until a new arrival threatens to dismantle the whole system. Coming to the Old Vic in 2026, this bold new adaptation of a story of systemic oppression and dissent, reshaped in a powerful light for modern audiences.

Deborah Warner's (Billy Budd, Wozzeck) stunning contemporary staging of Benjamin Britten's bleak, harrowing opera returns to the Royal Opera with the story of Peter Grimes, a fisherman driven to madness after the death of his apprentice causes his community to turn against him. Opera lovers will be thrilled and moved by this psychologically complex, atmospheric story of alienation and exile, set to a powerful score.

Into the Woods masterfully weaves classic fairy tales into a rich, thought-provoking story. With Sondheim’s stunning score and a darkly humorous yet heartfelt narrative, it'll be the first major revival of the production in London for over nine years!

Young rising star playwright Leo Simpe-Asante's clever and confident absurdist comedy will open at the Royal Court Theatre as a curtain raiser to a searing revival of Samuel Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape, starring Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), which returns to the Royal Court after almost seventy years. Don't miss an evening of scintillating theatre that combines a bold new voice with a classic.

Richard Jones's energetic, sophisticated staging of Camille Saint-Saëns's grand opera, in this biblical epic that retells the story of the love affair between the superhumanly strong Samson and the Philistine temptress Dalila. Alexander Soddy conducts this harrowing story of temptation, betrayal, and a trial of faith, set to an instantly recognisable and powerful score that will enthrall both seasoned opera lovers and newcomers.

Choderlos de Laclos's scandalous, provocative French novel about seduction, manipulation, and betrayal comes to the stage in this thrilling adaptation directed by Marianne Elliott. Aidan Turner and Lesley Manville star as the scheming, power-hungry Vicomte de Valmont and Marquise de Merteuil in this darkly witty satire of pre-revolutionary French elite society in all its glamour and social vice.

A new Sherlock Holmes mystery comes to the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, from writer Joel Horwood and director Sean Holmes. Step into Victorian London and experience a thrilling mystery filled with deadly, high-stakes chases and shocking twists, as Holmes and Watson go against the clock to unveil the mastermind behind a deadly conspiracy. Lovers of Sherlock Holmes and the detective genre will fall in love with this brand new original story in the Sherlock Holmes canon.

The world's most famous lovers - Romeo, Casanova, Cyrano de Bergerac, and the Marquis de Sade - come together in an unforgettable pop battle to decide who among them is the world's greatest romantic. X Factor winners Matt Terry and Dalton Harris star in this sassy, funny, and smart story of passion and seduction, featuring a contemporary pop score by Eurovision finalists Julien Salvia and Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal.

Frederick Ashton’s joyful ballet is a love letter to the countryside, a light-hearted pastoral tale about a battle of wills between Lise and her mother over the question of marrying for love or for money. This whimsical, humourous ballet features dancing chickens, a dizzying ribbon dance, clog-dancing and an adorable Shetland pony, making it a comic masterpiece that will leave you smiling long after you've left the theatre.

The Last Man is a gripping one-person musical that unfolds like a psychological thriller, part gig, part video diary, part survival story, driven by a live rock score, immersive sound design, and dark humour. Coming to the UK for the first time, the hit Korean rock musical, now adapted for English-speaking audiences, follows a lone survivor barricaded in a bunker while the undead roam the streets outside.

Robert Icke directs Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, The Whale) and Noah Jupe (Hamnet, A Quiet Place) in their West End debuts as Romeo and Juliet comes to life at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Shakespeare's timeless story of family feuds and forbidden love will receive a sparkling new adaptation on the London stage in March 2026 in a highly anticipated theatrical experience that will enchant and enthrall audiences and critics alike.

Emmy award-winner, Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike will star in the world premiere of Inter Alia. Set to be a "searing exploration of modern masculinity and motherhood", this production will reunite the team behind the global phenomenon Prima Facie.

Arthur Miller's powerful and gripping family drama returns to the stage in a thrilling new production from Oliver-nominated director Jonathan Munby. Estranged brothers Victor and Walter reunite while selling their late father's possessions and get caught in an emotional reckoning that throws up buried family secrets. With a stellar cast including Olivier Award-winning Henry Goodman, this is a searing exploration of resentment, sacrifice, regret, and emotional inheritance with all the ingredients of a Miller classic.

Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] returns with more improvisation, comedic chaos, and a delightfully unique premise, where each performance sees a new celebrity step into the lead role with no rehearsing whatsoever. This year, step into the Wild West, a world of cowboys, sheriffs, and lost gold, and sing along with a company of actor-musicians and a live saloon pianist as you watch a talented actor find their way through the story blind.

Peter Shaffer's shocking, unsettling 1973 psychological thriller returns for a gripping revival directed by Lindsay Posner. In this disturbing story that confronts the conflict between faith and passion, a psychiatrist is drawn into the world of a young man who blinded six horses in an act of religious and sexual obsession, and finds himself questioning everything. Equus is a bold, startling play that has been haunting audiences since it was first staged.

Experience a hilarious new Jane Austen novel with the smash-hit comedy Austentatious. Inspired entirely by a title from the audience and performed in period costume with live musical accompaniment - it’s a riotous, razor-sharp show where swooning is guaranteed.

Ava Pickett's debut play returns after delighting audiences and critics at the Almeida Theatre in summer 2025. Bold, clever, funny, and dark, it retells the story of the execution of Anne Boleyn, through the eyes of three ordinary women in Essex, each with her own domestic troubles and difficult choices to make. With a searing commentary on misogyny and female solidarity, 1536 is an unmissable theatrical experience.

Sink into the Globe Theatre’s highly anticipated 2026 summer season with this electrifying staging of Shakespeare’s playful, chaotic comedy about spells, transformations, and the fickle nature of love. Four young Athenian lovers, caught in a love quadrangle, flee into an enchanted forest, where they become the victim of a love spell by the mischievous fairies that dwell within it. Dream and reality blur into midsummer madness in the sun-soaked open air of the Globe Theatre, making for an unforgettable and immersive theatrical treat.

Places aren't haunted, people are. Witness the horror phenomenon based on Oren Peli's Blumhouse film franchise, now on the stage for the first time. An American couple moves into a haunted house in London, running from their past, and are tormented by terrifying supernatural entities.

Conor McPherson adapts The Hunger Games, the thrilling saga about tyranny and revolution, based on the best-selling series by Suzanne Collins. Panem comes to life in the purpose-built, state-of-the-art Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre.

Inspired by the 2001 film by Baz Luhrmann that starred Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor; passion, romance and spectacle collide in the dazzling extravaganza, Moulin Rouge The Musical! With its electrifying performances, extravagant costumes, and memorable score, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a breathtaking celebration of love and the transformative power of art.

Disney's The Lion King is an unparalleled West End theatrical experience, bringing the enchanting world of the African savannah to the stage in a mesmerising spectacle for all ages. Adapted from the 1994 animation film, The Lion King has been selling out to audiences for over two decades.

Faulty Towers The Dining Experience debuted in Brisbane back in 1997 and is now a huge success across the world, including here in London. Enjoy the antics of Basil, Sybil and Manuel in a 2 hour interactive production whilst tucking into a 3-course lunch or dinner.

Step into the world of ABBA like never before with ABBA Voyage, a revolutionary blend of live performance and cutting-edge technology. Described as 'ground-breaking' by Metro, ABBA Voyage is one of the most popular immersive experiences London has to offer.

The immersive and electrifying West End production of Cabaret has captivated London’s theatre scene. Enter the transformed Playhouse Theatre, where you're transported directly into the vibrant and turbulent world of 1930s Berlin.

Loosely based on the 2017 movie everyone loves, Come Alive! - The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular is a new London attraction situated in a purpose-built big top. With the finest in musical theatre and extraordinary circus skills, this is one for all the family to enjoy!

Les Misérables has retained its crown as the longest-running musical in the West End for nearly 40 years. Over 130 million people worldwide have been captivated by this timeless tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption. This is a must-see on your plans when you visit London.

The Phantom of the Opera is a timeless tale of love, obsession, and tragedy set in the glamourous world of the Paris Opera House. With its haunting music from Andrew Lloyd Wbber, opulent sets, and gripping storyline, The Phantom of the Opera has been captivating audiences across the world for over 37 years.

The third-longest-running musical in West End history, Mamma Mia! is an irresistibly joyous musical set to ABBA's timeless hits. The show contains 23 of the biggest ABBA hits, including unforgettable hits like "Dancing Queen", "Waterloo" and the title song "Mamma Mia".

The award-winning and record-breaking Hamilton is delighting audiences at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Now in its eighth year, this is a hugely popular musical based on America's founding father Alexander Hamilton's life with a book, music, and lyrics written by musical theatre icon Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Wacky ghosts, madcap hijinks, a haunted house - step into the musical adaptation of Tim Burton's 1988 classic, where goth girl Lydia Deetz moves with her family into a house haunted by a recently deceased couple and the terrifyingly funny poltergeist Beetlejuice, all determined to scare off the newcomers. After a wildly successful Broadway run, Beetlejuice: The Musical arrives to haunt the West End with an unforgettably charming story, eccentric characters, and an irresistible soundtrack.

Back in London five years after its sold-out run at the National Theatre, Hadestown transports audiences to a realm where love, hope, and redemption collide. The winner of 8 Tony Awards, Hadestown offers a unique fusion of ancient mythology and modern storytelling.

Beloved children’s book character Paddington Bear gets his own musical, directed by Luke Sheppard with music by Tom Fletcher. This heart-warming story of a lost bear searching for a home in London has arrived at the Savoy Theatre and is already a hit with audiences of all ages!