London Shows playing in October 2026

Lucy Kirkwood's fiercely clever and timely 2016 play follows two retired nuclear scientists at the end of the world, forced to grapple with the consequences of their actions. Directed by Rachel O'Riordan and starring Meera Syal, this poignant, harrowing story explores themes of inter-generational accountability, personal morality, and the environmental crisis, which feel just as relevant to our modern age as they did when they were written.

Cate Blanchett stars in this thrilling production that blends ancient myth and modern psychology, fusing Sophocles's Electra with Ingmar Bergman's Persona. An actress suddenly falls silent during a performance of Electra and what follows is an unsettling, intense encounter between two women. Directed by Benedict Andrews, this bold new play explores grief, identity and performance.

Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin) returns to a career-defining role after over 30 years, in German dramatist Manfred Karge's powerful story of resilience and survival during wartime. Directed by Stephen Unwin (The Conquest of the South Pole), Man to Man tells the story of Ella Gericke, who adopts her late husband's identity in order to get by in 1930s Germany.

Black Panther star Letitia Wright will star in the UK premiere of Tracey Scott-Wilson's The Story, a smart and slick newsroom drama about an ambitious young reporter's investigation of a murder of a white teacher in a black neighbourhood. Clint Dyer (Othello, Death of England) directs this thrilling mystery play about the elusive nature of the truth, which offers a raw look at the relationship between race and media.

One of the most iconic films of the nineties is coming to the stage, in a brand-new musical adaptation of Thelma & Louise, directed by Trip Cullman and starring Amy Lennox and Rachel Tucker as the unforgettable road tripping heroines who wind up on the run from the FBI after one of them kills a would-be rapist. Funny, clever, and thrilling, it offers a fresh take on a story of violence and female friendship that feels even more relevant to today's gender politics. Book now and get ready for a razor-sharp and heart-racing story that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout.

August Wilson's landmark 1985 play, set in the 1950s, is the sixth installment in his ten-part Pittsburgh Cycle, exploring the evolving African-American experience in the face of race relations. In this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama, Troy, a working class 53-year-old man, struggles to provide for his family as head of the household. From one of America's most influential 20th century writers comes a powerful story about race, class, and ambition.

This dark, unsettling, and Pulitzer-winning opera comes from contemporary Chinese-American composer, performance artist and activist Du Yun and librettist Royce Vavrek. Combining Yun's eclectic and genre-defying musical style with a dynamic, immersive staging, Angel Bones shatters operatic tradition to tell a harrowing story about a struggling couple who find a pair of angels in their garden and abuse their heavenly gifts for their own greed. Witness a powerful exploration of modern slavery and human trafficking through a truly unique opera.

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.

David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori's Tony Award-winning new and original musical tells the story of Kimberly, whose rare disease causes her to age at four times the normal rate. This funny, heartwarming story of a teenage girl who looks like a seventy-year-old woman has delighted and enchanted Broadway audiences with its unique story and unforgettable soundtrack, and now it's transferring to London. Don't miss this quirky coming of age story with a twist.

This provocative new play from Helen Edmundson is directed by Blanche McIntyre and stars Anne-Marie Duff as Julie Robson, a woman who is constantly overlooked until a chance encounter on a station platform forces her to take a stand against the systems that shape and define the world. Driven by thought-provoking questions about what it means to raise your voice, this is an unmissable play among the National Theatre's powerful slate of 2026 plays.

Step into the Globe's highly anticipated 2026 summer season with a classic Shakespearean comedy, in which young lovers Rosalind and Orlando navigate romance while hiding out in the Forest of Arden. Featuring mistaken identity, disguises, and live music, Sean Holmes and Charlie Josephine team up to bring this light-hearted and euphoric story of love, lust, and revelry to life in the gorgeous open-air Globe Theatre.

Based on Wladyslaw Szpilman's internationally acclaimed memoir, which was the inspiration for Roman Polanski's Academy Award-winning 2002 film, The Pianist is a new musical that recounts Szpilman's harrowing experiences as a renowned pianist in 1930s Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. It features Szpilman's own music with new lyrics and is freshly orchestrated by Simon Lee, bringing his music and story together on the stage for the first time, in a love letter to the extraordinary power of creativity.

ENO Artistic Director Annilese Miskimmon reimagines Puccini's timeless opera, exploring the art of resistance and love in the face of political censorship. In a concert hall in a European state overrun by civil war, opera singer Floria Tosca and her lover Cavaradossi are hunted by the sadistic police chief Scarpi. Experience this thrilling opera in a whole new light in this gripping new production that feels urgently relevant to the modern age, featuring some of Puccini's most iconic arias, in a story about the enduring power of love and art to defy tyranny.

Noel Coward's 1925 comedy is returning to the West End with an explosive revival at Wyndham's Theatre starring Christine Baranski and Richard E. Grant. Emily Burns directs this outrageously funny play about an eccentric family who invites a group of hapless guests to their English country house for a weekend of chaos, confusion, and embarrassment. One of Coward's funniest and most beloved plays, Hay Fever has been charming audiences for the past century and now it's your chance to experience this farcical comedy of manners in all its glory.

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.

Gillian Anderon and Billy Crudup lead this latest revival of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, a brutal, outrageous drama about a married couple in a toxic spiral, who pull an unsuspecting younger couple into their terrifying games. Marianne Elliot directs this latest take on a classic that has enthralled audiences since 1962, packed with razor-sharp wit, drama, and unforgettable characters, in a scandalous exploration of a marriage gone wrong.

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.

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is the ultimate classic whodunit that has kept audiences on the edge of their seats for decades with its suspenseful plot and surprising twists. Experience the thrill of live mystery and see why this record-breaking play remains a timeless masterpiece of London's theatre scene.

Adapted by Conor McPherson and directed by Ian Rickson, The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov's final play, is coming to the Harold Pinter Theatre in a bold, powerful new staging that explores a family on the brink of change and a world in transition. Award-winning actress Kristin Scott Thomas plays Lyubov Ranevskaya, an aristocratic Russian landowner who returns to her childhood estate and finds her family home and beloved cherry orchard under threat.

From award-winning director Jordan Fein comes the Olivier Award-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s beloved and classic musical, in which characters from the Brothers Grimm’s unforgettable fairy tales come together in a desperate search for a happily ever after. Combining a fantastic score, memorable storytelling and endearing characters with a dark and clever twist on the fairy tales we all know and love, Into the Woods is a darkly humorous and heartfelt story that has been enchanting audiences for years. 

Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane, and Luke Thompson star in Robert Icke's stage adaptation of the German psychological thriller, The Lives of Others, in which a Stasi agent in East Berlin finds his loyalties tested when he begins spying on a couple. A star-studded cast brings to life this story of surveillance, espionage, oppression, and the struggle for personal freedom, in its first-ever stage adaptation that promises to bring a fresh take that speaks to our modern world.

The epic rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice that follows Jesus Christ in the days leading up to his crucifixion is one of the biggest cultural sensations in musical theatre. Tim Sheader directs and Eurovision star Sam Ryder stars in this iconic theatrical phenomenon that blends biblical history with a modern musical at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane..

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.

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.

This bold, electrifying musical is based on the beloved 2010 film starring Christina Aguilera and Cher, adapted for the stage by Steven Antin in collaboration with Christina Aguilera. Step into a seductive underground world filled with sequins, shimmer, and feather boas, where newcomer Ali will discover her voice and an unexpected found family in the heart of a glamorous nightclub. Get ready for a story of glitz, grit, and heart, featuring music by pop icons like Christina Aguilera, Sia, Diane Warren, Todrick Hall and Jess Folley.

Based on Lauren Weisberger's best-selling 2003 novel and the 2006 blockbuster film, The Devil Wears Prada features an all-star, award-winning creative team including Elton John and Jerry Mitchell. Experience this fabulous musical for yourself in the West End!

With a book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, Rent follows a group of impoverished artists living in Manhattan's East Village, navigating love and loss, grappling with the realities of poverty, and living with the invisible, inevitable threat of HIV/AIDS. Filled with unforgettable songs such as 'Rent', 'La Vie Boheme', 'Take Me or Leave Me', and 'Seasons of Love', Rent is one of the most beloved pieces of theatre of all time, and now London audiences can experience it all over again.

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.

Don't miss the electrifying Dirty Dancing musical coming to the new Capital Theatre in London in 2026, where the iconic story of Baby and Johnny comes to life like never before. With breathtaking choreography, unforgettable hits like "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," and a fresh take on the classic tale, this production promises an experience that will leave you on your feet.

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.

Step into London’s historic County Hall for Witness for the Prosecution, where Agatha Christie’s gripping courtroom drama unfolds in an unforgettable, immersive setting. This acclaimed production brings you up close to the suspense as shocking twists keep you guessing right until the final verdict.

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.

Rediscover the Wizarding World 19 years after the epic Battle of Hogwarts with the multi-award-winning production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Jampacked with spectacular spells, embark on a mind-blowing race through time with one of London's most popular plays!

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.

This sizzling, sexy dance production inspired by the hit Magic Mike film franchise starring Channing Tatum is the perfect show for a girls' night. Step into mythical Club Domina, a purpose-built venue in London's Hippodrome Casino, where you'll experience a group of talented, attractive artists perform a thrilling variety of 360-degree dance and acrobatic feats combined with one-of-a-kind acts.

The Play That Goes Wrong is an unmissable comedy, delivering laugh-out-loud moments as a fictional theatre company attempt to perform a murder mystery production collapses. Known for its brilliantly timed physical humour and unexpected mishaps, The Play That Goes Wrong is the longest-running comedy in the West End for a reason!

SIX reinvents history with a fresh twist, giving the six wives of Henry VIII the spotlight to finally share their own stories. With catchy, empowering songs and electrifying choreography - this show is executed in a fierce pop concert that has captivated audiences worldwide.

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!