The must-see theatre revivals in London in 2026

All My Sons, Wyndham’s Theatre

Bryan Cranston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hayley Squires, and Paapa Essiedu in ALL MY SONS at Wyndham's Theatre. Photo by Jan Versweyveld.

Playing in London for the first time since its last revival at the Old Vic in 2019, Arthur Miller’s play is given an intriguing revival by the acclaimed director Ivo Van Hove. Starring an star studded lineup including Bryan Cranston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Paapa Essiedu; All My Sons shares the striking story of a corrupt wartime businessman for a limited season in the West End until March 2026.

All My Sons Tickets

Avenue Q, Shaftesbury Theatre

Artwork for Avenue Q.

Two decades after its original West End run at the Noel Coward Theatre, the three-time Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q finally returns to the city in 2026. Full of mischief, badly behaved, and irresistibly charming characters - this new production of Robert Lopez and Jeffrey Marx's hilarious musical is set to be one of the most talked about shows in the West End this year!

Avenue Q Tickets

Cabaret, Kit Kat Club

Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney in Cabaret. Photo by Marc Brenner

Transforming the Playhouse Theatre into the Kit Kat Club, the 2001 revival of Cabaret boasts a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards and has received widespread critical acclaim since its arrival. Hailed by many as the ultimate theatrical experience, Rebecca Frecknall’s direction of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Joe Masteroff’s musical surrounding a club during the Nazis rise to power in Berlin is awe-inspiring and powerful stuff!

Cabaret Tickets

Hadestown, Lyric Theatre

The cast of Hadestown. Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Anaïs Mitchell’s musical leads you into the underworld, where a bold, fresh retelling of ancient Greek mythology unfolds. Making its London debut on the Olivier stage at the National Theatre, Hadestown was a huge hit - selling out its entire run. The unforgettable story of love, hope, and redemption returned to the West End in 2024, where audiences are continuing to be charmed by the magic of this show at the Lyric Theatre.

Hadestown Tickets

High Society, Barbican Theatre

High Society artwork.

Arthur Kopit and Cole Porter’s musical comedy follows a pretentious socialite who is planning a glamorous wedding to an executive when her ex-husband arrives to disrupt the proceedings. High Society was first staged in London at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2003, with a subsequent revival at The Old Vic in 2015. A new production, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, will head to the Barbican Theatre in the summer - with Call the Midwife’s Helen George starring alongside Felicity Kendal for the 8-week season.

High Society Tickets

Into the Woods, Bridge Theatre

Gracie McGonigal in Into the Woods. Photo by Johan Persson.

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical, which intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, has been a firm favourite with theatre fans since its London debut in 1990. Its initial run at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre involved a stellar cast, including Hannah Waddingham, Jenna Russell, and Michael Xavier. The acclaimed Broadway revival in 2022 reignited excitement for a London return, which finally arrived at the Bridge Theatre three years later for a limited run, directed by Jordan Fein.

Into the Woods Tickets

Kinky Boots, London Coliseum

Kinky Boots UK tour production image. Photo by Pamela Raith

A new production of Kinky Boots struts into the West End in 2026. If you’ve missed the joy and energy of Harvey Fierstein’s and Cyndi Lauper’s musical since its last run in London at the Adelphi Theatre, you won’t want to miss its return! The original West End production won three Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. Now directed by Nikolai Foster on the heels of a sold-out UK tour in 2025 and starring Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe, Kinky Boots is full of heart and catchy music!

Kinky Boots Tickets

Man and Boy, Dorfman Theatre

Artwork for Man and Boy.

Experience a sharp and contemporary edge to Terence Rattigan’s tale of paternity and corruption in an exciting new revival directed by Anthony Lau, arriving at the Dorfman Theatre at the National this year. First performed at the Queen’s Theatre (now the Sondheim Theatre) in 1963, Man and Boy follows international financier Gregor Antonescu as his luck begins to run out in 1930s New York City during the Great Depression.

Man and Boy Tickets

Les Liaisons Dangereruses, Lyttelton Theatre

Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National Theatre. Photographer Alexandre Blossard

For more revival gems at the National Theatre, Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner are set to star in a new staging of Christoper Hampton’s Les Liaisons Dangereuses this March. Last performed at the Donmar Warehouse in 2016, the celebrated adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ classic novel shares a thrilling game of love, lies, and social warfare.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses Tickets

Oliver!, Gielgud Theatre

Simon Lipkin in Oliver! Photo by Johan Persson.

Lionel Bart’s musical was the first adaptation of a famous Charles Dickens novel, making its first stage debut in the West End in 1960. A production which has stood the test of time, Oliver! has been revived multiple times over the years, with the last in London in 2008 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Some big names were featured in that show, including British comedian Rowan Atkinson and Jodie Prenger. Now Oliver! plays at the Gielgud Theatre, where it took to the stage in 2024 following a sell-out season at the Chichester Festival Theatre that summer.

Oliver! Tickets

Shadowlands, Aldwych Theatre

Hugh Bonneville as C.S. Lewis in Shadowlands. Photo by Manuel Harlan

Based on a true story, the ‘Entertaining, funny, deeply touching’ (WhatsOnStage) revival of Shadowlands heads to the West End from 5 February. William Nicholson’s play, which was adapted into a BAFTA Award-winning TV movie, debuted in Plymouth before running at the Queen’s Theatre (otherwise known as the Sondheim Theatre) in 1989. Rachel Kavanaugh directs Hugh Bonneville, who stars as C.S. Lewis, alongside Maggie Siff as the American poet Joy Davidman at the Aldwych Theatre.

Shadowlands Tickets

Starlight Express, Troubadour Wembley Park

Performed in a purpose-built auditorium at the Troubadour Wembley Park, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express returned to London to audience and critical acclaim in 2024. The original show opened at the Apollo Victoria Theatre (current home of Wicked), before revisions were made in 1992, with a new production relaunched. That production closed 10 years later in 2002. The German production in Bochum has been incredibly successful, and it still plays today. Starlight Express is a thrilling theatrical event where the performers whizz around the space on roller skates whilst sharing the story of a children’s train set that comes to life!

Starlight Express Tickets

The Producers, Garrick Theatre

Photo by Manuel Harlan.

Hailed as ‘The funniest show in London’ by the Evening Standard, The Producers is the first major revival of Mel Brooks’ madcap musical to take to the stage since 2004. The original production played at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and featured Lee Evans and Nathan Lane. The Producers centres around two theatrical producers who make a plan to get rich by creating a Broadway flop that returns to the West End following a sell-out debut at the Donmar Warehouse. It’s a riotous comedy with a delicious dark edge that is anything but a flop!

The Producers Tickets

Woman in Mind, Duke of York’s Theatre

Sheridan Smith in WOMAN IN MIND. Photo by Marc Brenner.

Taking to the London stage for the first time since its initial run at the Vaudeville Theatre in 1986 and last revival in 2009, Woman in Mind plays at the Duke of York’s Theatre in a production directed by Michael Longhurst. Acclaimed actress Sheridan Smith and British comedian Romesh Ranganathan star in the new production of Alan Ayckbourn's psychological comedy that depicts one woman’s fractured reality with heart and humour.

Woman in Mind Tickets

If you're looking for more theatreland tips in 2026, our guides to the best musicals and best plays to watch in London during 2026 will ensure you have a year to remember!