New musicals to watch in London in 2026

Avenue Q at Shaftesbury Theatre

Artwork for Avenue Q.

For the first time in 20 years, Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx, and Jeff Whitty’s multi-award-winning musical Avenue Q is back in London! The musical, described as Sesame Street for adults, follows Princeton, who ends up in a rundown Avenue Q, fresh from college. Here, he meets a vibrant collective of characters who will help him discover his place in the world!

Avenue Q Tickets

Ballad Lines at Southwark Playhouse Elephant

Artwork for Ballad Lines.

Fans of new musicals, mark your calendars for Ballad Lines, opening in January. Co-created by award-winning Scottish singer-songwriter Finn Anderson and award-winning director Tania Azevedo is a major new folk musical that shines a light on identity, belonging, and the stories we choose to carry with us.

Ballad Lines Tickets

Beautiful Little Fool at Southwark Playhouse Borough

Artwork for Beautiful Little Fool.

A new musical will tell the story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerlad through the eyes of their daughter Scottie at the Southwark Playhouse Borough in January. Starring West End star David Hunter, Beautiful Little Fool will unearth the lives and writings of the brilliant and tempestuous parents.

Beautiful Little Fool Tickets

Beetlejuice the Musical at Prince Edward Theatre

Artwork for Beetlejuice The Musical

The name of the show on everyone’s lips in 2026 is Beetlejuice! The hit Broadway musical based on Tim Burton’s beloved film, released in 1988, will finally open in the West End in the New Year. Follow Lydia Deetz, who moves into a house haunted by a recently deceased couple and the terrifyingly funny poltergeist Beetlejuice. The run at the Prince Edward Theatre kicks off in the Spring!

Beetlejuice the Musical Tickets

Cats at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Artwork for Cats

Audiences can look forward to the summer with two Andrew Lloyd Webber productions obtaining a revival. Head to the enchanting surroundings of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, known for its outstanding productions in recent years, like Shucked and La Cage aux Folles. This time around, they get their claws into Cats, where the timeless tale about a unique group of characters alongside some of the most notable songs in musical theatre history will captivate generations of theatregoers during its limited run.

Cats Tickets

Jesus Christ Superstar at London Palladium

Artwork for Jesus Christ Superstar

Revived for the summer season, Jesus Christ Superstar returns to electrify the London Palladium from June. The production makes its first appearance since 2019, when it captivated audiences at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, with Tim Sheader once again at the helm of this unforgettable musical. Sam Ryder is set to make his West End debut, stepping into the global phenomenon with a fresh burst of energy that will make it one heck of a summer show to remember!

Jesus Christ Superstar Tickets

Kimberly Akimbo at Hampstead Theatre

Artwork for Kimberly Akimbo.

A teenager with a rare and unusual disease which makes her age four times quicker than her peers is at the centre of Kimberly Akimbo, the Broadway sensation heading into town next summer! With a book and lyrics by David Linsday Abaire, and music by Jeanie Tesori, the musical has already obtained five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Follow Kimberly through the ups and downs of being a teenager whilst confronting her own mortality.

Kimberly Akimbo Tickets

Kinky Boots at London Coliseum

Johannes Radebe for Kinky Boots. Photo by Charlie Flint.

It sold out practically everywhere during its UK tour in 2025, Kinky Boots is strutting back into London in 2026! Based on the 2005 film, this new production (a non-replica) is directed by Nikolai Foster and retains all of the uplifting energy and joy from the original show. Follow the unlikely friendship between Charlie and Lola, which sparks an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and fabulous heels. Also, don’t miss out on Strictly Come Dancing’s show-stealing turn as Lola!

Kinky Boots Tickets

Pride The Musical at National Theatre (Dorfman)

Artwork for Pride.

Uniting the director and writer behind the original 2014 film, Matthew Warchus and Stephen Beresford, is a new musical adaptation of Pride. Set in summer 1984 and the height of the miners' strike across the country, the story follows the true story of how two threatened communities joined forces. We know this funny, fierce, and full of heart new show will be a hit with audiences when it opens in July.

Pride the Musical Tickets

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at Royal Haymarket Theatre

Artwork for The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

Kicking off 2026 in style, the critically acclaimed musical ‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’ opens in the West End. Its debut at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2025 received critical acclaim, and the run was entirely sold out. Adapted by the author behind the multi-million selling novel Rachel Joyce and with music by Passenger, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry shares the moving story of a recently retired man who embarks on a journey which helps him reflect, reconnect and discover the healing power of hope and redemption.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Tickets

If you are looking for further inspiration for theatre trips in the future, our post on screen to stage adaptations in the West End is a great place to start!