Shakespeare Plays to Watch in London in 2026

Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Globe

Photography by Felicity McCabe.

Shakespeare’s wittiest comedy returns to the beautiful, sun-drenched Globe Theatre. Step into the decadent world of Messina in this cheeky, charming staging by Chelsea Walker, and witness the ultimate battle of the sexes between Benedick and Beatrice: both hot-headed, with a razor-sharp wit and a self-professed disdain for marriage. When their friends attempt to matchmake them, hilarity and chaos ensue. Romantics and cynics alike will fall in love with this irresistible comedy with its tricksy plot, laugh-out-loud antics, and witty banter that will have you in fits of laughter.

Much Ado About Nothing Tickets

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Image courtesy of production.

What better place to experience Shakespeare’s dreamy, enchanting comedy than in London’s most beautiful outdoor theatre? Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, in the heart of the city’s prettiest park, is transformed into an enchanted forest filled with fairies, spells, and romance. In this blissful production by Atri Banerjee, four young lovers caught in a chaotic love quadrangle flee Athens and find themselves at the whims of the mischievous, tricksy fairies that dwell in the woods. Get ready for a sun-soaked performance of this wickedly funny comedy, filled with zany plot twists and heart-stopping romance.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Tickets

The Tempest, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

Photography by Felicity McCabe.

Step into the ethereal, intimate space of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, lit entirely by candlelight, making it the perfect moody, atmospheric setting for an enchanting play like The Tempest, set on a hidden island by duke-turned-magician Prospero, who unleashes a terrifying storm to shipwreck his enemies and take his revenge. Tim Crouch retells this magical story of illusions and tricks with a unique theatrical approach in which Prospero, Caliban, Miranda, and Ariel seek escape from their island prison by telling themselves a story of imagined enchantment. It’s a take on The Tempest like you’ve never seen it before.

The Tempest Tickets

As You Like It, Shakespeare’s Globe

Photography by Felicity McCabe.

This light-hearted, mischievous comedy is the perfect summer treat and the perfect addition to the Globe’s 2026 summer season. Co-directed by Sean Holmes and Charlie Josephine, this bold, energetic staging transforms the open-air Wooden O into the glittering, decadent Forest of Arden, filled with exiles such as Rosalind, forced to disguise herself as a man, and her pining lover Orlando. Get ready for mistaken identities, hilarious misunderstandings, a witty fool, and a charming love story - all the ingredients of a classic Shakespearean comedy.

As You Like It Tickets

Romeo and Juliet, Harold Pinter Theatre

Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe in ROMEO AND JULIET. Photo by Helen Murray.

Two stunningly talented young actors make their West End debuts as Shakespeare’s most famous and most tragic couple in Robert Icke’s thrilling new adaptation of this classic tragedy. Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Noah Jupe (Hamnet) star as Romeo and Juliet in this thrilling story of love, passion, and violence where two star-crossed lovers defy the odds to be together despite the generational feud that’s consumed their families. Icke is known for his bold, fresh takes on classic works, and we can’t wait to see what he and this star-studded cast do with this explosive, heart-breaking, and jaw-dropping tragedy.

Romeo and Juliet Tickets

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s Globe

Photography by Felicity McCabe.

If you can’t get enough of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, watch it again, this time at the Globe Theatre, where Emily Lim brings to life this playful, spell-binding story of fairy mischief, transformations, and the fickle nature of love with a wonderfully chaotic staging. Opt to stand in the Yard, within touching distance of the stage, for a truly immersive and interactive experience, and let yourself be swept away into a world of fairies, tricksters, and a plot that will leave you as dizzy and dazed as the characters themselves.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Tickets

Category Is: Macbeth, Emerald Theatre

Image courtesy of production.

If you’re looking for a slightly different take on Shakespeare, look no further than this fabulous all-drag production of Macbeth from TuckShop, starring Rupaul’s Drag Race UK winners Ginger Johnson and Kyran Thrax. Experience Macbeth’s bloody rise to power as you’ve never seen it before, transported to 1980s London with a neo-noir twist, set in a world where masculinity is policed and queerness is criminalized. The familiar story of paranoia, witchy hauntings, and violent coups is set to a soundtrack of ‘80s British music, including Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, and the Pet Shop Boys, making it a truly unique and unforgettable experience.

Love’s Labours Lost, Shakespeare’s Globe

Photography by Felicity McCabe.

Love’s Labours Lost is one of Shakespeare’s most rarely performed plays, but also one of his earliest works and possibly his first comedy, making this a delightful treat for fans of the Bard. Indiana Lown-Collins brings a colourful dose of flamenco dance and Spanish flair to this wickedly funny story of passion, romantic tension, and joyful revelry, in which a group of noblemen find their vows to avoid romance put to the test by the arrival of a group of beautiful women. Filled with wordplay, poetry, and jokes, it's best remembered for its infamous ending, and the rumours it gave birth to about a possible now-lost sequel.

Love's Labours Lost Tickets

Whether you're a connoisseur of Shakespeare’s work and or a newcomer, there's something for everyone this year, with some of the most talented directors and performers putting a new, fresh spin on plays that have been staged and beloved for centuries, hosted in some of the most dazzling venues London has to offer. Book now and don't miss your chance to be part of the magic.