Look, I really don’t like drawing attention to it, but I did go to drama school. And so the prospect of the curtain lifting on a dazzling new musical or thought-provoking play is a pretty darn exciting one for me. We’re being rather spoilt this year with the number of shows heading to the capital city, with the likes of Cynthia Erivo, Sadie Sink, and Self Esteem all gracing one of London’s legendary stages. So, without further ado – here are the best theatre shows opening in London in 2026.
Theatre shows opening in London in January
Already Perfect
🎭 What? A hopeful, honest, and uplifting new musical about identity, self-reckoning, and what it takes to make peace with yourself and your story.
📍Where? King’s Head Theatre, Islington
🗓️ When? January 9 – February 15
Sunny Afternoon
🎭 What? An Olivier Award-winning musical documenting the highs and lows of one of Britain’s most iconic bands, The Kinks.
📍Where? Alexandra Palace Theatre
🗓️ When? January 15 – January 31
Beautiful Little Fool
🎭 What? The story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, told through the eyes of their adult daughter, Scottie, years after the parties of the Roaring Twenties are over.
📍Where? Southwark Playhouse
🗓️ When? January 15 – February 28
American Psycho
🎭 What? A dark and thrilling musical, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis.
📍Where? Almeida Theatre
🗓️ When? January 23 – March 14
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
🎭 What? A funny, profound, and life-affirming new musical about an ordinary man heading on a pilgrimage of love, humanity, and second chances.
📍Where? Theatre Royal Haymarket
🗓️ When? January 29 – April 18
Theatre shows opening in London throughout 2026
Dracula
🎭 What? A heart-racing reimagining of the classic horror – with Cynthia Erivo taking on all 23 roles. Yes, really.
📍Where? Noël Coward Theatre
🗓️ When? February 4 – May 30
TEETH ‘N’ SMILES
🎭 What? Rebecca Lucy Taylor (AKA Self Esteem) makes her West End debut as the explosive lead singer of a failing band in the 50th anniversary of David Hare’s rebel play.
📍Where? Duke of York’s Theatre
🗓️ When? March 13 – June 6
Romeo and Juliet
🎭 What? Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe make their West End debuts in the timelessly tragic tale of love, loss, and innocence.
📍Where? Harold Pinter Theatre
🗓️ When? March 16 – June 6
Kinky Boots
🎭 What? Strictly’s Johannes Radebe stars as larger-than-life drag queen, Lola, in this dazzlingly joyous new production of identity, self-acceptance, and friendship.
📍Where? London Coliseum
🗓️ When? March 17 – July 11
Avenue Q
🎭 What? The charmingly mischievous musical about life on New York’s rundown Avenue Q returns to to the West End twenty years after its debut.
📍Where? Shaftesbury Theatre
🗓️ When? March 20 – August 29
The Last Five Years
🎭 What? Two musical theatre powerhouses (Rachel Zegler and Ben Platt) join forces for a very special limited-time run of Jason Robert Brown’s beloved musical.
📍Where? The London Palladium
🗓️ When? March 24 – March 29
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
🎭 What? Aaron Pierre and Giles Terera star in this bold new reimagining of Ken Kesey’s countercultural masterpiece.
📍Where? Old Vic Theatre
🗓️ When? April 1 – May 23
Grace Pervades
🎭 What? Ralph Fiennes and Miranda Raiso will star in a play about the extraordinary story of Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, the greatest stars of the Victorian stage.
📍Where? Theatre Royal Haymarket
🗓️ When? April 24 – July 11
1536
🎭 What? An electrifying drama about three working-class women in rural Essex during the period in which King Henry VIII was married to Anne Boleyn.
📍Where? Ambassadors Theatre
🗓️ When? May 2 – August 1
End of the Rainbow
🎭 What? Beloved drag queen, Jinkx Monsoon takes to the stage in this bittersweet story of Judy Garland, the voice that defined a generation.
📍Where? Soho Theatre, Walthamstow
🗓️ When? May 15 – June 21
High Society
🎭 What? A delicious dollop of Golden Age musical theatre featuring Helen George and Felicity Kendal.
📍Where? Barbican Theatre
🗓️ When? May 19 – July 11
Beetlejuice
🎭 What? The musical adaptation of Tim Burton’s weird and wonderful movie is finally landing in the West End, following a few successful stints on Broadway.
📍Where? Prince Edward Theatre
🗓️ When? May 26, 2026 – April, 2027
Jesus Christ Superstar
🎭 What? Sam Ryder will star as Jesus in the iconic musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
📍Where? The London Palladium
🗓️ When? June 20 – September 5
Pride
🎭 What? A funny and fiercely heartfelt retelling of a true story about two threatened communities that band together and discover they have more in common than they could have ever imagined.
📍Where? National Theatre
🗓️ When? June 11 – September 12
CATS
🎭 What? One of the West End’s longest running musicals of all time is returning to London, but this time for an al-fresco performance. Sounds pretty purr-fect, right?
📍Where? Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
🗓️ When? July 25 – September 12