{"id":681205,"date":"2026-01-08T01:56:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T01:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/681205\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T01:56:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T01:56:44","slug":"these-are-the-best-theatre-shows-opening-in-london-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/681205\/","title":{"rendered":"These Are The Best Theatre Shows Opening In London This Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Save<\/p>\n

Look, I really don\u2019t 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<\/strong> is a pretty darn exciting one for me. We\u2019re 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<\/strong> all gracing one of London\u2019s legendary stages. So, without further ado \u2013 here are the best theatre shows opening in London in 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Theatre shows opening in London in January Already Perfect <\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> A hopeful, honest, and uplifting new musical about identity, self-reckoning, and what it takes to make peace with yourself and your story.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> King\u2019s Head Theatre, Islington<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> January 9 \u2013 February 15<\/p>\n

Sunny Afternoon \"ACredit: Kevin Cummins <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> An Olivier Award-winning musical documenting the highs and lows of one of Britain\u2019s most iconic bands, The Kinks.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Alexandra Palace Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> January 15 \u2013 January 31<\/p>\n

Beautiful Little Fool <\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Southwark Playhouse<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> January 15 \u2013 February 28<\/p>\n

American Psycho <\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> A dark and thrilling musical, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Almeida Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> January 23 \u2013 March 14<\/p>\n

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry \"ActorsCredit: Brinkhoff Moegenburg <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> A funny, profound, and life-affirming new musical about an ordinary man heading on a pilgrimage of love, humanity, and second chances.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Theatre Royal Haymarket<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> January 29 \u2013 April 18<\/p>\n

Theatre shows opening in London throughout 2026 Dracula<\/a> \"PosterCredit: Mark Seliger <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> A heart-racing reimagining of the classic horror \u2013 with Cynthia Erivo taking on all 23 roles. Yes, really.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> No\u00ebl Coward Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> February 4 \u2013 May 30<\/p>\n

TEETH \u2018N\u2019 SMILES \"TheCredit: Jono White <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> 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\u2019s rebel play.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Duke of York\u2019s Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> March 13 \u2013 June 6<\/p>\n

Romeo and Juliet \"SadieCredit: Helen Murray <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe make their West End debuts in the timelessly tragic tale of love, loss, and innocence.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Harold Pinter Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> March 16 \u2013 June 6<\/p>\n

Kinky Boots <\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> Strictly\u2019s Johannes Radebe stars as larger-than-life drag queen, Lola, in this dazzlingly joyous new production of identity, self-acceptance, and friendship.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> London Coliseum<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> March 17 \u2013 July 11<\/p>\n

Avenue Q <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> The charmingly mischievous musical about life on New York\u2019s rundown Avenue Q returns to to the West End twenty years after its debut.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Shaftesbury Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> March 20 \u2013 August 29<\/p>\n

The Last Five Years <\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> Two musical theatre powerhouses (Rachel Zegler and Ben Platt) join forces for a very special limited-time run of Jason Robert Brown\u2019s beloved musical.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> The London Palladium<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> March 24 \u2013 March 29<\/p>\n

One Flew Over the Cuckoo\u2019s Nest \"PosterCredit: Old Vic Theatre <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> Aaron Pierre and Giles Terera star in this bold new reimagining of Ken Kesey\u2019s countercultural masterpiece.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Old Vic Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> April 1 \u2013 May 23<\/p>\n

Grace Pervades \"RalphCredit: Marc Brenner <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Theatre Royal Haymarket<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> April 24 \u2013 July 11<\/p>\n

1536 <\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> An electrifying drama about three working-class women in rural Essex during the period in which King Henry VIII was married to Anne Boleyn.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Ambassadors Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> May 2 \u2013 August 1<\/p>\n

End of the Rainbow <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> Beloved drag queen, Jinkx Monsoon takes to the stage in this bittersweet story of Judy Garland, the voice that defined a generation.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Soho Theatre, Walthamstow<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> May 15 \u2013 June 21<\/p>\n

High Society <\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> A delicious dollop of Golden Age musical theatre featuring Helen George and Felicity Kendal.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Barbican Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> May 19 \u2013 July 11<\/p>\n

Beetlejuice<\/a> <\/p>\n

\"Poster<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> The musical adaptation of Tim Burton\u2019s weird and wonderful movie is finally landing in the West End, following a few successful stints on Broadway.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Prince Edward Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> May 26, 2026 \u2013 April, 2027<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ Superstar <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> Sam Ryder will star as Jesus in the iconic musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> The London Palladium<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> June 20 \u2013 September 5<\/p>\n

Pride \"TheCredit: National Theatre <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere? National Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> June 11 \u2013 September 12<\/p>\n

CATS<\/a> <\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

\ud83c\udfad What?<\/strong> One of the West End\u2019s longest running musicals of all time is returning to London, but this time for an al-fresco performance. Sounds pretty purr-fect, right?<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdWhere?<\/strong> Regent\u2019s Park Open Air Theatre<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f When?<\/strong> July 25 \u2013 September 12<\/p>\n

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