New musicals set to light up UK stages in 2026
A packed slate of new musicals is heading to UK stages in 2026, with a mix of world premieres, international imports and long-awaited European debuts promising a busy year for theatregoers. Beetlejuice, the cult Broadway hit, opens at the Prince Edward Theatre from 20 May.
Directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers with a score by Eddie Perfect, the show’s blend of dark comedy and theatrical spectacle helped it become a fan favourite in New York and should make it one of the biggest draws of the summer season. Frank Wildhorn’s Death Note follows at the Barbican from 30 July to 12 September.
Based on the Japanese manga series, the musical tracks a high school student who discovers a notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name is written in it. This reimagined staging features a revised script and new songs, aiming to deliver a fresh take on a title with a global following.
The Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo receives its European premiere at Hampstead Theatre from 28 August to 7 November. Directed by Michael Longhurst, the production centres on teenager Kim, who navigates a rare genetic disorder that causes her to age rapidly, alongside family complications and new relationships—material that tends to thrive in an intimate London setting.
After a WhatsOnStage Award-winning concert outing, Something Rotten gets its fully staged UK premiere at Manchester Opera House from 16 June to 19 July. The irreverent Renaissance-set comedy has already shown it can win over British audiences, and two cast members from the concert will reprise their roles.
A world premiere inspired by a Scottish ballad, Dark of the Moon runs at the Charing Cross Theatre from 18 May to 8 August. The story explores the clash between a charming rural town and a mystical mountain world of witches and warlocks, focusing on a romance between a human girl and a witch-boy.
Ben Platt makes his first full UK theatrical run in Midnight at the Never Get at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 11 July to 12 September. Mark Sonnenblick’s revised production explores an illegal romance set in a 1960s New York cabaret bar, and Platt’s involvement alone is expected to make it one of the summer’s hottest tickets.
Beyond these headline titles, The Karate Kid musical embarks on a UK tour from 28 April, the hip-hop musical Wallace launches from September in Scotland, and the immersive Scottish ceilidh musical Ceilidh arrives in Pitlochry from October. Whether your taste runs to manga adaptations, intimate two-handers or large-scale spectacle, 2026 offers plenty worth booking.