Christmas musicals 2026: big touring shows to see instead of panto

Pantomime is not to all tastes. If shouting "oh no it isn't" leaves you cold, this Christmas brings a strong line-up of big touring musicals instead, each settling into a regional theatre for the festive season. Here is where they play, from Brighton to Glasgow. If you are booking in London instead, see our guide to Christmas shows in the West End. Fancy a panto after all? See our guide to the best pantomimes across the UK.

Christmas musicals 2026 at a glance

• Back to the Future The Musical: Edinburgh Playhouse, 2 December to 2 January
• Billy Elliot the Musical: Palace Theatre, Manchester, 2 December to 9 January
• Mamma Mia!: Liverpool Empire, 8 December to 3 January
• CATS: Theatre Royal Glasgow, 8 to 27 December
• Mean Girls: The Alexandra, Birmingham, 14 December to 2 January
• Annie: New Theatre Oxford, 15 December to 2 January
• Legally Blonde: Theatre Royal Brighton, 15 December to 2 January
• Six: Swansea Building Society Arena, 18 December to 2 January

All January dates are in 2027. A pair of earlier options in November follow at the end.

Edinburgh Playhouse

The DeLorean lands at Edinburgh Playhouse from 2 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, as part of the musical's first UK tour. Roger Bart, who created the role of Doc Brown, plays him again here, with Axel Duffy as Marty McFly, the teenager accidentally sent back to 1955. Based on the 1985 film, it won Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards.

Age guidance is 6+. There is a signed performance on 8 December, an audio described show on 17 December and a captioned show on 18 December. See Back to the Future The Musical dates and tickets

Palace Theatre, Manchester

Billy Elliot the Musical returns a decade after it last played the UK, and spends Christmas at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, from 2 December 2026 to 9 January 2027. Set in a northern town during the 1980s miners' strike, it follows a boy who swaps the boxing ring for dance lessons.

It is rated 8+ for strong language, domestic conflict and some violence. The audio described performance is on 16 December, the signed performance on 17 December and the captioned performance on 4 January. See Billy Elliot the Musical dates and tickets

Liverpool Empire

For pure fun, Mamma Mia! plays the Liverpool Empire from 8 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. On a Greek island, Sophie's search for her father unfolds in the days before her wedding, told through the songs of ABBA.

Age guidance is 5+, under 3s are not admitted, and the show uses flashing light effects. The signed performance is on 16 December, the captioned performance on 22 December and the audio described performance on 29 December. See Mamma Mia! dates and tickets

Theatre Royal Glasgow

Drew McOnie directs and choreographs a new version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, first seen at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, which plays the Theatre Royal Glasgow for three weeks only, from 8 to 27 December. Here a band of London outsiders gathers under the Jellicle moon, with Memory among the songs.

The audio described and signed performance is on 16 December, and the captioned performance is on 17 December. See CATS dates and tickets

The Alexandra, Birmingham

Mean Girls takes over The Alexandra in Birmingham from 14 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. Tina Fey wrote the book, and the cast includes Jennifer Ellison, with Emily Lane as Cady and Vivian Panka as Regina.

The recommended age is 10+, and anyone under 16 must sit with an adult aged 18 or over. The audio described and signed performance is on the afternoon of 2 January. See Mean Girls dates and tickets

New Theatre Oxford

Few musicals are as Christmassy as Annie, whose orphan heroine is chosen to spend Christmas with the billionaire Warbucks. The West End version plays New Theatre Oxford for three weeks only, from 15 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, with Claire Sweeney as the scheming Miss Hannigan. Its songs include It's the Hard-Knock Life and Easy Street.

Age guidance is 5+, no under 3s are admitted, and under 16s must sit next to an adult. The captioned performance is on 18 December, and the audio described performance is on 23 December. See Annie dates and tickets

Theatre Royal Brighton

Legally Blonde plays Theatre Royal Brighton from 15 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 in a big new version, with Amber Davies as Elle Woods, the fashion fan who follows her heart to Harvard Law School. Hannah Lowther plays Elle at the 2.30pm matinees on Thursday 17 December and Thursday 31 December.

Age guidance is 8+. See Legally Blonde dates and tickets

Swansea Building Society Arena

Six brings the Tudor queens to the Swansea Building Society Arena from 18 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. They take the microphone to retell history as a pop concert, in an 80-minute show that won the Tony Award for Best Original Score.

Age guidance is 10+, as the show deals with mature themes. There is a captioned performance at 1pm on 20 December and an audio described and signed performance at 8pm on 23 December. See Six dates and tickets

Before Christmas: November options

Theatre Royal Glasgow in November

Matilda The Musical, the RSC hit inspired by Roald Dahl's book, plays the Theatre Royal Glasgow from 18 November to 5 December 2026, just before CATS arrives. Tim Minchin wrote the music and lyrics. It is not suitable for children under 6, and under 4s are not admitted. The signed performance is on 27 November, with audio described and captioned matinees on 28 November and 5 December. See Matilda The Musical dates and tickets

Manchester Opera House in November

This one is a comedy play rather than a musical. Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, from the award-winning Mischief team, visits the Manchester Opera House from 17 to 21 November 2026. The accident-prone Cornley crew battle set delays, missing actors and a feud over who gets to play Scrooge. It is recommended for ages 8+, and under 16s must sit next to an adult. See Christmas Carol Goes Wrong dates and tickets

Which one should you choose?

For younger children, Mamma Mia! and Annie have 5+ guidance. Teenagers may prefer Mean Girls or Six, both rated 10+. Billy Elliot the Musical stays latest, until 9 January. Whichever you pick, there is not a panto dame in sight.