Panto season is nearly here. Whether you want a big star show with flying effects, a circus-themed fairytale or a 70-minute romp through seven pantos at once, there is a pantomime for every family this Christmas. This guide rounds up the best pantomimes in the UK for Christmas 2026, from Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith to Aladdin at the King's Theatre Glasgow, with dates, stars, relaxed performances and touch tours.
We start with the pantos you can book now, grouped by region, followed by the relaxed performances and touch tours.
After those, we look at Sleeping Beauty at Birmingham Hippodrome and more of this year's pantos, from Southend to Edinburgh, so you can plan the whole season in one place.
London pantos for Christmas 2026
Staying in London? Our guide to the best pantomimes in London for 2026 has more ideas for a panto in the capital this Christmas.
Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith
This year the Lyric Hammersmith panto is Cinderella, written by Joel Horwood and directed by Robin Belfield. Horwood returns to the Lyric panto after his Aladdin in 2016. Cinderella spends her days cleaning a crumbling castle for her evil captor, Suella, while the kingdom's most moderately charming Prince has to find a wife by midnight. Expect big songs, plenty of comedy and the Lyric's own twist on the fairytale.
The Lyric lists audio described, BSL and open captioned performances on 10, 11 and 16 December. Cinderella runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, lasts about two hours and is recommended for ages 6 and over. See dates and prices for Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith tickets.
Potted Panto at the Apollo Theatre
If your family wants something shorter, Potted Panto packs seven classic pantomimes into 70 minutes. Creators and performers Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner race from rubbing Aladdin's lamp to the golden streets of Dick Whittington's London, making sure Cinderella gets to the ball along the way. The show has been nominated for an Olivier Award, and its 2026 season plays the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.
Potted Panto runs from 6 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Choose a date for Potted Panto at the Apollo Theatre tickets.
Dick Whittington: Adults Only at the King's Head Theatre (16+)
For a grown-up night out, the King's Head Theatre in Islington brings back its innuendo-filled adults-only panto, complete with drag and West End guest stars. RuPaul's Drag Race UK favourites Victoria Scone and River Medway star, and previous guest stars have included John Owen Jones, Kate Butch, Steven Webb and Christina Bianco. The age guidance is 16+, and 16 and 17-year-olds must come with a parent. This is not the family show: the King's Head stages a separate family panto for all ages, which you will find further down this guide.
The adults-only show runs from 26 November 2026 to 2 January 2027. See dates for Dick Whittington: Adults Only (16+) at the King's Head Theatre tickets.
Pantos in Scotland and the North of England
Aladdin at the King's Theatre Glasgow
The King's Theatre promises what it calls Glasgow's biggest pantomime adventure yet, with Elaine C Smith as Mother Goose and panto favourite Johnny Mac as Aladdin. Glasgow panto regulars Darren Brownlie, as the Spirit of the Ring, and Blythe Jandoo, as Princess Jemima, are back too, with Gordon Cooper as Old King Cole and Rushand Chambers as the Genie of the Lamp. Expect spectacular sets and costumes, special effects and all the boos and hisses panto fans love. The production contains flashing lights.
Aladdin runs from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. See dates and tickets for Aladdin at the King's Theatre Glasgow.
Dick Whittington at the Opera House Manchester
Jason Manford and Ben Nickless return to the Opera House for Dick Whittington, which replaces the previously announced Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. They are joined by Adam Strong as King Rat, Landi Oshinowo as the Spirit of Bow Bells and Sarah Vaughan as Alice Fitzwarren, all returning to the Opera House panto. The theatre promises lavish sets and costumes from the Palladium.
Dick Whittington runs from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See dates and tickets for Dick Whittington at the Opera House Manchester.
The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook at the Sunderland Empire
The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook is a brand-new story in which Hook may not be as gone as Peter thought. Bradley Riches, known for Emmerdale and Netflix's Heartstopper, flies in as Peter Pan, and Miss Rory returns as the deliciously despicable Captain Rorina Hook, with Tom Whalley as Smee. Olivia Birchenough is Ethel Mermaid, Millie Readshaw is Tinker Bell and Sophie Bishop is Emily Darling. Expect flying, sword fights and crocodile chases.
It runs from 11 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See dates and tickets for The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook at the Sunderland Empire.
The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook at the Grand Opera House York
York has its own version of the same swashbuckling story. Tom Lister, known for Emmerdale, stars as Captain Hook, and Jimmy Bryant, Buttons in last year's Cinderella, is back as Smee. Holly Atterton is Tinker Bell, Joe Sleight is Peter Pan and Kirsty Sparks is Ethel the Mermaid. The theatre suggests it for ages 3 and over.
It runs from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See dates and tickets for The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook at the Grand Opera House York.
Pantos in the Midlands and Buckinghamshire
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke panto legend Jonathan Wilkes returns to the Regent Theatre as Muddles, with Kai Owen as the Man in the Mirror. Ope Sowande plays the Prince, Carly Burns is Snow White and Rebecca McKinnis is the evil Queen Dragonella. There is an audio described and BSL performance on 29 December 2026.
Snow White runs from 11 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See dates and tickets for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.
Sleeping Beauty at Milton Keynes Theatre
Alexandra Burke plays the wicked Carabosse in Milton Keynes this year. Children's television favourite Richard Cadell is Joey the Jester, with Sooty and Sweep, Ceri Dupree is Queen Passionella and Christopher Biggins is the special guest star as the Diva of Dreams. The theatre promises special effects, comedy and familiar pop hits.
Sleeping Beauty runs from 5 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. See dates and tickets for Sleeping Beauty at Milton Keynes Theatre.
Sleeping Beauty at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Call the Midwife's Laura Main leads Aylesbury's Sleeping Beauty, alongside local favourite Andy Collins, who returns as Lester the Jester, and dame Leon Craig, back for a third year. Channel 5 Milkshake's David Ribi is Prince Vincent and Jordan Lee Davies is Carabosse. Come prepared: the theatre warns there is a live water fight in Act 2.
Sleeping Beauty runs from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See dates and tickets for Sleeping Beauty at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre.
Pantos in the South and South West of England
Sleeping Beauty at Bristol Hippodrome
Craig Revel Horwood plays the wicked Carabosse at Bristol Hippodrome, with panto favourite Andy Ford as Muddles and Bristolian actor and radio presenter Joe Sims as the Henchman. Jade Marvin is the Spirit of Dreams, Naomi Pacquette is Princess Aurora and Tom Major is Prince Peter. The theatre promises magic, music, comedy and special effects.
Sleeping Beauty runs from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See dates and tickets for Sleeping Beauty at Bristol Hippodrome.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Woking Theatre
In Woking, panto joins the circus. Brian Conley leads as Billy Barnum, with his daughter Lucy Conley as Goldilocks, dame David Robbins as Dame Betty Barnum and Gary Milner as the Evil Ringmaster. Magician Phil Hitchcock and roller-skating duo Gina and Lester complete the bill. The theatre says children under 16 must be with an adult aged 18 or over.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears runs from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See dates and tickets for Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Woking Theatre.
Snow White at the Princess Theatre Torquay
Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hauer leads the Torquay panto as the Wicked Queen, with Alex Gray as Hector the Henchman. Torquay's favourite dame, Michael Neilson, is back as Dame Dolly, and Matthew Curnier returns as Herbie the Huntsman. The theatre promises live music, slapstick and plenty of audience participation.
Snow White runs from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. See dates and tickets for Snow White at the Princess Theatre Torquay.
Cinderella at Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone
Second Star Productions returns to Leas Cliff Hall for a third year with Cinderella. Lawrence Stubbings co-directs and plays Dandini, David Rumelle returns as Donna, one of the Ugly Sisters, and Michael Cummings is back as Buttons. Mike Holoway, known for the television series The Tomorrow People, plays the Baron. Expect the pumpkin-to-carriage transformation and lots of audience participation.
Cinderella runs from 16 to 31 December 2026. See dates and tickets for Cinderella at Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone.
Relaxed performances and touch tours
Several of this year's pantos have a relaxed performance with its own page, and two add a touch tour, a chance for blind and partially sighted audiences to touch parts of the set, props and costumes before the show. These dates are on sale now:
- Thursday 17 December 2026: Aladdin relaxed performance at the King's Theatre Glasgow tickets
- Wednesday 30 December 2026: Dick Whittington relaxed performance at the Opera House Manchester tickets
- Monday 28 December 2026: The Further Adventures of Peter Pan relaxed performance at the Sunderland Empire tickets
- Wednesday 30 December 2026: The Further Adventures of Peter Pan relaxed performance at the Grand Opera House York tickets
- Wednesday 30 December 2026: Snow White relaxed performance at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent tickets
- Tuesday 15 December 2026: Sleeping Beauty relaxed performance at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre tickets
- Saturday 19 December 2026: Sleeping Beauty touch tour at Milton Keynes Theatre tickets
- Wednesday 6 January 2027: Sleeping Beauty relaxed performance at Milton Keynes Theatre tickets
- Thursday 17 December 2026: Sleeping Beauty relaxed performance at Bristol Hippodrome tickets
- Wednesday 30 December 2026: Goldilocks and the Three Bears relaxed performance at Woking Theatre tickets
- Saturday 2 January 2027: Goldilocks and the Three Bears touch tour at Woking Theatre tickets
- Sunday 27 December 2026: Snow White relaxed performance at the Princess Theatre Torquay tickets
- Friday 18 December 2026: Cinderella relaxed performance at Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone tickets
Some theatres also list captioned, audio described or BSL interpreted performances. At the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, for example, there is an audio described and BSL performance of Snow White on 29 December 2026.
Birmingham Hippodrome panto 2026: Sleeping Beauty with Rylan and Matt Slack
Birmingham Hippodrome bills its Christmas show as the UK's biggest regional pantomime. Rylan, the award-winning television presenter, radio DJ, podcaster and number one best-selling author, plays the Diva of Dreams. Birmingham panto legend Matt Slack returns as Lester the Jester, and West End star, singer and presenter Zoe Birkett is the wicked Carabosse.
Andrew Ryan, whom the theatre calls Birmingham's favourite dame, is back for his tenth season, this time as the Queen. Musical theatre stars Ben Culleton and Keziah Ibe complete the principal cast as Prince Peter and Princess Aurora. The story follows Princess Aurora, whose wicked aunt Carabosse gives her a cursed birthday present: a single prick of a bewitched spinning wheel sends her to sleep for a century. Sets and costumes come direct from the Palladium.
The panto plays from Saturday 19 December 2026 to Sunday 31 January 2027. The theatre recommends it for ages 5 and over; under 3s cannot be admitted, and 3 and 4-year-olds are at parents' discretion. There are BSL interpreted performances on Sunday 10 January, captioned performances on Sunday 17 January, audio described performances on Wednesday 13 and Saturday 16 January, and a relaxed performance on Thursday 28 January at 12 noon, all in 2027.
See Sleeping Beauty at Birmingham Hippodrome (coming soon) for more details.
More pantos this Christmas
Here are more of this year's pantos, from Richmond to Edinburgh. Each has its own show page with the cast and dates.
Jack and the Beanstalk at Richmond Theatre
Bonnie Langford stars as the giant's wife, Mrs Blunderbore, with Dr Ranj as the Spirit of the Beans, Basil Brush as Farmer Basil and Lloyd Hollett as Silly Simon. Basil Brush is back for a second panto season at Richmond. It runs from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See Jack and the Beanstalk at Richmond Theatre (coming soon) for more details.
Peter Pan at New Wimbledon Theatre
Jessie Wallace plays Captain Hook and JLS star Aston Merrygold takes the title role, with Tom Read Wilson as the Magical Merman. Pete Firman returns to Wimbledon for a fifth time, this year as Smee. It runs from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See Peter Pan at New Wimbledon Theatre (coming soon) for more details.
Cinderella at New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich
The New Wolsey's rock and roll panto revisits Cinderella, the show that started it all in 2001. Written by Vikki Stone, it has a cast who are also the band, playing rock and roll hits live on stage, with Eloise Richardson as Cinderella. There are separate adults-only, late-night performances too. It runs from 20 November 2026 to 16 January 2027. See Cinderella at New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich (coming soon) for more details.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
Shane Richie returns to the Cliffs Pavilion as Muddles, 14 years after his last panto at the venue, with Steps singer Faye Tozer as the Wicked Queen. It runs from 12 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea (coming soon) for more details.
Cinderella at the Orchard Theatre Dartford
Joe Pasquale leads the panto at the newly refurbished Orchard Theatre, with Keith Jack as Prince Charming and Ben Goffe as Buttons. It runs from 12 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See Cinderella at the Orchard Theatre Dartford (coming soon) for more details.
Sleeping Beauty at the Churchill Theatre Bromley
Vernon Kay returns to panto as Billy, with Balamory's Andrew Agnew as Dame Bella More and Rebekah Lowings as Carabosse. It runs from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See Sleeping Beauty at the Churchill Theatre Bromley (coming soon) for more details.
Beauty and the Beast at New Theatre Cardiff
Presenter Gethin Jones plays Filipe De Boeuf, with Steve Speirs as Monsieur Marzipan and Cardiff's favourite dame, Mike Doyle, as Betty Bonbon. It runs from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. See Beauty and the Beast at New Theatre Cardiff (coming soon) for more details.
The All-New Adventures of Peter Pan at the Marlowe Theatre
The Marlowe's Canterbury panto stars Janette Manrara, Phil Gallagher and Marlowe favourite Ben Roddy, joined by three-time Olivier Award winner David Bedella. Paul Hendy writes and directs. It runs from 27 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. See The All-New Adventures of Peter Pan at the Marlowe Theatre (coming soon) for more details.
Edinburgh: King's Theatre panto
Panto celebrates the reopening of the King's Theatre with Allan Stewart as May Geppetto, Grant Stott as the evil Stromboli and Jordan Young in the title role. It runs from 28 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. See The Adventures of Pinocchio at the King's Theatre Edinburgh (coming soon) for more details.
Jack and the Beanstalk at the Theatre Royal Newcastle
Danny Adams leads the cast as Jack Trot, with Clive Webb as Farmer Trot, Chris Hayward as Dame Trot and Joe McElderry as the Spirit of the Beans. It runs from 24 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. See Jack and the Beanstalk at the Theatre Royal Newcastle (coming soon) for more details.
Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire
Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe directs and stars in the Hackney Empire panto, which runs from 21 November to 31 December 2026. See Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire (coming soon) for more details.
Cinderella at the Citizens Theatre Glasgow
The Citizens Theatre's Christmas show is a fresh take on the much-loved fairytale, written by Stuart Paterson and directed by Joanna Bowman, with Molly Geddes as Cinderella. It runs from 28 November to 31 December 2026. See Cinderella at the Citizens Theatre Glasgow (coming soon) for more details.
Dick Whittington and His Cat at the King's Head Theatre
This is the King's Head family panto, back for its third year and welcoming all ages. Victoria Scone and River Medway star, and Andrew Pollard writes and directs. It runs from 22 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. See Dick Whittington and His Cat at the King's Head Theatre (coming soon) for more details.
Cinderella at the London Palladium
The Palladium panto is back for its 11th season with Cinderella. Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reunite on the West End stage for the first time in 17 years as the Ugly Sisters, with Julian Clary as the Fairy Godfather. Palladium favourites Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Rob Madge return, Dex Lee plays Prince Charming and Hope Dawe is Cinderella. It runs from 5 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.
More Christmas theatre ideas
Looking for something festive in the West End as well? See our guide to the best Christmas shows in the West End for 2026.
Whichever panto you choose, check the age guidance and access dates on its show page before you go, then get ready to boo the villain and cheer the dame.
Regional Theatre Correspondent
Bridget covers UK regional theatre for British Theatre: tours, openings and production news beyond the West End.
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