London pantomimes and Christmas shows you won't want to miss in 2026
Updated: 22 hours ago
Oh yes it is. Panto season is coming. There is something about going to the theatre at Christmas that just feels right. The lights go down, the kids get increasingly excited, someone inevitably shouts "He's behind you!" and, before you know it, you've all been singing along to a song you absolutely did not know five minutes earlier.
London is ridiculously well served for family theatre over Christmas, from huge West End pantos and traditional local productions to ballet, puppetry, Christmas classics and shows aimed squarely at younger children. We've rounded up some of the London Christmas shows and pantomimes we think are worth knowing about for 2026.
And yes, we'll be adding more as the season gets closer and new shows and dates land.
Dates: 5 December 2026 – 10 January 2027
If you're looking for the big one, this is it. The London Palladium's 2026 panto is Cinderella, with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reunited on stage as the Ugly Sisters, Julian Clary as the Fairy Godfather, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Rob Madge, Dex Lee and Hope Dawe.
Expect spectacular costumes, big production numbers, plenty of audience participation and the sort of ridiculousness that has made the Palladium's Christmas panto a London tradition.
It's worth knowing that the Palladium itself says the production includes cheeky jokes and playful innuendo and isn't specifically tailored towards very young children. Under-4s aren't admitted.
Who it's for: Families with older children, tweens and teens.
Where: London Palladium, Soho
Our verdict: If your family likes its panto big, loud and very West End, this is the one to look at first.
Dates: 21 November – 31 December 2026
Hackney Empire is going all in on Jack and the Beanstalk this Christmas, with Olivier Award-winner Clive Rowe returning to direct and star as Dame Trot.
It's got everything you'd expect from a proper Hackney panto: giant laughs, songs, dancing, extravagant costumes and plenty of opportunities for the audience to get involved.
Children of all ages are welcome, with under-4s able to sit on an adult's lap.
Who it's for: All ages.
Where: Hackney Empire, Hackney
Our verdict: A great one to put on the list if you want a proper traditional panto with a brilliant reputation for audience participation.
Dates: 14 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
It's Cinderella again, but this is definitely not just a carbon copy of the fairy tale you already know.
Joel Horwood's version returns to the Lyric panto stage, directed by Robin Belfield, with songs, comedy and the Lyric's trademark take on a family classic.
The age guidance is 6+, and there are some particularly good family-ticket deals available, with family tickets from £80 for two adults and two children or one adult and three children in selected price bands.
Who it's for: Families with children aged 6+.
Where: Lyric Hammersmith
Our verdict: One to bookmark if you're looking for a panto that feels a little less formulaic than the huge commercial productions.
Dates: 5 December 2026 – 3 January 2027
All aboard for Neverland.
This year's New Wimbledon panto is Peter Pan, with Jessie Wallace as Captain Hook, Aston Merrygold as Peter Pan, Tom Read Wilson as the Magical Merman and Pete Firman as Smee.
Expect flying, pirates, Tinker Bell, big sets, special effects and plenty of panto silliness. There's also a relaxed performance on 30 December.
Who it's for: Families looking for a big traditional panto.
Where: New Wimbledon Theatre
Dates: 5 December 2026 – 3 January 2027
Another beanstalk is popping up in London this Christmas, this time at Richmond Theatre. The 2026 cast includes Bonnie Langford, Dr Ranj and Basil Brush, alongside Lloyd Hollett and James Hume.
Expect giants, beans, comedy and all the usual panto shouting. There are also relaxed and accessible performances available.
Who it's for: Families of all ages.
Where: Richmond Theatre
Dates: 22 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
Fancy something a little smaller and more central? The King's Head Theatre is bringing back its annual family panto with Dick Whittington and His Cat.
There's also a completely separate adults-only version running alongside it, so make sure you book the right one. We've put the family show here because, well, this is London for Kidz and we don't fancy explaining the other one to the children.
Who it's for: Families.
Where: King's Head Theatre, Islington
Dates: 6 December 2026 – 3 January 2027
Not got time for a two-hour panto? Enter Potted Panto. The Olivier Award-winning team behind Potted Potter cram seven classic pantomimes into one gloriously chaotic 70-minute show. Cinderella, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Dick Whittington and more all get the Potted treatment.
It's fast, silly and a brilliant option if you've got younger children who aren't quite ready for a full-length production.
Who it's for: Families who like their theatre short, silly and very energetic.
Where: Apollo Theatre, West End
Dates: 21 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
A London Christmas classic gets a brand-new production for 2026. The Snowman returns to the Peacock Theatre with a new production from Birmingham Rep and Sadler's Wells, bringing Raymond Briggs' much-loved story back to the stage with puppetry, dance, music and, obviously, Walking in the Air.
It's suitable for all ages, with children aged 2+ requiring a ticket. There is also a relaxed performance.
Who it's for: Younger children and anyone who still gets a bit emotional when that snowman takes flight.
Where: Peacock Theatre, Holborn
Dates: 10 November 2026 – 9 January 2027
If your children are a little older, The Old Vic's A Christmas Carol is a proper festive theatre treat.
Matthew Warchus' production, adapted by Jack Thorne, returns for 2026 with Giles Terera as Ebenezer Scrooge. It runs for around two hours including an interval and has an age guidance of 8+. There are also relaxed, BSL, captioned and audio-described performances.
Who it's for: Children aged around 8+ and families who fancy something a little more traditional.
Where: The Old Vic, Waterloo
Dates: 17 December 2026 – 10 January 2027
English National Ballet's Nutcracker returns to the London Coliseum, with more than 100 dancers and musicians bringing Clara's Christmas Eve adventure to life.
The production is recommended for ages 5+ and there are family-friendly, relaxed and audio-described performances. Children under 16 can also get discounted tickets, subject to the booking conditions.
Who it's for: Families who fancy a bit of Christmas sparkle without a single person shouting "He's behind you!"
Where: London Coliseum, West End
Dates: 18 November – 31 December 2026
For the smaller members of the family, the Lyric has Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas at its Little Lyric space.
It's based on the much-loved book and is aimed squarely at younger children, making it a good alternative to the bigger, louder Christmas productions.
The Lyric is running it alongside Cinderella this year, so if you've got children of different ages, you could potentially make a Hammersmith theatre double-header of it.
Who it's for: Younger children.
Where: Lyric Hammersmith
19 December 2026
If sitting quietly through a Christmas show isn't really your family's thing, how about joining in instead? The Barbican's Christmas Carol Singalong is back on 19 December, with Louise Dearman, the London Concert Chorus and London Concert Orchestra leading a festive evening of favourite carols.
It's around two hours and children under 5 aren't admitted, so this one is better suited to school-age children and older.
Who it's for: Families with children aged 5+ who like a good singalong.
Where: Barbican Hall
And there are plenty more...
This is London at Christmas, after all. There are loads of smaller local pantomimes and Christmas productions happening across the capital, and we'll be keeping an eye on them as more 2026 dates, casts and ticket information are announced.
If you're searching for London pantomimes 2026, we'd definitely recommend checking the individual theatre before booking. Dates, prices, age guidance and performance times can change, and some shows sell out much earlier than others.
Our tips for booking a London Christmas show
Book earlier than you think. The popular Christmas shows can disappear surprisingly quickly, particularly for weekend matinees and the days between Christmas and New Year.
Check the age guidance. A panto aimed at a six-year-old and a Palladium panto aimed at older kids are two very different experiences.
Look for matinees. They're usually our first choice for younger children and mean you can still have a festive London wander afterwards.
Check accessibility options. Lots of London theatres now offer relaxed, captioned, BSL and audio-described performances, so it's worth checking before you book.
Don't automatically assume West End means better. Some of London's best family pantos happen outside the West End, and smaller theatres can offer a much more relaxed experience.
And finally...
Don't forget the snacks.
Because apparently a child can survive an entire school day without food but needs a £6 packet of sweets the second they enter a theatre.
We'll be adding more London Christmas shows and pantomimes to this guide as the 2026 season develops, so bookmark it and come back when you're ready to sort your festive theatre trips.
Looking for more Christmas ideas? Have a nose at our Santa in London 2026 guide, packed with the best Santa grottos and Christmas experiences we've found around the capital.
That's all we have for now, folks, but we'll be updating as more news on more London pantomimes and Christmas shows in that hit our radar!
Hero image: The Nutcracker via English National Ballet
Need some more very merry guides to the festive season? Look no further:
