Christmas 2026 | London pantomimes
It isn’t Christmas without a panto, oh no it isn’t! London’s theatres are gearing up for another season of Dames, baddies, slapstick and sing-alongs, and this year’s line-up is a cracker. Here are our five favourite London pantomimes for Christmas 2026, from star-studded West End spectacle to brilliant local shows.
1. Cinderella at the London Palladium (5 December – 10 January)
The Palladium panto is the biggest and glitziest in the country, and this year it has a headline-grabbing twist: Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reunite on a West End stage for the first time in 17 years as the Ugly Sisters. Palladium favourite Julian Clary returns, this time as the Fairy Godfather, alongside regulars Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Rob Madge, with Dex Lee and Hope Dawe as Prince Charming and Cinderella. Expect jaw-dropping costumes, special effects and a big dose of cheeky innuendo that sails over younger heads, though it’s best suited to older children and adults. Last year’s Sleeping Beauty broke the venue’s box office records, so tickets for this one are going fast. If you want a once-in-a-lifetime panto treat, this is it.
2. Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire (21 November – 31 December)
Many panto lovers will tell you Hackney Empire’s is the best in London, and this year it’s extra special as the theatre celebrates its 125th birthday. Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe, the undisputed king of Hackney panto, both directs and stars as Dame Trot. He’s joined by long-time favourite Kat B and Louise Cielecki for an adventure up the beanstalk to face a powerful giant. Expect big laughs, toe-tapping songs, dazzling dance numbers, extravagant costumes and plenty of chances to shout back. It’s a proper community panto in a stunning historic theatre that first opened in 1901, and great value too. Read more about Hackney Empire’s 125th anniversary.
3. Peter Pan at New Wimbledon Theatre (5 December – 3 January)
South-west London’s big panto flies off to Neverland this year. Jessie Wallace, Kat Slater in EastEnders, takes on the role of Captain Hook, with JLS star Aston Merrygold as Peter Pan. Tom Read Wilson, best known from Celebs Go Dating, plays a Magical Merman, while magician and comedian Pete Firman is Smee. It’s produced by Crossroads Pantomimes, the team behind the Palladium show, so expect a high-flying, swashbuckling family adventure. There’s a relaxed performance on Wednesday 30 December, and Time Out lists prices from £16.
4. Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith (14 November – 3 January)
The Lyric’s pantos have a reputation for being fresh, funny and a little bit different, and this year’s is written by Joel Horwood, the writer of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, who also penned the Lyric’s hit Aladdin in 2016. Set in the kingdom of “Glamoursmith”, the story sees a down-on-her-luck Cinderella and a moderately charming Prince who must find a wife by midnight, or everyone is doomed. Chrissie Bhima plays Cinderella, with Ashh Blackwood as Buttons and Donna Berlin among the cast. It runs at about two hours with an interval and is recommended for ages 6 and over. There are BSL-interpreted and captioned performances on 11 and 16 December.
5. Sleeping Beauty at Churchill Theatre, Bromley (5 December – 3 January)
For families in south-east London and Kent, Bromley’s panto stars Radio 2 favourite Vernon Kay as the comedy character Billy. Vernon has quickly become a panto pro, winning Best Newcomer at the UK Pantomime Awards after his debut, and he’s described this as his third trip to “pantoland”. Produced by Imagine Theatre, it promises big laughs and big magic, and it’s suitable for children aged 3 and over. The running time is around two hours including an interval, so it’s manageable for younger ones. Time Out lists tickets from £28.
More pantos worth a look
Looking for something smaller or more grown-up? The King’s Head Theatre in Islington has both a family and an adults-only version of Dick Whittington. Just outside London, Watford Palace Theatre’s A Christmas Carol – The Pantomime (29 November – 3 January) sees its resident Dame play all the Ghosts of Christmas.