Christmas shows in London in 2026

At Christmas, London's theatres offer much more than the major West End musicals. Ballet, Christmas stories, shows for young children, British pantomime and circus productions: the festive programme includes options for families with young children, teenagers and adults alike.

In 2026, The Snowman, A Christmas Carol and Nutcracker are among the great Christmas classics returning to London. Other shows, such as Stick Man, Peppa Pig's Big Family Show!, Potted Panto and Cirque Alice, offer alternatives depending on the children's ages and the type of evening you are looking for.

If you are planning a complete festive break, you can also use our guide to Christmas in London in 2026.

The best Christmas shows in London in 2026

The season begins in November and, for several productions, continues into early January 2027. This table will help you quickly identify the shows best suited to your trip.

Christmas shows in London with children

The Snowman

Adapted from the book by Raymond Briggs, The Snowman has long been one of London's best-known family Christmas shows. The story of a boy whose snowman comes to life is told through music, puppetry and movement, including the iconic Walking in the Air.

The 2026 season marks an important change: the Peacock Theatre hosts the world premiere of a brand-new production. It retains the world created by Raymond Briggs and Howard Blake's music while introducing a new staging after more than three decades of performances.

• Venue: Peacock Theatre
• Dates: 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027
• Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes, including a 20-minute interval
• Age: all ages; children aged 2 and over require their own ticket

The Snowman

4.5 / 5  (618)

From £23

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Stick Man

For children who know the books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Stick Man is particularly easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. The show combines puppetry, songs and live music to tell the story of Stick Man's adventures as he tries to make his way back to his family in time for Christmas.

At just one hour with no interval, it is also one of the shortest shows in this selection.

• Venue: Bloomsbury Theatre
• Dates: 3 December 2026 to 3 January 2027
• Running time: 1 hour, no interval
• Recommended age: 3+

Stick Man

4.3 / 5  (15)

From £29

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Peppa Pig's Big Family Show!

For younger children, Peppa Pig's Big Family Show! brings Peppa and her family back to the stage in a new adventure centred around the arrival of a baby. The show combines familiar characters, songs and audience participation in a format designed for young children.

Babies under 12 months can attend without a ticket when sitting on an adult's lap. All other audience members require their own ticket.

• Venue: Theatre Royal Haymarket
• Dates: 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027
• Running time: 1 hour 20 minutes, including the interval
• Audience: families with young children

Peppa Pig's Big Family Show!

3.7 / 5  (39)

From £13

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If you are travelling as a family, our guide to Christmas in London with children also covers festive lights, activities and outings suitable for younger visitors. For the rest of your trip, explore our ideas for visiting London with children.

The great Christmas classics

A Christmas Carol

It's difficult to imagine Christmas in London without Ebenezer Scrooge. Matthew Warchus's adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens returns to the Old Vic for its tenth season, with Giles Terera playing Scrooge.

The story remains that of the miserly old man confronted on Christmas Eve by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. This production stands out for its staging, which makes use of the entire theatre and places the audience at the heart of the story.

• Venue: Old Vic Theatre
• Dates: 10 November 2026 to 9 January 2027
• Running time: approximately 2 hours, including a 20-minute interval
• Recommended age: 8+

A Christmas Carol

4.8 / 5  (796)

From £41

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Nutcracker

Nutcracker is the other great festive classic. The English National Ballet production returns to the London Coliseum with more than 100 dancers and musicians and Tchaikovsky's score performed live.

The story begins on Christmas Eve in Edwardian London before taking Clara, her Nutcracker and the audience into a world inhabited by characters including the Rat King and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

• Venue: London Coliseum
• Dates: 17 December 2026 to 10 January 2027
• Running time: approximately 2 hours, including an interval
• Recommended age: 5+

Nutcracker

4.6 / 5  (664)

From £22

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More unusual Christmas shows

Potted Panto

Pantomime, or panto, is a genuine British Christmas tradition combining familiar stories, comedy, songs, larger-than-life characters and audience participation. For an international visitor wanting to discover this side of the festive season in the UK, Potted Panto offers a particularly accessible introduction.

The premise is deliberately absurd: squeezing seven classic pantomimes into 70 minutes, from Aladdin and Cinderella to Dick Whittington. The result is much closer to a fast-paced family comedy than a traditional Christmas tale.

• Venue: Apollo Theatre
• Dates: 6 December 2026 to 3 January 2027
• Running time: 1 hour 10 minutes, no interval
• Recommended age: 6+

Potted Panto 2020

4.6 / 5  (55)

From £15

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A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

Already know the story of Scrooge? A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong turns it into a theatrical disaster. The Cornley Amateur Drama Society attempts to perform Dickens's classic, but the scenery, special effects, lines and actors stubbornly refuse to cooperate.

The show comes from Mischief Theatre, the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong. It is therefore the most overtly comic choice in this selection, but also one of the longest. The production contains some mild bad language, innuendo and scenes of violence played for comic effect.

• Venue: Wyndham's Theatre
• Dates: 18 December 2026 to 23 January 2027
• Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes, including the interval
• Recommended age: 8+; children under 4 are not admitted

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

4.8 / 5  (44)

From £25

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Cirque Alice

Neither a ballet nor a Christmas play, Cirque Alice is an alternative for those looking for a highly visual show. This adaptation of the world of Alice in Wonderland brings together acrobats, aerial artists, contortionists, puppetry and dance at the Royal Festival Hall.

The production comes to London for a short festive season. It may suit children who are less interested in dialogue-heavy theatre, or families looking for something different from a traditional Christmas story.

• Venue: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre
• Dates: 12 December 2026 to 3 January 2027
• Running time: 2 hours
• Recommended age: 5+; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult

Cirque Alice

Coming Soon

From £38

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Which Christmas show should you choose in London?

The right choice mainly depends on the children's ages and what you want from the experience.

• With a toddler: Peppa Pig's Big Family Show! is the show most directly designed for this age group.
• From age 3: Stick Man is short and easy to follow. The Snowman is also suitable for all ages.
• From age 5 or 6: Nutcracker, Cirque Alice and Potted Panto offer a choice between ballet, circus and British comedy.
• From age 8: A Christmas Carol is better suited to families looking for a classic, while A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong focuses on comedy.
• Without children: don't limit yourself to the most family-oriented productions. A Christmas Carol, Nutcracker, Cirque Alice and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong also work well as festive outings for adults.

Booking tickets for a Christmas show

Christmas productions have one particular feature: their runs are short. A show performed for only a few weeks inevitably offers fewer opportunities to change dates than a musical running throughout the year.

If your trip coincides with the British school holidays, Christmas or New Year, it is therefore worth booking once your dates are fixed. Matinee performances can be particularly convenient when travelling with children.

Before booking, also check the minimum age, running time and performance time. A 7.30pm performance ending after 9.30pm is a very different experience from a one-hour matinee with a four-year-old.

Accessible shows and adapted performances

Several productions offer accessible performances during the season, although dates and facilities vary between theatres.

• A Christmas Carol: the Old Vic is planning a relaxed performance on 12 December 2026 at 2pm, which will also include audio description, captioning and British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation.
• Nutcracker: an audio-described performance is scheduled for 19 December 2026 at 2.30pm and a relaxed performance for 7 January 2027 at 1.30pm.
• Stick Man: a BSL-interpreted performance is scheduled for 13 December 2026 at 3.30pm and an audio-described performance for 20 December at 3.30pm.
• Cirque Alice: BSL-interpreted, captioned and audio-described performances are planned during the London season.

If you require a particular accessibility service or accessible seating, check the arrangements with the theatre before purchasing: some seats or services may require specific booking arrangements.

Combine your Christmas theatre trip with other festive activities

A late-afternoon or evening performance can easily be combined with the Christmas lights in London in 2026. Several shows in this selection are in or close to the West End, while Cirque Alice gives you the opportunity to enjoy the South Bank and the Thames before or after the performance.

If the show is only one part of your trip, our guide to Christmas in London in 2026 covers the other major festive events.

FAQ

Which Christmas show should you see in London with young children?

Peppa Pig's Big Family Show!, Stick Man and The Snowman are the most suitable options for young children in the 2026 programme. Stick Man has the particular advantage of lasting just one hour.

Which show is best for a first trip to the theatre?

The Snowman works particularly well as a first theatre experience thanks to its simple story, visual world and music. For children aged 3 and over, Stick Man is another option thanks to its short running time.

What is a British Christmas pantomime?

British pantomime is a family show traditionally performed during the festive season. It often takes a familiar fairy tale and adds songs, comedy, larger-than-life characters and audience interaction. Despite its name, it is not a silent performance. Potted Panto plays specifically with the conventions of this tradition.

Do you need to book far in advance?

You do not need to book several months ahead for every performance, but waiting until the last minute reduces your choice of dates, times and seats. This is particularly relevant during the school holidays and around Christmas and New Year.

Are there shows in London on 25 December?

Options are very limited on Christmas Day, and many theatres do not perform on 25 December. Do not assume that a production running throughout the festive period necessarily has a performance that day: check the show's calendar before planning your day.

Which Christmas show should you choose with teenagers?

A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is a good option if you are primarily looking for comedy, while Cirque Alice focuses on visual performance. For a more traditional experience, A Christmas Carol and Nutcracker are two of the season's classic choices.

Summary

For Christmas 2026, London has a varied enough programme that you do not have to default to the best-known show. Peppa Pig and Stick Man are particularly suitable for young children, The Snowman remains a family-friendly choice, while A Christmas Carol and Nutcracker offer a more traditional Christmas experience.

For something different, Potted Panto offers an introduction to a distinctly British theatre tradition, A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong focuses on comedy and Cirque Alice on visual spectacle. Once you have made your choice, check the running time, recommended age and performance time before booking, particularly if you are travelling with young children.