Christmas shows in London 2026: beyond panto and the Nutcracker

Panto and the Nutcracker get most of the attention, but London’s Christmas stage is much bigger. Here are the other festive shows confirmed for 2026, from Scrooge at the Old Vic to Peppa Pig in the West End.

A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

12 November 2026 to 9 January 2027. The Old Vic’s version is now a London Christmas tradition, and this is its 10th anniversary year, with Giles Terera as Scrooge. It runs about two hours with an interval. Tickets from £29.50.

The Little Match Girl at Wilton’s Music Hall

From 3 December. A ballet in one of London’s oldest music halls, in Whitechapel. Tickets from £20.

Cirque Alice at the Royal Festival Hall

December to 3 January 2027. A circus take on Alice in Wonderland on the South Bank. Tickets from £38.75. Check the exact opening date when you book, as listings differ.

For younger children

• Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show, Theatre Royal Haymarket, from 4 December, tickets from £12.50
• Pinocchio the Musical, Shakespeare’s Globe, from 28 November

Panto and ballet

For the traditional options, see our guides to pantomimes in London and the Nutcracker in London. All the season’s other dates are in Christmas in London 2026.

Frequently asked questions

When is A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic 2026?

From 12 November 2026 to 9 January 2027.

What Christmas shows are on in London for kids?

Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and Pinocchio at the Globe, plus the pantomimes.

Sources

• Visit London: Christmas shows 2026
• West End Theatre: A Christmas Carol, Old Vic
• London Drum: December 2026 events

Last checked: 27 October 2026. Prices are starting prices. Image: Caroline Ford, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.