Top 10 Best Plays in London 2026

Find your spirit with tickets to the "awe-inspiring" (Time Out) West End transfer of Studio Ghibli's beloved film on stage. This six-time Olivier Award winning play is a breathtaking triumph from the Royal Shakespeare Company and Joe Hisaishi that has already enjoyed two sold-out seasons at the Barbican Theatre. Now, it is one of the biggest theatre events for anyone who wants to escape into a world of whimsy, sisterhood and childhood imagination.

This hilarious history-ish play from Tony winner and Pulitzer finalist Cole Escola shoves aside her famous presidential husband, Abe, and puts Mary Todd Lincoln firmly in the spotlight. Delving into the hidden hopes, desires and troubles of the first lady in the weeks leading up to her husband's assassination, this “smartly stupid riot” (Variety) puts a blackly satirical, tongue-in-cheek and fabulously queer slant on this famous couple. Comedy icon Catherine Tate stars as the titular first lady - book your tickets today!

Gone Girl’s Rosamund Pike stars in the West End transfer of blistering drama Inter Alia, the new play from the award-winning team behind internationally acclaimed sell-out hit Prima Facie. Fresh from an acclaimed 2025 run at the National, which marked Pike’s first stage performance in over 15 years, Pike reprises the role of Jessica Parks, a crown court judge renowned for her feminist views and harsh sentencing. But when Jessica’s own family are rocked by a shocking turn of events, she is forced to reassess just what she stands for - justice, or her own family?

This innovative play merges modern language with an unflinching portrait of power and patriarchy. From emerging playwright Ava Pickett, this West End transfer features the original cast, including Sex Education’s Tanya Reynolds, reprising their roles from the show's sold-out Almeida run. In a field in Essex, three women gather to discuss friendship, survival, and the downfall of the recently executed queen, Anne Boleyn, as the impact of Boleyn’s execution sends ripples through the country. This innovative play merges modern language with an unflinching portrait of power and patriarchy - don’t miss it.

Tony winner Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) and Miranda Raison (Silk) reprise their roles in this huge West End transfer. Inspired by the true story of Victorian superstar actors Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, this brand new play from legendary playwright, Tony, BAFTA and Olivier winner, and Academy Award nominee David Hare charts the actors relationship from a reluctant mentorship to society-shaking romance.