There's something extra-enchanting about the London stage come Christmastime. Here's our roundup of the best festive shows on stage in London.
Looking for pantomimes? We've put together a dedicated roundup, oh yes we have. We also have separate roundups for family-friendly Christmas shows and productions of A Christmas Carol.
Elf The Musical, Aldwych Theatre
Aldwych Theatre gets the (snow)ball rolling early this year — with Elf the Musical playing from the end of October. Based, of course, on the classic 2003 film, the musical tells the tale of Buddy the Elf, a human raised by Santa's elves, who goes on a quest to New York City to seek out his real dad. All heart-melting stuff, although reviews for previous renditions of Elf have not always been glowing, the Guardian denouncing 2022's show as 'syrupy'. Then again, some people like their musicals/spaghetti syrupy...
Elf the Musical, Aldwych Theatre, 28 October 2025-3 January 2026.
The Great Christmas Feast, West Kensington
An all-immersive experience is on the (Christmas) cards as Lost Estate returns once again with The Great Christmas Feast. Be transported back to Christmas Eve 1843 for a snow-flecked night of live storytelling and music, dishes scoured from the pages of Victorian cookery books, and a mug or two of smoking bishop. At the heart of this show is a unique telling of A Christmas Carol, with an actor channeling the great Charles Dickens, and a host of other beloved characters to boot. Also check out: Where To Watch Dickens' A Christmas Carol On Stage In London.
The Great Christmas Feast, West Kensington, 14 November 2025-4 January 2026.
Lovers Actually, The Other Palace
Fan of Richard Curtis rom-com Love Actually? That's irrelevant: Lovers Actually at The Other Palace puts a raunchy twist on the festive romance, interweaving a shed-load of filthy fun into the original storylines. Will the Prime Minister finally get his Christmas wish? Will Mark steal his best friend’s new wife? Find out at this adults-only show by the team behind last year’s sold-out hit, Homo Alone.
Lovers Actually at The Other Palace, 21 November 2025-4 January 2026.
The Snowman, Peacock Theatre
This balletic riff on the seminal book/TV show has now been going for over quarter of a century — taking the late Raymond Briggs' masterpiece and running pirouetting with it. Not only are there snowman hoedowns and escapades through snow-drifted woodland on a motorbike and sidecar — but a marauding troupe of tropical fruits, and a sneering baddie in the guise of Jack Frost. It's like switching on Channel 4 on Christmas Eve while dropping acid. We'd imagine.
The Snowman, Peacock Theatre, 22 November 2025-4 January 2026.
All I Want for Christmas is Cabaret, Phoenix Arts Club
A veritable advent calendar of drag, burlesque, musical theatre and comedy, All I Want for Christmas is Cabaret promises a raucous 100 minutes of festive entertainment, down in the bowels of the Phoenix Theatre — decorated with thousands of fairy lights for extra twinkle. Themed cocktails, mulled wine and dinner packages are available.
All I Want for Christmas is Cabaret, Phoenix Arts Club, 5-30 December 2025.
Little Miss Christmas, Southwark Playhouse
The Miss Universe pageant, but make it Christmas: Patti Boo Rae is caked in glitter and dripping with eggnog, for Little Miss Christmas — a chaotic festive romp, featuring Interview, Swimsuit and Evening Wear 'categories', along with a fresh guest every evening. It's going to get messy.
Little Miss Christmas, Southwark Playhouse Borough, 10 December 2025-3 January 2026.
The Nutcracker, Royal Ballet and Opera, London Coliseum and Royal Albert Hall (plus The Nutcracker Noir)
A seven-headed mouse king and pirouetting candy set to a swirling Russian overture sounds like the fever dream of some kid who's knocked back an entire tin of Roses while doom scrolling — but of course, we're talking about timeless Christmas tale, The Nutcracker. There are three biggies in the capital this Christmas, courtesy of London Coliseum's usual epic English National Ballet staging (feat. over 100 dancers and musicians); the ong-lauded Peter Wright production at the Royal Ballet and Opera in Covent Garden, and a three-day-only stint from the Birmingham Royal Ballet, at the Royal Albert Hall. All three adaptations are well-established, and promise to be bewitching, bizarre — and star one of the most enchanting scores of all time. If you're seeking a twist on the classic, there's also immersive dining experience The Nutcracker Noir, in which dancers pirouette around you, as you journey through a five-course menu.
The Nutcracker at the Royal Ballet and Opera (22 November 2025-5 January 2026), The Nutcracker Noir (26 November-21 December 2025), The Nutcracker at London Coliseum (11 December 2025-11 January 2026), The Nutcracker at Royal Albert Hall (29-31 December 2025).
Christmas with Anton du Beke, Haymarket Theatre
Everyone's favourite Rob Brydon/Bruce Forsyth/Gene Kelly lovechild, Anton Du Beke returns with his own festive show — a one-off do at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, following a (presumably successful) outing at the Haymarket Theatre in 2024. Expect a deluge of dancing, soundtracked by a house band and vocalist Lance Ellington. Also check out: Christmas Music Shows In London
Christmas with Anton du Beke, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 14 December
A Very Sheeps Christmas – Live in Concert!, Soho Theatre Walthamstow
It is with nothing less than utter (udder?) joy to learn that comedy trio Sheeps are returning with their now semi-legendary Christmas show. We've had the pleasure of watching the madness of their Dickensian musical unfold in smaller venues like MOTH Club, but this year they're going all out at the 1,000 capacity Soho Theatre Walthamstow. No doubt Sheeps, their house band — plus a sackful of quality guests — will fill the joint with festive mirth. One of the last shows you see this year could well be one of the funniest.
A Very Sheeps Christmas – Live in Concert!, Soho Theatre Walthamstow, 17 December
Die Hard Xmas, Museum of Comedy
Die Hard Xmas — a musical parody of the Christmas-not-Christmas action film — originally tickled the funny bones of audiences in Los Angeles, before crossing the pond to titivate Londoners at Bloomsbury's Museum of Comedy. Believe it or not, Die Hard parodies are something of a genre unto themselves, but this one earned 12 Broadway World Award nominations. Yippee Ki Yay indeed.
Die Hard Xmas, Museum of Comedy, 19-20 December 2025.
