The biggest musicals and shows to see in Australia this year

It’s time to warm up those vocal cords: the Broadway smash-hit, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, is making its Aussie debut at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre this August, before heading to Sydney's Lyric Theatre. Celebrating the life and music of the legendary singer, this musical memoir is filled with classics like ‘Sweet Caroline’, ‘Forever in Blue Jeans’ and ‘Cracklin’ Rosie’ – you’ll have a hard time not singing along. Broadway star Will Swenson will reprise his acclaimed role, dazzling Aussie audiences for the first time.

Touring dates: Melbourne from August 2026, Sydney from November 2026

We’re already having a huge year for musicals in Australia – but now, the world’s #1 musical is heading back Down Under, with Disney Theatrical Group announcing that an all-new Australian staging of Disney’s The Lion King will premiere in Sydney from April 2026, before heading to Brisbane and Melbourne. Approaching 30 landmark years on Broadway, The Lion King has been seen by over 112 million people worldwide, and continues to ascend as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. It has been more than a decade since The Lion King’s last Australian tour – and this epic show has captivated nearly 4 million audience members during its two previous tours Down Under.

Touring dates: Sydney from April 2026, Brisbane from November 2026, Melbourne from March 2027

What if the Spice Girls did a concept album about King Henry VIII’s wives and Baz Luhrmann directed the concert video? That, in a nutshell, is Six’s vibe: an up-tempo, empowering, all-singing, all-dancing account of the lives of the six key ladies in the Tudor monarch’s orbit. In mid-2026, the smash-hit musical will make its royal return to Australia, just over a year after its last tour wrapped up in May 2025 – a sure sign of how good it is!

Touring dates: Sydney from October 2026, Brisbane from January 2027

If you’re looking to grow a few grey hairs, white-knuckle your friend’s hand and test just how far your jaw can drop, we’ve found the perfect show. One of Cirque du Soleil’s most daring productions, Kooza, is wrapping up its Australian tour with a mega summer season in Sydney. Having mesmerised 10 million people in 71 cities globally, this wildly impressive, decade-old circus production entertains both five-year-olds and 50-year-olds with its cheeky humour, gravity-defying acrobatics and spectacular sets. Prepare to leave with your jaw on the floor. We sure did.

Touring dates: Sydney from October 2026

Direct from a sold-out season at London’s famous Barbican Theatre – where it became the best-selling musical of all time – Fiddler on the Roof is set to tour Australia in 2026. This multi-Olivier award-winning production takes place in 1905 in the small village of Anatevka, where Tevye, a poor milkman, lives his life guided by traditions. Audiences will follow Tevye as he navigates the clash between old customs and modern ways, while his three oldest daughters pursue increasingly unconventional marriages. Under the direction of award-winning visionary Jordan Fein, Fiddler on the Roof promises to captivate audiences with one of the finest scores ever written, featuring classics like ‘If I Were A Rich Man’, ‘Tradition’, ‘Matchmaker’ and ‘Sunrise, Sunset’. You can catch its inaugural premiere season at Theatre Royal Sydney from July 2026, before it heads to Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

Touring dates: Melbourne from October 2026, Perth from January 2027

After the surprise smash-hit success of the 2017 musical film The Greatest Showman, fans had high hopes for a stage adaptation. While that didn’t happen – likely because there’s already a musical about legendary US circus impresario PT Barnum – the film’s blockbuster soundtrack paved the way for a dazzling new live experience debuting in Australia this autumn. Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular will arrive in Sydney this May, fresh off a wildly successful season in the UK, where the production was extended multiple times due to overwhelming demand. The Down Under season will feature an all-Australian cast, jaw-dropping acrobatic artistry and gravity-defying aerial acts, alongside iconic hits like ‘This Is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’ and ‘A Million Dreams’. You can read our London review of the show here.

Touring dates: Adelaide from October 2026, Brisbane from December 2026, Melbourne from February 2027

Did they really just say that?! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard (while simultaneously feeling terrible about it) as I did watching The Book of Mormon. This horribly hilarious Tony, Olivier and Grammy award-winning production last toured Australia in 2015, where it broke the record for the highest-selling on-sale period of any production in Melbourne’s Princess Theatre’s 159-year history. Now it’s back to tell the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to a small village in Uganda. While the plot centres on Mormonism, the creators (also behind South Park) call it an “atheist’s love letter to religion” – a wink and a jab at organised faith more broadly. You need not be a musical theatre nut, but you need to be cool with explicit language, challenging themes and “did they really just say that?” humour.

Touring dates: Brisbane from July 2026, Adelaide from December 2026

A blood-soaked satire on toxic masculinity, greed and Wall Street excess, American Psycho was an instant cult classic when the novel was released in 1991, and hit cinemas in 2000. Now, 25 years on, you can experience Patrick Bateman’s story like never before – live on stage, with more blood, and against a soundtrack of classic '80s hits. Following a sell-out 2025 season, American Psycho – The Musical is backing it up with a Melbourne and Brisbane tour. Conor Beaumont (Heathers the Musical) will once again lead the charge as Bateman, joined by plenty of other Aussie stars. You’ll never look at his skincare routine, workout regimen or obsession with designer suits the same way again.

Touring dates: Melbourne from October 2026, Brisbane from February 2027

Hold onto your saucepan lids, folks – the musical adaptation of Mrs Doubtfire is coming to Melbourne. Based on the 1993 cinematic masterpiece starring Robin Williams and Sally Field, this warm, hilarious and high-energy live show is perfect for the whole fam. It's set to debut at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in November, with a few extra surprises that are tailor-made for the live stage (think catchy songs, dazzling dance sequences and plenty of goofy gags). You can expect to fall back into the wild exploits of divorced, out-of-work-actor dad Daniel Hillard, who, after losing custody of his kids, creates the showstopping alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire. And as any fan of the movie knows, what follows is pretty damn hilarious. 

Touring dates: Melbourne from November 2026, Sydney from March 2027

John Farnham needs no introduction. He’s the King of Pop, the voice of a nation and Australia’s most successful artist on record. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Whispering Jack – the highest-selling Aussie album of all time, featuring ‘You’re the Voice’ – Sydney Theatre Company (STC) and Michael Cassel Group are teaming up for the first-ever musical dedicated to the rock legend. Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical will make its world premiere at STC’s Roslyn Packer Theatre in late 2026, telling the tale of his overnight success with hits like ‘Pressure Down’, ‘Age of Reason’ and ‘Two Strong Hearts’. Michael Paynter (Jesus Christ Superstar) will star as Farnham, and says that being asked to tell the story of "the greatest voice this country has produced’’ is an honour that is "hard to put into words". 

Touring dates: Sydney from November 2026

Is Elf your ultimate Christmas movie? Then here's some festive news. After spreading Christmas cheer at the Sydney Opera House in 2024, Broadway’s Elf the Musical is heading to Melbourne for the very first time. This concert-style production follows Buddy the Elf – a suspiciously tall human who travels from the North Pole to New York City in search of his real father, spreading the Christmas spirit wherever he goes. Packed with oversized candy canes, toe-tapping tunes and silly scenes, it’s the ultimate way to kick off the festive season with the whole family.

Touring dates: Melbourne from November 2026

What's arguably better than the pub? A faux-pub filled with nine impressive singers and beers all round. That's what The Choir of Man will bring to Australia this summer after sold-out tours worldwide. The scene is set in their "local pub", The Jungle, all built around a working beer tap. Not only will there be singing – from pub anthems and folk songs to Broadway faves and rock classics – there will also be high-energy dancing, percussion and pints. Many, many pints. 

Touring dates: Sydney from December 2026, Melbourne in February 2027

One of cinema’s most beloved stories, The Shawshank Redemption, is coming to the Australian stage in 2027. Acclaimed actor David Berry will star as Andy Dufresne, the quiet banker wrongly sentenced to life for murdering his wife and her lover. Behind bars, he forms an unlikely bond with fellow inmate Red (Bert LaBonté), proving that even in the darkest of places, hope can endure. The Shawshank Redemption will play in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide from January 2027, with more locations to be announced.

Tour dates: Sydney from January 2027, Melbourne from February 2027, Perth from March 2027, Adelaide from April 2027, Brisbane from late April 2027

In exciting news for all those who consider the Kerrigan crew part of their extended family, a brand-new theatrical adaptation of The Castle will land in Melbourne in 2027. It's been almost 30 years since the film was first released, telling the tale of working-class battler Darryl Kerrigan as he fought to save his beloved family home (“A man's home is his castle!”) from greedy developers keen to expand the neighbouring airport. The stage adaptation is being developed by the film's original creators, and is set to recapture all the heart, humour and larrikin magic audiences know and love. With a few contemporary references thrown in, of course. The Castle musical has already smashed Her Majesty Theatre's box office record for the highest first-day ticket sales ever for a play. Now that's the vibe right there.

Tour dates: Melbourne from March 2027

Do you believe in freedom, beauty, truth and love? Yes? Très bien. Following a sold-out Australian tour that wrapped up in February 2024, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is set to strut back into Sydney in 2027. The ten-time Tony Award-winning show’s arrival in Australia is a homecoming of sorts; it is of course based on Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film, which was filmed here. Packed with 75 songs – most of them chart-topping bangers – this two-hour extravaganza delivers glittering costumes, flawless choreography and powerhouse performances at every turn. You’ll be can-can-kicking yourself if you sleep on Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

Touring dates: Sydney from March 2027

The most successful opera on Sydney Harbour is making its triumphant return this autumn! In its 2015 debut season, the immersive digital production of Verdi’s Aida sold more than 55,000 tickets – breaking box office records for the picturesque harbour stage. Set in ancient Egypt at the height of its power, this tale of love and betrayal puts loyalties to the ultimate test. Opulent costumes, fireworks and an 18-metre-high, 15-tonne Nefertiti statue add to the grandeur, with the silhouette of the Sydney Opera House as the ultimate background. Aida will play for a limited one-month season, so book your tickets before it sells out.

Touring dates: Sydney from March 2027

Don’t feed the plant; Woodard Productions is feeding us instead! Following a sell-out season at Brisbane’s QPAC in early 2026, the much-loved Little Shop of Horrors musical is embarking on a national tour from autumn 2027. The dark, sci-fi comedy – which sees nerdy florist Seymour Krelborn stumble upon a new type of plant at Mushnik’s flailing flower shop on Skid Row – is set to play strictly limited seasons in Hobart, Melbourne and Wollongong. Cross your fingers, because there are whispers of it hitting additional cities later on.

Touring dates: Melbourne from April 2027, Hobart from May 2027, Wollongong from July 2027

Agatha Christie’s most iconic mystery novel is heading to the Melbourne stage in June before embarking on a national tour. Ken Ludwig’s darkly humorous adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express takes audiences on a thrilling ride (get it?) to solve the murder of an American tycoon found dead in his locked compartment amidst an avalanche. Among the glamorous passengers trapped aboard is the world’s most famous detective, Hercule Poirot. Can he crack the impossible crime before the train rolls on? Strap in to find out.

Touring dates: Melbourne from June 2027, plus more cities to be announced soon

In its 2022 season, Time Out hailed Sydney Theatre Company's adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray as “one of the greatest performances ever seen on an Australian stage.” Five years later, Kip Williams’ epic take on Oscar Wilde's macabre classic will return for an epic tour across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Nikki Shiels, who was alternate performer for the 2022 Aussie season, will don the blond coiffed wig as she plays all 26 characters in the highwire display of performance, stagecraft and technology.

Touring dates: Sydney from June 2027, Brisbane in August, Melbourne in September 2027

Even for those unfamiliar with Australia’s horse-racing history, the name “Phar Lap” carries mythic weight – the underdog chestnut who became a national hero during the Great Depression, and whose story is forever tied to “the race that stops the nation.” This new Hayes Theatre Co musical takes that legend and runs with it, blending history and humour with plenty of high kicks to create a crowd-pleasing spectacle that’s equal parts hoofbeats and hope. After a sold-out season in 2025, Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical will return for a national tour in 2027.

Touring dates: Sydney from July 2027, then Melbourne, Merrigong, Geelong and Wyong (dates TBC)

When a musical has been witnessed by 150 million people worldwide, you know it’s going to be good – and that show needs no introduction. Les Misérables is the longest-running and indisputably one of the greatest musicals of all time. Now, 40 years after its Australian debut, the multi-award-winning stage show is returning to Sydney. Get ready to hear world-famous hits like ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, ‘On My Own’, and ‘One Day More’ brought to life in an epic story of love, heartbreak and revolution in 19th-century France.

Touring dates: Sydney from August 2027

Please look after this bear, Sydney! Paddington the Musical is making its Australian premiere in September 2027, following a record-breaking West End debut and a whopping seven Olivier Award wins. It will land at the Capitol Theatre, making Sydney only the third city in the world to host the production, after London and New York. Based on Michael Bond’s beloved bear, the show follows Paddington’s journey from Peru to London, where he finds a new home with the Brown family. Expect a heartwarming story of kindness, belonging and plenty of marmalade sandwiches. 

Touring dates: Sydney from September 2027

The best-reviewed show in West End history is officially making its Australian debut! Operation Mincemeat is the musical comedy based on a true story about a team of scheming British intelligence officers during a 1943 World War II mission. The Allied Forces are on tumultuous waters, but this group of officers have a cheeky trick… inside the pocket of a stolen corpse. The double Olivier Award and Tony Award-winning hit musical is kicking off in Melbourne in September 2027, before making its way around the country, with further cities and dates to be announced.

Touring dates: Melbourne from September 2027

After more than a decade, the blockbuster production Matilda the Musical is headed back to Australia in 2027. Based on the beloved children's book by Roald Dahl, this family-friendly smash hit has won more than 100 international awards since its debut 15 years ago. It tells the tale of an extraordinary young girl with an incredible imagination and some newly discovered telekinetic powers who stands up to injustice. Best of all, the show features music and lyrics by Australia's own Tim Minchin, including ‘When I Grow Up’, ‘Naughty’ and Revolting Children’.

Touring dates: Melbourne from October 2027, Sydney TBC, Brisbane TBC