Get your calendars ready, because the Australian stage is about to light up with an incredible lineup of entertainment! Whether you are looking for the perfect gift, planning a getaway, or just want to treat yourself to a night out, the next two years are packed with unmissable experiences.
We have curated the ultimate list of productions hitting our shores in 2025 and 2026. From returning blockbusters to edgy new dramas and immersive thrillers, there is something here to spark everyone’s imagination.
A Christmas Carol
Melbourne
Prepare to be swept away by the festive spirit with this five-time Tony Award®-winning masterpiece. Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of redemption returns to Melbourne, promising a heart-warming and visually stunning production that captures the true magic of Christmas. It is a strictly limited season, so don’t be a Scrooge—grab your tickets early!
Comedy Theatre – Running until 24 December 2025
Approx. run time: 2 hours including a 20-minute interval
Supporting Assets:
- Production Image
- Production Footage
Website: christmascarolaustralia.com.au
INVISIBLE & FLIGHT
Melbourne
Are you brave enough to step inside? DARKFIELD is back to challenge your senses with two intense, immersive audio experiences set inside shipping containers. INVISIBLE and FLIGHT transport you to strange, unsettling worlds where reality bends and the unexpected unfolds in complete darkness. It is thrill-seeking theatre at its absolute finest.
Arts Centre Melbourne – Running until 11 January 2026
INVISIBLE run time: 17 minutes (allow 20 minutes)
FLIGHT run time: 22 minutes (allow 25 minutes)
Supporting Assets: Download here
Website: darkfield.com.au
Duck Pond – Circa
Melbourne and Sydney
Forget everything you know about Swan Lake. The world-renowned Circa ensemble has taken the classical ballet and The Ugly Duckling and fused them into a mesmerising circus spectacular. Expect jaw-dropping acrobatics, laugh-out-loud moments, and a touch of feathers in this playful, high-energy reimagining that is perfect for the whole family.
Sydney: Sydney Opera House – 9 – 12 January 2026
Melbourne: Princess Theatre – 14 – 25 January 2026
Approx. run time: 75 minutes
Supporting Assets: Download here
Website: duckpondmelbourne.com.au
Purpose
Sydney
Get ready for fireworks in this razor-sharp new drama. Purpose dives deep into a powerful African American political dynasty that is on the brink of implosion. When the estranged youngest son returns home with a mysterious guest, decades of buried secrets come tumbling out in a hilarious, explosive, and gripping exploration of family, faith, and politics.
Wharf 1 Theatre – 2 February – 22 March 2026
Approx. run time: 2 hours 50 minutes including interval
Website: sydneytheatre.com.au
The Normal Heart
Sydney
Returning to the Sydney Theatre Company nearly 40 years after its premiere, this urgent and deeply moving play confronts the dawn of the AIDS crisis. Starring Artistic Director Mitchell Butel, The Normal Heart is a powerful battle cry for justice, love, and visibility, capturing the courage of a community fighting for its life with unforgettable humanity.
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House – 9 February – 14 March 2026
Approx. run time: 2 hours 30 minutes including interval
Website: sydneytheatre.com.au
MJ The Musical
Melbourne
He is the King of Pop, and his music is taking centre stage! This four-time Tony Award®-winning blockbuster goes beyond the moves to offer a rare look at the creative mind of Michael Jackson. Featuring over 25 of his biggest hits like Billie Jean and Thriller, MJ The Musical is an electrifying journey through the music that defined a generation.
Her Majesty’s Theatre – Playing until 13 March 2026
Approx. run time: 2 hours and 35 minutes including a 20-minute interval
Supporting Assets:
- Production Images
- Production Footage
Website: mjthemusical.com.au
West Gate
Melbourne
This gripping historical drama brings a defining moment of Australian history to the stage. West Gate explores the tragic 1970 bridge collapse, delving into the human cost of progress and the resilience of the workers involved. With a stellar cast including Steve Bastoni and Lachy Hulme, it is an emotionally charged examination of accountability and a national tragedy that must never be forgotten.
Southbank Theatre – The Sumner – 10 March – 18 April 2026
Website: mtc.com.au
My Brilliant Career
Melbourne and Sydney
After a sold-out premiere season, this electric musical adaptation is back by popular demand! Reimagining Miles Franklin’s classic novel for a modern audience, My Brilliant Career bursts with energy, blending bush ballads, pop, and raucous pub rock. Follow the fiery Sybylla Melvyn as she rejects convention to find her own voice in the sweeping landscapes of 1890s Australia.
Melbourne: Southbank Theatre, The Sumner – 23 January – 28 February 2026
Sydney: Roslyn Parker Theatre – 21 March – 26 April 2026
Approx. run time: 2 hours 30 minutes including interval
Supporting Assets: Download here
Website: mtc.com.au
Do Not Pass Go
Melbourne
Corporate life gets a dark, comedic twist in this sharp new play by Jean Tong. Do Not Pass Go is an existential look at the grind, exploring ambition, loneliness, and the search for meaning within a broken system. If you have ever questioned the rat race, this witty and thought-provoking production is your ticket to catharsis.
Southbank Theatre, The Lawler – 14 February – 28 March 2026
Website: mtc.com.au
The River
Sydney
Starring the incredible Miranda Otto, The River is a spellbinding, intimate drama where nothing is quite what it seems. Set in a remote cabin, a man’s carefully spun stories begin to unravel as truth, desire, and deception collide. It is a haunting and poetic mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House – 30 March – 9 May 2026
Approx. run time: 80 minutes
Website: sydneytheatre.com.au
Moonlight Cinema
Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth
Australia’s favourite outdoor cinema is turning 30, and they are celebrating with a blockbuster summer season! Pack a picnic and gather your mates for unforgettable nights under the stars. From fresh new releases to beloved family classics, Moonlight Cinema is the ultimate way to soak up the warm evenings in iconic parkland settings across the country.
Sydney: Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park – Fri 21 Nov 2025 – Sun 5 April 2026
Melbourne: Central Lawn, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Wed 3 Dec 2025 – Sun 5 April 2026
Adelaide: Botanic Park Adelaide – Thurs 27 Nov 2025 – Sun 15 Feb 2026
Brisbane: The Amphitheatre, Roma Street Parkland – Wed 26 Nov 2025 – Sun 15 Feb 2026
Perth: May Drive Parkland, Kings Park – Thurs 4 Dec 2025 – Sun 29 Mar 2026
Supporting Assets: Download here
Website: moonlight.com.au
An Iliad
Sydney
Prepare for a tour-de-force performance as award-winning star David Wenham returns to the stage. In An Iliad, Homer’s ancient epic is stripped back to a raw, powerful solo story about the endless cycles of war and human violence. It is a stark, compelling retelling that proves these ancient tales are as relevant today as ever.
Wharf 1 Theatre – 13 April – 7 June 2026
Approx. run time: 100 minutes
Website: sydneytheatre.com.au
The Lion King – Disney
Sydney
The circle of life returns! The world’s number one musical is roaring back into Sydney, bringing the Serengeti to life with its stunning puppetry, vibrant costumes, and Elton John’s iconic score. It is a theatrical phenomenon that simply must be experienced live—get ready to feel the love tonight!
Capitol Theatre – From 18 April 2026
Approx. run time: 2 hours and 30 minutes including a 20-minute interval
Supporting Assets:
- Production Images
- Production Footage
Website: thelionkingmusical.com.au
The Glass Menagerie
Melbourne
Step into a world of fragile dreams and haunting memories with this timeless masterpiece. Starring Alison Whyte, this contemporary revival of Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie breathes new life into one of the 20th century’s most beloved plays. It is a poetic, deeply emotional exploration of the bonds that hold families together—and the forces that pull them apart.
Southbank Theatre, The Sumner – 27 April – 5 June 2026
Website: mtc.com.au
Heathers the Musical
Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra and Perth
Grab your croquet mallets, because the Heathers are here! Based on the cult 80s film, this high-octane rock musical is a dark, hilarious, and unapologetic look at high school hierarchy. With a killer score and plenty of attitude, it is a wild ride through teen angst, popularity, and murder that you won’t want to miss.
Melbourne: Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne – From 8 April 2026
Adelaide: Her Majesty’s Theatre – 16 – 26 July 2026
Gold Coast: HOTA – 30 July – 9 August 2026
Canberra: Canberra Theatre Centre – 14 – 23 August 2026
Sydney: Coliseum Theatre – 26 – 29 August 2026
Sydney: Roslyn Packer Theatre – 1 – 19 September 2026
Perth: Regal Theatre – 30 September – 11 October 2026
Approx. run time: 2 hours 30 minutes including interval
Supporting Assets: Download here
Website: heathersthemusical.com/australia
Australian World Orchestra
Melbourne and Sydney
This is not just a concert; it is a celebration of musical excellence. Marking 15 years of brilliance, the Australian World Orchestra brings together the country’s finest classical musicians for a truly extraordinary performance. It is a rare chance to hear an all-star ensemble deliver a one-of-a-kind sonic experience in our nation’s most iconic halls.
Melbourne: Hamer Hall, Art Centre Melbourne – 19 August 2026
Sydney: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House – 20 August 2026
Approx. run time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Supporting Assets: Download here
Website: australianworldorchestra.com.au