Opening and Closing in the West End: July 2026

Update, 1 July 2026: since we published this, the Duke of York's Theatre has been renamed The Tom Stoppard Theatre. The Arcadia listing below reflects the venue's name at the time of writing.

If you only judged the West End by its long-running blockbusters, you might think nothing ever changes. July 2026 is proof of the opposite. It is one of the busiest months of the year for comings and goings: a wave of world premieres and big revivals arrives, while a handful of much-loved shows take their final bows. Here at tickadoo we have pulled together the openings and closings worth knowing about, with the dates checked against each venue, then a full month-by-month list at the end.

One quick note on dates: a "first preview" is the first time an audience sees a show, while "press night" is the official opening a week or two later. We have flagged both where they matter, because a few July highlights actually start previews in late June.

Opening in July: the highlights

The headline opening for musical fans is Trainspotting: The Musical, a world premiere of Irvine Welsh's cult story, which begins previews at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 15 July (press night 22 July). It is the rare West End title we can already get you into: you can see availability for Trainspotting on tickadoo. Here is the company in rehearsal:

Two more big openings sit at either end of the month. Arcadia, Tom Stoppard's dazzling play about science, poetry and time, opens at the Duke of York's Theatre (now renamed The Tom Stoppard Theatre) with a press night of 1 July (previews from 20 June), directed by Carrie Cracknell. And the cult favourite Heathers the Musical returns from 9 July for a strictly limited 52-performance run at The Arts at Marble Arch, all teen satire and big numbers.

Elsewhere, Jesus Christ Superstar brings Timothy Sheader's acclaimed staging to the London Palladium with Sam Ryder as Jesus (press night 7 July), and at the open-air Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, a brand-new production of Cats begins on 25 July. For something more intimate, Philip Glass and Phelim McDermott's Tao of Glass gets its West End premiere at @sohoplace from 24 July, and Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin star in the world-premiere play Hit Machine at the Soho Theatre from 8 July.

Closing in July: last chance to see

Three shows worth catching before they go, two of which you can still book through tickadoo right now.

Kinky Boots struts its last at the London Coliseum on 11 July. The Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper crowd-pleaser is one of the warmest nights out in town, and tickets start from a very reasonable price point: see availability for Kinky Boots, from £20.31.

At the Old Vic, the all-female revival of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, directed by Patrick Marber and starring Indira Varma and Rosa Salazar, closes on 18 July as part of the theatre's season finale. Check availability for Glengarry Glen Ross, from £43.13.

And after years on the South Bank, the National Theatre's beloved production of War Horse gallops into its final performance in the Olivier on 30 July. It is a National Theatre production rather than a commercial West End house, but it is unmissable if you have never seen Joey the puppet up close.

The full July 2026 West End list

For reference, here is the complete month, with the dates we could verify against each venue.

Opening in July:

• 1 July (press night) — Arcadia, Duke of York's Theatre (previews from 20 June)
• 7 July (press night) — Jesus Christ Superstar, London Palladium (previews from 20 June)
• 8 July — Hit Machine, Soho Theatre (world premiere)
• 9 July — Heathers the Musical, The Arts at Marble Arch
• 15 July (first preview) — Trainspotting: The Musical, Theatre Royal Haymarket (press night 22 July)
• 24 July — Tao of Glass, @sohoplace (West End premiere)
• 25 July — Cats, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (press night 6 August)

Closing in July:

• 11 July — Kinky Boots, London Coliseum
• 18 July — Glengarry Glen Ross, The Old Vic
• 30 July — War Horse, National Theatre (Olivier)

Often listed for July, but not closing yet: Jesus Christ Superstar runs at the Palladium to 5 September, and The Producers continues at the Garrick to 19 September. Neither is a July closing.

Make a night of it

Whatever you book, a little planning goes a long way. If you are new to a venue, our guide to the best seats at every West End theatre is a good starting point, and the perfect West End night out covers where to eat and when to go. For more ideas, browse everything on across our London theatre pages, or read up on the just-announced return of Billy Elliot the Musical in 2027. Heading to New York too? Here is what is happening with Broadway this July.

Frequently asked questions

What new shows are opening in the West End in July 2026?

July brings a busy slate: Arcadia (Duke of York's, press night 1 July), Jesus Christ Superstar (London Palladium, press night 7 July), Hit Machine (Soho Theatre, from 8 July), Heathers the Musical (The Arts at Marble Arch, from 9 July), Trainspotting: The Musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket, previews from 15 July), Tao of Glass (@sohoplace, from 24 July) and a new production of Cats (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, from 25 July).

Which West End shows are closing in July 2026?

Kinky Boots closes at the London Coliseum on 11 July, the all-female Glengarry Glen Ross closes at the Old Vic on 18 July, and the National Theatre's War Horse plays its final performance in the Olivier on 30 July.

Which of these can I book on tickadoo?

You can currently see live availability for Trainspotting: The Musical, Heathers the Musical, Arcadia, Tao of Glass, Kinky Boots and Glengarry Glen Ross on tickadoo. For the others, browse our London theatre pages, as availability is added over time.

What is the difference between a first preview and press night?

A first preview is the first public performance, usually at a slightly lower price while the show settles in. Press night is the official opening, typically a week or two later, when critics review. A few July highlights, including Arcadia and Jesus Christ Superstar, actually begin previews in late June even though their press nights and the bulk of their runs fall in July.