Shows & stars heading to the Blackpool Grand next year as new season is announced

Inside The Grand’s sparkling new brochure lies a dazzling season bursting with breathtaking shows for all tastes and ages: from spectacular family pantomimes and feel-good musicals to gripping dramas, showstopping dance and spine-tingling thrillers.

The theatre says that each performance is a story waiting to be shared, a moment to treasure, and an experience to remember long after the lights go down.

Take a look at what’s on offer below...

Festive Family Fun and Feel-Good Favourites

The Grand’s year begins with a sparkling Christmas cracker as Blackpool’s No.1 Pantomime Beauty and the Beast (Fri 5 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026) bursts onto the stage packed with laughter, romance, and stunning stage magic.

It stars Corrie bad-boy Marc Baylis, UK panto legend and Best Comic (UK Pantomime Awards 2025) Steve Royle, original ‘Funny Girl’ Betty Legs Diamond, social media star Kitty Harris, and musical theatre sensation Luke Harley, as well as the incredible Barbara Jackson Theatre Arts Centre dancers.

It promises to be family adventure filled with dazzling costumes, laugh-out-loud comedy and songs that will have you singing all the way home but tickets are going fast so snap them up quick!

You can read all about the Beauty and the Beast panto here.

The Blackpool Grand however thinks it’s only right to keep the magic alive throughout the year, with the following shows:

• The Sooty Show (Sun 5 Apr 2026) brings Britain’s favourite yellow bear back home to Blackpool for a laugh-packed day out for little ones (and nostalgic grown-ups alike!).
• Fireman Sam - The Lost Pirate Treasure (Sun 24 May 2026) blazes into action in an all-new live show that promises songs, surprises and plenty of firefighting fun.
• Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter’s The Dinosaur That Pooped (Sun 3 May 2026), the riotously funny adaptation of the bestselling children’s book, perfect for giggling families everywhere.
• The learning (and laughter) continues with Horrible Histories Live On Stage – The Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians (Thu 15 – Sun 18 Oct 2026), where gruesome facts and side-splitting sketches bring history to life like never before.
• And of course, Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show (Tue 1 – Wed 2 Sep 2026) brings the world’s most popular piggy to Blackpool in a fun-filled show for pre-schoolers that promises to be oink-tastic from start to finish!

Musicals, Music Legends and Concert Spectaculars

If you love the thrill of live music, this season has your name on it:

• The toe-tapping rock ’n’ roll musical Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (Tue 3 – Sat 7 Feb 2026) returns with the true story of the man who changed the face of popular music forever. Packed with hit after hit – including That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue and Oh Boy! – it’s an electrifying night celebrating the original rock ’n’ roll legend.
• Then, step into swinging 60s London as Sunny Afternoon (Tue 28 Apr – Sat 2 May 2026) tells the story of The Kinks and their meteoric rise to fame, set to a soundtrack of iconic songs like You Really Got Me and Waterloo Sunset.
• Pop fans can also relive the golden age of 80s glamour with WHAM! The Show (Sun 19 Apr 2026), a celebration of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s greatest hits that guarantees to get the whole theatre on its feet, starring Jake Quickenden.
• Strictly Come Dancing star Ore Oduba leads the spectacular The Vintage Boys Rock ’n’ Roll Show (Tue 29 Sep 2026), bringing high-octane nostalgia from the 50s and 60s in a feel-good show packed with charm, rhythm and timeless tunes.
• For musical theatre lovers, Dreamcoat Stars (Sun 11 Oct 2026) gathers West End talent for a dazzling celebration of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s unforgettable anthems, while The Phantoms, starring the sensational Lee Mead (Sun 25 Oct 2026), delivers spine-tingling renditions of classics from Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and beyond, a night of pure West End magic right here in Blackpool.
• Closer to home, Blackpool Operatic Players shine in their stunning production of 42nd Street (Wed 1 – Sat 4 Apr 2026), a glittering celebration of song, dance and showbiz dreams.
• BFLOC presents We Will Rock You (Wed 17 – Sat 20 Jun 2026), the hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton, rocks out with killer anthems and electrifying performances from homegrown stars. The talent and passion of our local companies continue to make the Grand a true home of community performance.
• And if all that isn’t enough, prepare for high camp, glitter and fishnets as cult favourites return; The Rocky Horror Show (Mon 11 – Sat 16 May 2026) shocks and delights audiences once more with its outrageous humour and irresistible rock score.
• Back by killer demand, Heathers The Musical (Tue 27 -Sat 31 Oct 2026) struts back following its previous sell-out success, and this time it’s bigger, bolder and badder than ever. The show that made “teenage angst” fashionable again brings its darkly comic edge, explosive energy and wicked humour to the Fylde Coast for one unforgettable week. With an irresistibly catchy pop-rock score and a story that’s equal parts savage and sentimental, Heathers is the ultimate guilty pleasure of musical theatre.

Drama, Thrillers and Must-See Stories

The drama begins with dazzling style and razor-sharp wit as The Constant Wife (Fri 16 – Sat 17 Jan 2026) takes to the Grand stage.

Adapted by Olivier Award-winner Laura Wade (Home, I’m Darling; Posh; TV’s Rivals) from Somerset Maugham’s glittering comedy of manners, this acclaimed new version first premiered in Stratford-upon-Avon to rave reviews and sold-out performances.

Directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey, this sparkling reimagining explores marriage, independence, and female resilience with biting humour and a delicious twist of scandal.

The production stars Kara Tointon (TV’s Mr Selfridge; Winner of Strictly Come Dancing), bringing charisma and intelligence to the role, and features original music by multi award-winning jazz artist Jamie Cullum, adding rhythm, warmth, and sophistication to this elegant, effervescent play.

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The suspense turns up a notch with Murder at Midnight (Wed 28 – Sat 31 Jan 2026), a gripping new thriller packed with secrets, lies and deadly twists that will keep audiences guessing until the very last moment.

Starring national favourites Jason Durr (Heartbeat, Casualty), Susie Blake (Victoria Wood’s As Seen on TV, Coronation Street), Max Bowden (EastEnders’ Ben Mitchell) and Katie McGlynn (Waterloo Road, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks), this stylish, atmospheric drama promises tension, glamour and shocking revelations deep into the night.

Crime fans will be thrilled as one of Britain’s most beloved television detectives returns in Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift (Tue 10 – Sat 14 Feb 2026), bringing the nation’s favourite whodunit to the stage for the very first time.

Daniel Casey, who originally created the role of Sergeant Troy in ITV’s Midsomer Murders, now steps into the shoes of Inspector Tom Barnaby himself. His impressive credits include Emmerdale, EastEnders and Coronation Street.

JUST ANNOUNCED: James Bradwell (Lord Basilio in Bridgerton) will star opposite Casey as Sergeant Gavin Troy. Expect eccentric villagers, clever plotting, and that signature blend of intrigue and English wit that hascaptivated millions around the world.

The tension continues with Single White Female (Tue 17 – Sat 21 Feb 2026), starring the multi- talented Kym Marsh (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Abigail’s Party).

From the producer of the hit stage adaptation of The Girl on the Train, this chilling new production explores friendship, identity and obsession in a slick psychological thriller that will shock, captivate and keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Mind-manipulation meets theatrical mastery in Derren Brown: Only Human (Tue 24 – Sat 28 Feb 2026) as the world-renowned illusionist returns to The Grand with his brand-new live show – an extraordinary, thought-provoking evening that will have audiences questioning what’s real.

Teechers (Fri 20 – Sat 21 Mar 2026) brings John Godber’s uproarious schoolroom satire to life with humour, heart and nostalgia for every former pupil.

Later in the year, Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty (Thu 16 – Sat 18 Apr 2026) brings Britain’s most famous detective face to face with his ultimate nemesis in a fast-paced, clever and atmospheric adventure.

Sci-fi fans will then be captivated by War of the Worlds (Wed 22 – Sat 25 Apr 2026), as H.G. Wells’ epic alien invasion bursts to life on stage with spectacular staging, music and effects.

Heartfelt and human stories shine through too, with The Beekeeper of Aleppo (Tue 26 – Sat 30 May 2026) – the critically acclaimed stage adaptation of Christy Lefteri’s international bestselling novel.

This deeply moving production follows Nuri, a beekeeper, and his wife Afra as they embark on a perilous journey from war-torn Syria to safety, carrying with them not only memories of their lost home but an unbreakable bond of love and hope.

Adapted for the stage by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler (The Kite Runner), this powerful and poetic story captures both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.

With haunting imagery, evocative music and beautifully crafted performances, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a tender, timely and unforgettable reminder of the power of compassion in the face of unimaginable hardship.

Dance, Ballet and Cultural Highlights

• Beauty, grace and power take centre stage as Varna International Ballet returns to Blackpool with two timeless masterpieces – The Nutcracker and Swan Lake (Sun 1 & Mon 2 Mar 2026). With sumptuous costumes, breathtaking choreography and Tchaikovsky’s glorious music, these performances promise to sweep audiences away.
• Contemporary movement dazzles with James Wilton Dance’s Bach - Reimagined (Tue 3 Mar 2026), a bold, physical interpretation of Bach’s masterpieces infused with stunning athleticism and energy.
• The wit and elegance of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (or Where There’s a Will) (Tue 17 Mar 2026) offers a comic opera experience like no other, full of scheming relatives and quicksilver charm.
• Classical meets contemporary as The Royal Shakespeare Company brings a fresh new production of Hamlet (Tue 24 – Sat 28 Mar 2026) to The Grand, exploring revenge, grief and power in one of the world’s greatest plays.
• And audiences will be enchanted by the exquisite parody and comic brilliance of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (Fri 12 Jun 2026), as the all-male company pirouettes between high art and hilarious comedy with sheer joy.

Comedy, Conversation

Comedy returns to Blackpool in fine form with the razor-sharp Chris McCausland, whose sell-out show Yonks! (Mon 18 May 2026) proves why he’s one of the UK’s most beloved stand-ups.

True crime enthusiasts can step inside the mind of a criminal with Murderous Minds with Emma Kenny (Sun 14 Jun 2026), as the psychologist and TV personality shares fascinating insights into the darker side of human behaviour.

How can I give the gift of theatre this Chrismas?

Theatre Gift Vouchers are available online or from the Box Office on Church Street or directly online, making them the ideal present for anyone who loves the thrill of live performance.

Flexible, thoughtful and filled with possibility, a Grand Theatre Gift Voucher lets your loved ones choose their own unforgettable experience, whether it’s a laugh-out-loud comedy, a spectacular musical, or an evening of dazzling dance and drama.

Beautifully presented and simple to purchase, they’re the perfect way to give a gift.

Book now at blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call 01253 290190 during opening hours.