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Stars include Sandra Oh, Cate Blanchett, Letitia Wright, Francesca Mills & Nina Hoss

A galaxy of high-profile stars has been announced for the National Theatre’s new 2026 season, joining an already star-studded schedule of shows for this year and next.

A number of new plays will anchor the season, including Electra / Person starring Cate Blanchett, Tiago Rodrigues’ acclaimed play Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists, and a new play by Helen Edmundson, Some Woman.

Our Quick Take: Indhu Rubasingham is delivering again with her second season announcement at the National Theatre, and putting women out front. Sandra Oh is playing a gender-flipped Alceste in The Misanthrope – traditionally a male role; Cate Blanchett is tackling a fusion of two of the most complex female psychological portraits in history; and Francesca Mills is taking on the iconic role in Little Voice. This isn’t just casting; it’s a bold statement about whose stories deserve the epic scale of the National’s stages.

Revivals include a new production of Martin Crimp’s 1996 adaptation of Molière’s The Misanthrope starring Sandra Oh; The Story starring Letitia Wright; and two previous National Theatre shows that are returning home: their blockbuster production of War Horse, and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice starring Francesca Mills.

“I can’t wait to dive into this year with an extraordinary group of emerging and world-renowned artists coming to the National Theatre, many for the first time. From bold new voices to international collaborators, this is a year that celebrates the full breadth of talent on our stages and behind the scenes. It’s a privilege to stage work that theatrically explodes, surprises and challenges us to see the world anew. Bringing this range of exhilarating productions to audiences in the UK and around the globe is what the National Theatre is all about.” – Indhu Rubasingham, Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre

National Theatre new 2026 highlights

Headlines of the new National Theatre season:

  • Oscar winner Cate Blanchett in new play Electra / Person by Benedict Andrews, alongside Homeland’s Nina Hoss, and Ella Lily Hyland (Lyttelton theatre, dates to be announced).
  • Sandra Oh as The Misanthrope in Martin Crimp’s adaptation of the Molière classic directed by Indhu Rubasingham (Lyttelton theatre, 16 June – 1 August 2026)
  • War Horse returns to the National Theatre in 2026 ahead of its 20th anniversary (Olivier theatre, 16 May – 30 July 2026)
  • Screen star Letitia Wright (Black Panther) in Tracey Scott Wilson’s newsroom thriller The Story, alongside Aliyah Odoffin, Wilf Scolding, Ashley Thomas and Lorraine Toussaint, directed by Clint Dyer (Olivier theatre, 27 August – 24 October 2026).
  • The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is coming back to the National, starring Ian Charleson Award-winner Francesca Mills and directed by Robert Hastie (Dorfman theatre, dates to be announced).
  • The UK premiere of Portuguese play Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists by Tiago Rodrigues (Dorfman theatre, 19 – 26 September 2026)
  • The world premiere of new play Some Woman by Helen Edmundson (Queen Anne) (Dorfman theatre, dates to be confirmed).
  • A new staging of Cloud 9, Caryl Churchill‘s seminal play, directed by Dominic Cooke.

Now & Next at the National Theatre

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Main photo: National Theatre - New London season 2026. Cate Blanchett (Renato Campora), Letitia Wright (Photo Ekua King), Sandra Oh (Photo Emily Shur), Francesca Mills (Photo Phil Sharp)

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