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Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London has announced its new season for summer 2026.

Regent’s Park’s Artistic Director Drew McOnie‘s second season at the outdoor venue includes three premieres, including a new mystery based on Sherlock Holmes, a dance piece built around The Four Seasons, and new children’s show Anansi the Spider.

Already announced is a brand new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s blockbuster musical CATS, which plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre for 7 weeks only from 25 July to 12 September 2026. The show then tours the UK.

Sherlock Holmes - Regent's Park Theatre London (2026)

Sherlock Holmes coming to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2026

Highlights of the 2026 season

  • The world premiere of a new mystery thriller, Sherlock Holmes (2 May to 6 June 2026), by Joel Horwood and directed by Sean Holmes. The show will star Joshua James (Cyrano) as Sherlock Holmes.
  • Vivaldi’s masterpiece The Four Seasons is reimagined in a new dance work A Life in Four Seasons (11 to 14 June 2026), created by Tinuke Craig, with choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento and a score by DJ Walde.
  • Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (20 June to 18 July 2026) is back in the magical setting of Regent’s Park this year, in a new production directed by Atri Banerjee, and featuring music by Maimuna Memon.
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS (25 July to 12 September 2026) will dominate the summer season. Directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie (Jesus Christ Superstar, Brigadoon), the show’s score by Andrew Lloyd Webber is filled with well-known musical theatre hits including Old Deuteronomy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, Jellicle Ball and Memory.
  • A show for younger audiences 4+, Anansi the Spider (15 August to 6 September 2026) will play on the Theatre Lawn at the venue, in a co-production with the Unicorn Theatre. The show is written by Justin Audibert and directed by Robin Belfield, and is currently touring in the UK.

Quick Take: While everyone has been buzzing about the return of CATS to London, today’s full season reveal for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre proves there’s still plenty of intrigue, even if Lloyd Webber’s blockbuster dominates the season. Artistic Director Drew McOnie’s second season is a sophisticated mix of world premieres and reimagined classics, not least a world-premiere Sherlock Holmes, and a continued drive to include dance in the programme.

“I’m hugely excited to announce the full 2026 season and to share the brilliant shows that will be joining our new production of CATS this summer. I can’t wait to work with these talented creative teams and see their visions come to life on our beautiful open air theatre stage.” – Drew McOnie, Artistic Director

CATS to play Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2026

CATS to play Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2026

More about CATS

The production of CATS marks the third Andrew Lloyd Webber show produced by Regent’s Park in the last decade following their Olivier-Award winning revival of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2016, 2017 and 2020 – and which is coming to the London Palladium this summer, and Jamie Lloyd’s production of Evita in 2019.

Quick look: Regent’s Park Summer Season

  • Theatre: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London
  • Booking dates: 2 May to 12 September 2026
  • Sherlock Holmes: 2 May to 6 June 2026 (Book Sherlock Holmes tickets)
  • A Life in Four Seasons: 11 to 14 June 2026 (Book tickets)
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream: 20 June to 18 July 2026 (Book tickets)
  • CATS: 25 July to 12 September 2026 (Book CATS tickets)
  • Anansi the Spider: 15 August to 6 September 2026
CATS

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London

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CATS
Main photo: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre 2026. Sherlock Holmes, CATS, Anansi The Spider

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