National Theatre Unveils Star-Studded 2026 Season Led by Hollywood Icons
The National Theatre has announced its complete programming slate for 2026, marking a significant shift under the new artistic leadership of Indhu Rubasingham. Following her official appointment in autumn 2025, Rubasingham's inaugural full season promises to deliver both artistic ambition and commercial appeal with a roster of internationally acclaimed performers.
Hollywood Powerhouses Take Centre Stage
The season's headline attraction sees Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett returning to the National Theatre seven years after her challenging performance in When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other. Blanchett will reunite with her Tár co-star Nina Hoss in Benedict Andrews' ambitious adaptation Electra/Persona, which creatively merges Sophocles' Greek tragedy with Ingmar Bergman's cinematic masterpiece. This production will feature an original score by Oscar-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir and will occupy the prestigious Lyttelton Theatre from August 2026.
Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh makes her long-awaited UK stage debut in Rubasingham's own production of Molière's The Misanthrope, running from June 16th to August 1st in the Lyttelton Theatre. This revival features Martin Crimp's celebrated 1996 adaptation and co-stars established British theatre actors Paul Chahidi and Abigail Cruttenden.
Black Panther star Letitia Wright completes the trio of Hollywood headliners with her National Theatre debut in Tracey Scott Wilson's gripping newsroom drama The Story. Directed by former NT deputy artistic director Clint Dyer, this production will run from August 27th to October 24th, promising to be one of the season's major theatrical events.
Major Revivals and New Productions
Beyond the star-led productions, the 2026 season features several significant revivals and new works across the National Theatre's three auditoriums. The Olivier Theatre will welcome back the beloved production of War Horse for its first return engagement in nearly two decades, running from May 16th to July 30th.
Later in the year, Dominic Cooke will direct a major revival of Caryl Churchill's groundbreaking play Cloud 9 in the Lyttelton Theatre, while the Olivier will host a new stage adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book by acclaimed playwright Anupama Chandrasekhar. Both productions are scheduled for late autumn and Christmas periods, though exact dates remain to be confirmed.
Dorfman Theatre's Intimate Programme
The more intimate Dorfman Theatre presents a diverse programme including Portuguese director Tiago Rodrigues' politically charged work Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists, which will receive a limited run from September 19th to 26th. This will be followed by Robert Hastie's revival of Jim Cartwright's modern classic The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, featuring rising star Francesca Mills in the title role.
The Dorfman season concludes with two new plays: Helen Edmundson's Some Women and Carmen Nasr's Arab Spring drama Samira, both scheduled for later in the year with specific dates to be announced.
Ticket Information and Availability
Tickets for The Misanthrope, War Horse and The Story will go on general sale on Thursday February 12th at 10am. All other productions in the 2026 season will have their tickets released later in the year, with the National Theatre expected to announce further casting details as rehearsals commence.
This ambitious programming represents Rubasingham's vision for the National Theatre's future, balancing international star power with artistic innovation and commitment to both classic revivals and contemporary new writing. The 2026 season positions the institution as a global leader in theatrical production while maintaining its commitment to diverse storytelling and audience engagement.
