Islington Christmas Shows 2026

Guests gather at St Giles Cripplegate church for an evening of Christmas carols, live music, readings, and a festive raffle. Admission includes a drinks reception offering mulled wine and mince pies, with proceeds supporting Maggie's cancer care services.

Audiences follow young Clara as she is swept into an enchanted world where toys come to life, from a battle between toy soldiers and the Mouse King to the glittering Kingdom of Sweets. The staging features Julia Trevelyan Oman's period...

Audiences watch the classic fairytale of Cinderella brought to life with extravagant costumes, dazzling special effects, and riotous West End pantomime humour. Comedy legends Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reunite as the Ugly Sisters, joined by Julian Clary as the...

Audiences follow Clara from Edwardian London to a battle with the Rat King, a glistening ice realm, and the Land of Sweets & Delights. The production showcases sweet-themed divertissements and a grand celebration hosted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Dancers...

Audiences experience Jack Thorne's stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic story directed by Matthew Warchus and starring Giles Terera as Ebenezer Scrooge. The immersive in-the-round production fills the auditorium with music, mince pies, and festive atmosphere. Live musicians accompany the...

Audiences follow restless maverick Geppetto and his magical wooden puppet, Pinocchio, as they embark on an adventure to find family and explore what it means to be human. The production fills the open playhouse with original live music, inventive puppetry,...

Attendees experience a festive concert conducted by Sir John Rutter himself. The performance showcases Rutter's own works and arrangements, seasonal symphonic classics, and sing-along carols. On stage, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is joined by The Bach Choir and soprano Lucy...

Visitors experience a festive concert featuring carols old and new, including traditional seasonal favourites to sing along with. The 200-strong Royal Choral Society is accompanied on stage by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the British Imperial Military Band. The event...

Organist of the Royal Albert Hall Anna Lapwood presents an evening of holiday music and festivities. The performance features new arrangements of Christmas classics alongside music from beloved films of recent decades. She is accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert...

Jamie Cullum takes the stage with his big band and guest musicians Kansas Smitty’s for a seasonal celebration. The performance showcases standout tracks from The Pianoman at Christmas, moving from intimate ballads to upbeat swing arrangements. Audiences can also look...

Visitors experience an atmospheric candlelit service opening with the choir singing Silent Night. The service features a pattern of traditional lessons interspersed with popular carols and choral Christmas motets performed by the Cathedral Choir.

Visitors can enjoy an afternoon of musical theatre hits and Christmas classics presented by Magic Radio. Hosted by comedian Tom Allen, the star-studded show features performances by Zoe Birkett, Ben Forster, and Marisha Wallace. Special guests Alfie Boe and Sydnie...

Celebrate the festive season with an evening of live music, spoken word, and celebrity guest appearances. Audience members can sing along to favourite carols and listen to Christmas readings. The concert features performances by the International Staff Band, the International...

Audiences step into Victorian London for a festive murder mystery where West End performers suddenly drop dead mid-scene. Sherlock Holmes uncovers a sinister connection to The Twelve Days of Christmas and must race against time to catch the killer before...

Guests can enjoy a joyful big band performance featuring Rick Astley celebrating his passion for the golden age of swing. The concert features roaring big band sounds, classic songs, and festive favourites.

Families can enjoy an uplifting concert blending soul, gospel, and Motown tunes with festive favourites like 'Winter Wonderland' and 'Jingle Bells'. Designed to be baby-friendly, the performance invites children, parents, and grandparents to sing and clap along to timeless carols...

Families can sing and dance along to festive showtunes from hit musicals and beloved holiday films, performed by West End singers. The performance includes songs from Elf, White Christmas, The Snowman, and Frozen. The interactive concert also features bubbles, bells,...

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates the holiday season with festive orchestral delights, blazing brass fanfares, and crooning under the Christmas tree. Conductor Stephen Bell and vocalists Katie Birtill and Oliver Tompsett present a programme of seasonal chart-toppers both old and...

Visitors experience a concert of uplifting carols and cherished seasonal classics staged in the gentle glow of candlelight. The performance features the Mozart Festival Orchestra under conductor Steven Devine, soprano Harriet Eyley, and the choir Coro Spezzato. The programme includes...

The Kingdom Choir takes the stage to perform beloved Christmas classics infused with their signature warmth, energy, and community spirit. Directed by founder and conductor Karen Gibson MBE, the performance invites audiences to join in an uplifting celebration featuring clapping,...

Visitors gather inside the Cathedral for bite-sized festive services filled with communal carol singing. The services feature performances from various local choirs, including the Cathedral Youth Choir and Lay Clerks. It provides a welcoming musical pause during the Christmas season.

Audiences experience an irreverent cabaret-style variety show combining dance, drag, mime, lip-sync, and satire. The performance features an eccentric nativity cast including the Virgin Mary, Father Christmas, Judy Garland, and Melania Trump alongside show tunes and quick costume changes. The...

The City of London Choir joins brass and percussion musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a joyful programme of traditional carols and contemporary classics. Conducted by Daniel Hyde with Andrew Lumsden on the organ, the performance features works by...

Conducted by Harry Christophers, choral ensemble The Sixteen and harpist Joy Smith present Benjamin Britten's festive compendium alongside seasonal works spanning from the medieval era to the present day. The musical journey features Renaissance motets by Palestrina and Victoria, traditional...

Audiences experience a seasonal concert performed by the 30-piece Down for the Count Swing Orchestra, featuring a big band accompanied by strings. Conductor and compère Mike Paul-Smith leads top vocalists and instrumentalists through stories and arrangements of vintage holiday and...

Visitors enter an interactive theatrical world to help Clumsy the Elf find the lost code to the Christmas Safe. Audiences solve clues alongside the performers, dance the Number Rumber, and tackle challenges before time runs out. The vibrant and musical...

Audiences can enjoy a family-friendly holiday concert featuring the 50-piece Basement Orchestra alongside a choir. The performance includes classical Yuletide favourites, popular festive hits, and singalong carols. Guests also have the option to reserve a table for lunch in the...

Santa's elves team up with Mrs Claus and the audience to save Christmas through singing, dancing, magic, silliness, and a surprise guest. Following the performance, children can meet the elves and Mrs Claus, receive a signed certificate, and search for...

Children's author and poet Michael Rosen reads from his favourite stories in a live performance. Following the show, audiences can browse a book stall and take part in a book signing with Michael.

The English Chamber Choir performs a selection of classic and contemporary Christmas choral works accompanied on the organ by Richard Hills. Under the direction of conductor Rufus Frowde, the programme includes carols arranged by John Rutter, Jonathan Rathbone, and Peter...

The London Mozart Players Brass Ensemble and choirs perform a holiday repertoire spanning classic carols, gospel, and pop anthems. Audiences are encouraged to join the singing alongside a dedicated chorus and the hall's organ. The show features immersive lighting, seasonal...

Audiences experience a celebratory programme of Viennese orchestral and vocal masterworks performed by chamber ensemble London Concertante and soprano Sofia Kirwan-Baez. The concert highlights famous waltzes and polkas by Johann Strauss II, including The Blue Danube, alongside Shostakovich's Waltz No....

The annual concert features musical performances by the I Dodici Choir and seasonal readings from guest speakers. Guests learn about Anthony Nolan's work matching stem cell donors with patients in need of transplants. The evening concludes with a serving of...

Devised by Gabrieli Artistic Director Paul McCreesh, this Christmas oratorio retells the nativity story using adapted movements from Handel's oratorios alongside highlights from Messiah. Gabrieli’s full Baroque orchestra and professional singers are joined by schools and youth choirs from across...

Fronted by singer Joanna Eden and featuring the Chris Ingham Quartet, this festive entertainment showcases jazzy holiday favourites made famous by stars like Ella, Eartha, Frank, Doris, Dean, and Bing. Audiences can enjoy an evening rich with swing, sophistication, and...

Visitors can experience a screening of the beloved 1982 animated film The Snowman accompanied by a live orchestra. The performance features the movie's lyrical soundtrack, including the festive classic 'Walking in the Air'. Audiences will also hear a selection of...

The Landmark Singers unite with the woodwind, brass, and percussion of the Barnes Concert Band for a collaborative Christmas celebration. Both community ensembles showcase individual repertoires ranging from classical and folk to big band and festive tunes before coming together...

Giacomo Smith’s Big Band brings Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's celebrated jazz adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite to life. Audiences will hear bombastic full-band arrangements such as 'Peanut Briddle Brigade' alongside sparser selections like 'Sugar Rum Cherry' and 'Chinoiserie'. The...

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rebecca Ferguson celebrates 15 years of her career with an intimate festive concert. Accompanied by pianist Tom Seals, she delivers soulful performances of signature songs including 'Glitter & Gold', 'Nothing's Real but Love', and 'Shoulder to Shoulder', along...

Led by Professor Raymond Holden, this musical programme comprises two lectures on seasonal music traditions. The first talk traces the evolution of Christmas music from fourth-century Roman chants to modern screen and liturgical settings using sound recordings and film clips....

Classical soprano Nadia Eide performs alongside special guests in a festive concert celebrating songs from stage and screen. The repertoire features music from Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, Matilda, Home Alone, and The Wizard of Oz. The...

The Choir of Merton College, Oxford, collaborates with ensemble Florilegium and harpist Cecily Beer for an evening of festive British choral music. Conducted by Benjamin Nicholas, the performance celebrates the works of Benjamin Britten and Henry Purcell, featuring Britten's A...

Families can sing and dance along to seasonal showtunes from classic musicals and popular Christmas movies, all performed by West End singers. The interactive performance features songs from hits like Elf, White Christmas, The Snowman, and Frozen. Little ones and...

This one-hour performance features the Covent Garden Carollers vocal quartet presenting Christmas music from Charles Dickens's era alongside readings from 'A Christmas Carol' by Don Gallagher. Attendees can sing along to traditional carols such as 'O Come! All ye Faithful'...

The concert features carols and choral arrangements by Sir John Rutter, including original works such as 'The Shepherd's Pipe Carol' and 'All bells in paradise', alongside classics like 'O holy night' and 'Silent night'. Music is performed by The L’Inviti...

The inclusive 'R' Voices choir takes the stage with up to 80 voices performing in unison. Audience members are invited to sing along to a high-energy set packed with iconic anthems spanning generations.

Visitors join pianist Tom Carradine for an interactive family singalong filled with festive medleys and holiday songs. The performance features bubbles and puppets designed to entertain audiences of all generations. Attendees can also stay after the show to enjoy seating...

Professional choristers perform a candle-lit carol concert inside the historic church. The performance is followed by mulled wine and mince pies served in the cloisters. All proceeds benefit the Victoria Cohen Eye Cancer Charitable Trust.

The Piccadilly Christmas Singers perform a selection of traditional Christmas carols and festive arrangements. The concert takes place in a candlelit setting inside the historic church of St Mary le Strand.

Music historian Jeremy Summerly traces the historical development of the Christmas carol through the ages. The presentation includes live vocal performances by a quartet of singers from the Special Service Choir of Westminster Abbey.

Actor Mat Jones delivers a solo theatrical presentation of the holiday classic using Charles Dickens' own unaltered reading script. Performed on a bare stage without modern adaptations, the production relies solely on voice to depict Ebenezer Scrooge, the Cratchit family,...

Audience members experience Schubert's song cycle Winterreise staged in the round, with the musicians performing in the centre of the hall surrounded by listeners. Baritone Roderick Williams and pianist Paul Cibis bring the story of a heartbroken wanderer's journey through...

Tribute artist Scarlett Black performs a live set honoring Amy Winehouse, backed by the seven-piece Wineglass Band. The concert features renditions of classic tracks including Rehab, Valerie, Back to Black, and Love Is A Losing Game.

Guests watch a screening of the holiday film inside the hotel's cinema. Freshly prepared food and drinks are served during the event.

Families can sing and clap along to festive favourites, soul and Motown hits, gospel tunes, and nursery rhymes accompanied by bubbles. The uplifting performance features the vocal talents of the CK Gospel Choir in a baby-friendly setting. The concert is...

Live musicians, strings, and vocalists unite to deliver festive favourites alongside major pop, R&B, and soul anthems. Audience members can sing along to feel-good party classics and seasonal hits reimagined live in a celebratory atmosphere.

Join vocal group ManSong for an uplifting end-of-term Christmas concert celebrating the close of the year. The ensemble fills the venue with a varied programme of choral music and festive warmth. Visitors can settle in for a relaxed evening hearing...

Families sing and dance along to festive showtunes from hit musicals and beloved holiday films such as Elf, White Christmas, The Snowman, and Frozen. The performance features West End singers alongside interactive elements including bubbles, bells, puppetry, and flying babies....

Held under the vaulted ceilings of the candlelit cathedral, this festive concert showcases choral music, readings, and carols for both choir and audience. At the heart of the programme, the Guildford Cathedral Choir performs Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols...

The Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival returns to the Barbican, filling the hall with festive magic. This spectacular celebration features a lineup of enchanting classical music performances, perfect for all ages. From joyous carol singalongs to sublime performances by King's College...

Immerse yourself in the festive spirit at St Paul's Cathedral this Advent and Christmas. They are hosting a series of enchanting services and concerts, including Handel's Messiah and a special 'Celebration of Christmas' featuring celebrity readers and carols for all...

Immerse yourself in the festive spirit at the Sinfonia Smith Square Christmas Festival. This enchanting event features a dazzling lineup of renowned orchestras, choirs, and soloists presenting a rich tapestry of holiday music. From classical Christmas carols to spectacular renditions...

Step into the enchanting world of Hansel and Gretel at Shakespeare's Globe. This modern re-telling of the classic fairy tale by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage features charming twists and funny songs, making it a delightful experience for the whole family....