NEWS - BARNUM THE MUSICAL ANNOUNCES 2026 UK TOUR
- Sarah Monaghan
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
🎪 Barnum The Musical Comes to Manchester – Lee Mead Stars in Dazzling 2026 UK Tour
Step right up! The incredible Broadway musical Barnum is heading to Manchester’s Palace Theatre from 10–14 February 2026 – and it promises to be the greatest show on earth.
Starring Lee Mead as legendary showman P.T. Barnum, this jaw-dropping new Barnum UK Tour features a live cast of actor-musicians, circus performers, and show-stopping musical numbers.
🎟️ Tickets go on sale Friday 20 June 2025 – don’t miss your chance to join the circus!
🎩 The Showman Returns
Barnum is the true story of a man who transformed spectacle into entertainment – the larger-than-life P.T. Barnum. Alongside his wife Charity, he builds a dazzling career filled with imagination, ambition, and heart.
This 2026 production from Bill Kenwright Ltd, based on the acclaimed Watermill Theatre staging, includes:
A cast of over 20 actor-musicians playing 150 instruments
Breathtaking circus acts
Direction by Jonathan O’Boyle
Choreography by Oti Mabuse
🌟 Star Casting – Lee Mead as Barnum
Acclaimed stage performer and TV favourite Lee Mead leads the cast. Known for winning Any Dream Will Do and starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wicked and Legally Blonde, Mead will even take on the famous tightrope walk across the stage!
🎶 Classic Songs & Musical Magic
With music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart, and book by Mark Bramble, Barnum is packed with memorable numbers, including:
Come Follow the Band
Join the Circus
The Colours of My Life
Love Makes Such Fools of Us All
📍 Manchester Dates & Booking Info
📅 When: 10–14 February 2026
📍 Where: Palace Theatre Manchester
🎟️ Tickets: On sale from 20 June 2025
🗓️ 2026 Barnum UK Tour Dates (Selected)
30 Jan – 7 Feb – Windsor Theatre Royal
24 – 28 Feb – York Grand Opera House
3 – 7 Mar – Brighton Theatre Royal
17 – 21 Mar – Cardiff Millennium Centre
24 – 28 Mar – Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
21 – 25 Apr – Birmingham Hippodrome
More venues and casting to be announced soon.
✨ Why You Shouldn't Miss It
With its mix of heart, humour, high-wire spectacle and musical magic, Barnum The Musical is set to be one of 2026’s most exciting theatre events. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the story, this is a show for the whole family.
🎪 “Roll up, roll up – Barnum is back, and it’s bolder than ever!”
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