The producers of the world’s biggest musical theatre fan convention Musical Con have unveiled the full programme for the popular event’s upcoming fifth anniversary celebration.
Due to open its doors to musical theatre lovers once again at ExCel London on 17 and 18 October, Musical Con 2026 will include a special Beetlejuice Spotlight featuring the show’s West End cast members David Hunter (Waitress, Adelphi Theatre), Chelsea Halfpenny (9 to 5: The Musical, Savoy Theatre) Hannah Norberg (Little Miss Sunshine, Second Stage Theatre) and Tom Xander (The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre), alongside Broadway’s original Barbara Maitland – Tony Award nominee Kerry Butler (Mean Girls, August Wilson Theatre; Little Shop of Horrors, August Wilson Theatre).
Butler will also take to the Main Stage for an Artist Spotlight, reflecting on her acclaimed Broadway career. Her credits include originating roles in Mean Girls and Beetlejuice, as well as becoming the first Audrey in Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors.
Olivier Award winner Layton Williams (Cabaret, Kit Kat Club; Jesus Christ Superstar, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) will return to Musical Con to take part in an Artist Spotlight celebrating his career, from Billy Elliot to his acclaimed turn as Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar and in his recent run in Titanique on Broadway.
The event will also include: original Broadway stars Anthony Rapp (RENT, Nederlander Theatre, Star Trek: Discovery, Paramount+) and Adam Pascal (RENT, Nederlander Theatre, School of Rock, Winter Garden Theatre) reuniting for a RENT 30th Anniversary Celebration; a Show Spotlight on Death Note The Musical (due to return to the Barbican next year); an exclusive look at new shows destined for the West End, including Mona Loser, Ceilidh and the critically acclaimed re-imagining of FAME!; a Starlight Express reunion including favourites Jeevan Braich and Jade Marvin; and a secret surprise cast reunion.
Returning fan favourites include the Cosplay Competition and Star of Musical Con, the Show Off Quiz hosted by The Producers star Trevor Ashley and an epic musical theatre singalong.
The anniversary celebrations will also feature spectacular opening and closing events, with performances from some of musical theatre’s current biggest stars Shanay Holmes (FAME, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Oliver!, Gielgud Theatre), Karis Anderson (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre), Tobias Turley (Hot Mess, The Other Palace, High School Musical, UK tour), Jess Folley (Les Misérables, Sondheim Theatre, Burlesque, Savoy Theatre), Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Kinky Boots, UK tour, Dreamgirls, Savoy Theatre), Joanna Woodward (The Producers, Garrick Theatre, The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical, Apollo Theatre), Miriam-Teak Lee (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre, Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre) and Desmonda Cathabel (Jesus Christ Superstar, London Palladium; Hadestown, Lyric Theatre).
Away from the Main Stage, attendees will be able to take part in a packed programme of workshops, masterclasses and panels. Highlights will include a vocal masterclass with former Elphaba Nikki Bentley (The Greatest Showman, Bristol Hippodrome, Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre), dance workshops led by Heathers choreographer Gary Lloyd, and a panel exploring the development of new musicals, led by presenter and performer Henry Calvert (Saturday Mash Up, CBBC, Beauty and the Geek, Discovery+).
Chloé Nelkin, founder and director of PR company Chloé Nelkin Consulting, will also be hosting a talk on ‘Demystifying Press, PR and the World of Reviews’ with Musical Theatre Review founder and editor Lisa Martland, Daz Gales (All That Dazzles) and Alun Hood (WhatsOnStage).
Commenting on the event, Musical Con co-founders Chris Steward and Shanay Holmes said: “Five years ago, we created Musical Con to give musical theatre fans a place that was completely theirs, and this anniversary weekend celebrates everything we love about this community. Whether you want to meet your musical theatre heroes, watch unique performances, sing in a masterclass, dance in a workshop or simply spend the weekend surrounded by people who love musicals as much as you do, this is your weekend. We can’t wait to celebrate five years of Musical Con with you.”
Over 10,000 musical theatre lovers from across the globe have attended each of the first four Musical Cons with attendees treated to hundreds of hours of programming with each event boasting a large number of special guest stars. Following a successful debut in 2022, the event has grown year on year to offer everything for the musical theatre fanatic.
Angela Thomas
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