MUSICAL CON reveals star-studded programme for fifth anniversary celebration
Photo credit: Supplied by Musical Con
Musical Con has unveiled its full 2026 programme, bringing together West End and Broadway stars, performers and thousands of musical theatre fans at ExCeL London on 17 & 18 October to celebrate its fifth anniversary.
The weekend will feature an exciting line-up of performances, reunions, workshops, masterclasses and exclusive panels. Highlights include a special Beetlejuice Spotlight featuring West End stars David Hunter, Chelsea Halfpenny, Hannah Norberg, and Tom Xander, alongside Tony Award nominee Kerry Butler, who originated the role of Barbara Maitland on Broadway.
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 will also return to Musical Con following his recent run in Titanique on Broadway. He will take part in an Artist Spotlight celebrating his career, from Billy Elliot to his acclaimed turn as Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Another major highlight will see original Broadway and screen stars Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal reunite for a RENT 30th Anniversary celebration. The original Mark Cohen and Roger Davis will perform live on the Main Stage and share stories from Jonathan Larson’s landmark musical, three decades after it first arrived on Broadway.
Other highlights include a Show Spotlight on Death Note The Musical, which returns to the Barbican next year due to phenomenal demand and an exclusive look at new shows destined for the West End, including Mona Loser, Ceilidh and the critically acclaimed re-imagining of FAME!. The weekend will also feature cast reunions and celebrations of some of musical theatre’s most loved shows. Starlight Express favourites Jeevan Braich and Jade Marvin will reunite with fellow cast members, while another secret cast reunion promises a surprise moment that could only happen at Musical Con.
Returning fan favourites include the iconic Cosplay Competition and Star of Musical Con. The ever-popular Show Off Quiz, hosted by The Producers star Trevor Ashley, will also return, alongside an epic musical theatre singalong.
The anniversary celebrations will also feature spectacular opening and closing events, with performances from some of musical theatre’s biggest stars. The line-up includes Shanay Holmes, Karis Anderson, Tobias Turley, Jess Folley, Tosh Wanogho-Maud, Joanna Woodward, Miriam-Teak Lee, and Desmonda Cathabel, among others.
Away from the Main Stage, attendees can take part in a packed programme of workshops, masterclasses and panels. Highlights include a vocal masterclass on perfecting your belt with former Elphaba Nikki Bentley, dance workshops led by Heathers choreographer Gary Lloyd, and a panel exploring the development of new musicals, led by presenter and performer Henry Calvert.
Musical Con co-founders Shanay Holmes and Chris Steward 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.”
