Upcoming Musicals and Theater Performances Set to Captivate Melbourne in 2025 and 2026
Melbourne, the cultural hub of Australia, is set to host a plethora of theatre shows, musicals, and live entertainment experiences in 2025 and 2026. Here's a roundup of some of the most anticipated productions that are gracing the city's major venues.
Musicals
- Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, an enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy, will play at the Southbank Theatre from 14 November to 19 December 2025.
- Anastasia The Broadway Musical is making its Australian debut, playing at the Regent Theatre from 20 December 2025 to 1 February 2026.
- CATS, Andrew Lloyd Webber's sparkling feline musical, will take over Hamer Hall from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical, In The Heights, about a tight-knit ethnic community in Washington Heights, New York City, is playing at the Comedy Theatre until 6 September 2025.
- The rock musical Hair will run from October 25 to November 23, 2025, at the Athenaeum Theatre.
- The classic musical Annie is currently playing at the Princess Theatre until November 8, 2025, with additional holiday season shows in December 2025.
- Other musicals like Footloose, The Play That Goes Wrong, and HAIR are scheduled in 2025 at various venues.
Plays
- The Melbourne Theatre Company's adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's novel Rebecca is a haunting Gothic romance playing at an undisclosed theatre.
- The Talented Mr Ripley, an adaptation from Patricia Highsmith's psychological thriller novel, is playing at the Playhouse Theatre from 28 October to 23 November 2025.
- The play Kimberley Akimbo: A Musical is about a girl with a genetic rarity that means she ages at four times the rate of everyone else. It won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical on Broadway, and is playing at the Playhouse Theatre until 30 August 2025.
Opera
Opera Australia has several offerings, including The Barber of Seville, playing at the Regent Theatre from October 31 to November 5, 2025. In 2026, Opera Australia has multiple offerings, including a 70th Anniversary Gala on May 17 and Gilbert & Sullivan: A Musical Celebration from May 22-24, plus Encore! Songs from the Musicals May 28-30, all at the Regent Theatre.
Ballet
The Australian Ballet Company is back with a new season of emotional and captivating performances, with shows like Nijinsky, Carmen, Manon and Prism scheduled for various dates and locations in 2025.
For the latest and complete listings, checking official ticket outlets like Ticketek, Ticketmaster, or venue websites closer to performance dates is recommended. RACV Members can enjoy benefits to shows across Melbourne, including exclusive offers, upgrades, and special experiences, through their partnership with Ticketek and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. RACV Members can also save on movie tickets year-round by using the RACV App.
Melbourne's rich music scene and prominent venues suggest active scheduling for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, though specific performances for 2025 and 2026 have not been confirmed. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has a series of performances planned for various locations and dates in 2025.
In the story of Carmen, a smouldering, passionate story of a woman who won't give up her freedom, a man who won't give up his woman, the housekeeper Mrs Danvers is determined to undermine the new Mrs de Winter. The play's story revolves around a young woman who marries the wealthy widower Maxim de Winter and moves to his estate Manderley, where she is confronted by the mysterious circumstances of Maxim's first wife Rebecca.
Melbourne is one of the most famous theatre cities in the world, and with a lineup like this, it's easy to see why. Don't miss out on the opportunity to immerse yourself in the magic of live theatre and music.
- In 2025, catch Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical, In The Heights, an engaging production about a tight-knit ethnic community, at the Comedy Theatre, offering a perfect blend of lifestyle and entertainment.
- After a successful Broadway run, the award-winning Kimberley Akimbo: A Musical will be performed in Melbourne's Playhouse Theatre, promising a unique blend of entertainment and thought-provoking storytelling.
