Palladium pantomime breaks box office records as it confirms 2026 dates

The London Palladium pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, set new box office records for the venue.

According to producers, more than 137,000 people attended across the five-week run, surpassing the previous attendance record of 132,000 set by Robin Hood in 2024. The season also included the highest-grossing week for any show in the venue’s history.

Produced and directed by Michael Harrison for Crossroads Pantomimes, Sleeping Beauty starred Catherine Tate as Carabosse the Wicked Fairy alongside Julian Clary as King Julian. The cast also included Paul Zerdin as The Great Zerdini, Nigel Havers as Keeper of the Privy, Rob Madge as The Diva of Dreams, Jon Culshaw as King Julian’s Private Detective, Emily Lane as Princess Aurora and Amonik Melaco as Prince Peter.

The anniversary season marked ten consecutive years that Clary, Havers and Zerdin have appeared in pantomimes at the Palladium since the 2016 production of Cinderella.

Harrison said today: “Just when we thought the London Palladium pantomime couldn’t get any bigger it’s amazing to think that 137,000 people saw this year’s Sleeping Beauty. Every seat filled and all standing places gone! A huge thank you to our audiences who make our annual spectacular part of their Christmas every year.

“We look forward to announcing the 2026 production in the coming months but we are already hard at work creating what we hope will be the most spectacular and memorable one yet!”

The creative team for the production featured set designs by Mark Walters, costume designs by Hugh Durrant, Teresa Nalton and Mike Coltman, choreography by Karen Bruce, visual special effects by The Twins FX, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Matt Peploe and composition and orchestrations by Gary Hind.

The London Palladium pantomime welcomed its one millionth audience member in 2024 and continues as an annual fixture at the venue. While the title of the next production has yet to be confirmed, dates for this year’s pantomime have now been announced, with performances scheduled to run from 5 December to 10 January 2027.