Cate Blanchett to Lead Star-Studded National Theatre 2026 Season

The National Theatre has unveiled an ambitious and star driven 2026 programme, led by the return of Cate Blanchett to its stages in a bold new theatrical event.

The two time Oscar winner will headline Electra / Persona, a new production directed by Benedict Andrews, opening this August. Blanchett will star alongside Nina Hoss and Ella Lily Hyland in a striking fusion of Sophocles’ ancient tragedy Electra and Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 psychological classic Persona. The production bridges more than two thousand years of storytelling, combining myth and modern cinema into a single theatrical experience.

The season also marks the National Theatre debut of Sandra Oh, who will appear from June in a reimagined version of The Misanthrope. The refreshed adaptation of Moliere’s social satire casts Alceste as a woman and features Paul Chahidi and Abigail Cruttenden.

Further star power arrives with Letitia Wright, who joins Aliyah Odoffin, Wilf Scolding, Ashley Thomas, and Lorraine Toussaint in a revival of The Story. Directed by National Theatre associate artist Clint Dyer, previews begin in August.

In the spring, Lesley Manville will take the stage opposite Aidan Turner in a major revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Meanwhile, Francesca Mills will lead a brand new production of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, which will later tour nationally.

As it approaches its 20th anniversary, the internationally acclaimed War Horse will return to the National Theatre in May. Adapted by Nick Stafford from War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, the production has won more than 25 major awards, including a Tony Award for Best Play, and has been seen by over 8.8 million people worldwide.

The 2026 programme also includes the UK premiere of the Portuguese play Catarina And The Beauty Of Killing Fascists, which will run for one week only in September. Beyond its London stages, the National Theatre will expand its national and international footprint with two global transfers and two national tours. This includes Bacchae, adapted by Nima Taleghani, which will tour schools across England for nine weeks this autumn.

The organisation is also preparing to celebrate 60 years of activity on Broadway, with Hamlet and The Other Placetransferring to New York in 2026.

Indhu Rubasingham, director and co chief executive of the National Theatre, said the season brings together emerging voices and world renowned artists, many appearing at the venue for the first time. She described the programme as one that “theatrically explodes, surprises and challenges us to see the world anew”.

Executive director and co chief executive Kate Varah said the 2026 season reflects a renewed commitment to sharing stories locally, nationally and globally. She confirmed a major nationwide tour of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice and expressed pride in transferring new British work to Broadway as the organisation marks six decades in the United States.

Together, the 2026 line up reinforces the National Theatre’s focus on artistic ambition, accessibility, and international cultural exchange, positioning the institution for one of its most far reaching seasons to date.

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