British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT) has announced the return of its annual celebration of new musicals, BYMT Presents ’26, which will take place at Woolwich Works on Sunday 6 December.
The one-night event reunites young performers and musicians from across BYMT’s 2026 season to perform standout numbers from premieres staged at venues including Greenwich Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome and Hull Truck Theatre.
Featuring performers aged 11 to 21, BYMT Presents ’26 will showcase new musical theatre writing, emerging talent and highlights from productions that are at the beginning of their development journeys.
The evening will also include the announcement of the 2026 New Music Theatre Award (NMTA), which supports writers through development and dramaturgical assistance ahead of a full production in BYMT’s 2027 season.
Previous and current NMTA-recognised artists include Will Jackson and Elinor Peregrin (Sea Change), Eden Tredwell (The Glamification of Loki), Bethany Tennick and Iona Ramsay (Welcome to Serene), and Martha Geelan and Jack Godfrey (Babies).
Across its 2026 season, BYMT worked with more than 350 young performers, alongside 25 writers and composers, over 100 production creatives and 24 training opportunities for future theatre-makers.
Emily Gray, Creative Director, BYMT, said: “BYMT Presents ’26 is a wonderful opportunity to bring together our community of young performers, musicians, creatives, families, supporters and industry friends to celebrate another extraordinary year of new musicals. As we return to Woolwich Works for a second year, we’ll share some of the standout moments from our productions and development camps and look ahead to the stories our Young Company Panel are passionate about sharing in 2027.
“The skill, commitment and creativity of our Young Company continues to inspire me and their work deserves to be seen and celebrated. Throughout the year, they have embraced ambitious new stories and helped bring brand-new musicals to life. We are proud to champion exceptional emerging and established writers and hope this will be a joyful evening that reminds us why investing in new stories, new voices and the next generation of theatre-makers matters so much.”
Alex, a member of the BYMT Young Company Panel, said: “As a young company member, the most important part of BYMT Presents ‘26 for me is not only celebrating the amazing work of BYMT this season, but returning to the family you lived with: the forty people who supported you and you laughed with as you put together a whole musical in less than two weeks.
“Performing one last time with my cast is such a privilege – a privilege which I couldn’t be more excited for – and a beautiful, heartfelt love letter and farewell to these shows as they go on to their next stages beyond BYMT.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
