Landmarks around the world have been illuminated in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, with major displays taking place in London, Shanghai, Cologne and New York.
The global tribute saw the musical’s iconic mask projected across central London, while large-scale light installations transformed buildings and city landmarks around the world to mark four decades of one of the most successful musicals ever staged.
Since opening in London on 9 October 1986, The Phantom of the Opera has been seen by more than 160 million people in 229 cities across 54 territories and 23 languages. The production has generated an estimated $7.5 billion at the global box office, cementing its status as one of the biggest entertainment properties of all time.
The celebrations coincided with a special 40th anniversary gala performance at His Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October. The event brought together members of the current company alongside special guest performers, including original stars Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, at the show’s original London home.
The anniversary cast and gala performance have also been filmed for a global cinema release planned for 2027.
In London, projections of the Phantom mask appeared at locations including areas near St Paul’s Cathedral, Oxford Street, Hammersmith Bridge and The Shard.
Shanghai marked the anniversary with a dedicated light show on a building beside Suzhou Creek, where a mask emerged from behind a curtain as petals fell, inspired by the world of the Opéra Populaire.
In Cologne, the roof of the Musical Dome became the canvas for a large-scale Phantom mask projection, celebrating the venue’s future role as the musical’s German home.
Meanwhile, in New York, One Times Square illuminated the famous New Year’s Eve Ball in red, while Edge and Vessel at Hudson Yards also joined the global tribute by lighting up their structures in the same colour.
The anniversary festivities form part of a wider programme of celebrations that also includes a remixed and remastered edition of the original London cast recording, a new behind-the-scenes book chronicling the show’s history, and a forthcoming global cinema release of the gala performance.
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