The UK Musical Theatre Conference will return on Wednesday 15 April 2026, marking its most ambitious year yet as it moves to Soho Theatre Walthamstow for the first time.
The event will bring together a wide range of industry figures to explore the most pressing issues and opportunities facing musical theatre today.
This year’s programme will feature panels, presentations and case studies across an array of topics. Areas of focus include making musicals for global audiences, the evolution of dance in new work, audience trend analysis, the role of musical theatre in the climate crisis, creative visibility in digital spaces, Black and Global Majority perspectives, AI’s impact on the sector, and approaches to embedding accessibility in new musical development.
The conference is co-produced by Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments, building on the strong momentum of the 2024 edition at the Royal Court Theatre.
A broad group of contributors has been confirmed, including Nancy Medina, Andrew Panton, Matt Eames, Michèle Taylor, Rafia Hussain, David Brownlee, Ameena Hamid, Emily Lunnon, Sarah K. Whitfield, Dan Rebellato, Sally Ann Gritton, Lesley Gannon, Caitlyn Burt, Amir Shoenfeld and Alex Bulmer.
Following the success of the Provocations: New ideas for a new era? session in 2024, the 2026 conference will expand this area with three new provocations followed by breakout discussions designed to support cross-sector collaboration.
This year also brings a significant increase in free and reduced rate tickets for students and freelancers, reflecting a commitment to widening access. Further accessibility measures include live captioning for all sessions and a dedicated quiet space.
Sponsors for the 2026 edition include Birmingham Hippodrome, Bill Kenwright Limited, Concord Theatricals, Grindrod Burton Casting, James Steel Productions, John Good, Kenny Wax Ltd, Music Theatre International (MTI) and Theatrical Rights Worldwide / TRW Productions.
James Hadley, Executive Director of Musical Theatre Network, said: “This year’s conference arrives at a pivotal moment for our sector. Musical theatre continues to evolve at extraordinary pace, and our 2026 programme reflects the breadth of innovation, ambition and creative resilience across the UK. We’re delighted to be welcoming such an inspiring range of speakers, and to be expanding our bursary and lower cost ticket provision so more freelancers than ever can be part of these essential conversations.”
Zaylie-Dawn Wilson, Executive Director of Mercury Musical Developments, added: “The UKMT Conference has always been a place for connection, provocation and shared vision. The issues we’re spotlighting this year — from global pathways for new work to the visibility of marginalised creatives — speak directly to the future we want to build for musical theatre. We’re thrilled to be returning with a richer programme, broader representation, and greater access for freelancers.”
More information can be found here.
