As both someone who writes about musical theatre, and someone who worked directly in the Australian performing arts industry – I have many incredible memories about the stories I have seen take place on stage. But there is one that I would truly call a “core memory”, the one which made me want to pivot from writer to active worker in the industry. That was the previous Brisbane season of Disney’s The Lion King the Musical, and getting to watch the face of my nan light up as she saw the animals walk right past her in the opening number – The Circle of Life – seeing her burst into tears with joy. While sadly that was the first and last time she got to see the musical, with her sadly passing last year, more audiences will get to enjoy the magic which is Disney’s The Lion King from next year.
Following their Australian tour of Beauty and the Beast the Musical, Disney Theatrical Group has announced that the production will return to Australia next year, to premiere in Sydney in April 2026 at the Capitol Theatre. First premiering in Australia at the Capitol Theatre in October 2003, the musical later returned for a second national tour in 2013, which also opened in Sydney. The 2026 season will mark a decade since its last Australian performances.
Anne Quart, Executive Producer at Disney Theatrical Group, and Andrew Flatt, Managing Director, highlighted the region’s rich theatrical talent, stating:
Every time we return to Australia, we are reminded of the region’s considerable talent pool, both on stage and off, and we can’t wait to gather a talented and exciting company for The Lion King. On behalf of Thomas Schumacher and all of us at DTG, we thank Stephen Found and Graeme Kearns at the Capitol Theatre and Australian audiences, who have always welcomed our shows so warmly. We’ll see you soon.
Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President & Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand, also expressed excitement about the musical’s return to Sydney:
We are thrilled to welcome The Lion King back to Sydney, the place where it all began in Australia over 20 years ago. The Walt Disney Company ANZ is proud to be one of only three places in the world where, alongside Broadway and The West End, we self-produce musicals, directly employing hundreds of Australian theatre professionals. Thank you to Destination NSW and the New South Wales Government for partnering with us once again to bring this iconic piece of theatre back for a new generation of fans to experience.
Additionally Destination NSW Acting CEO Karen Jones, whose organisation is supporting the Sydney season, emphasised the significance of The Lion King‘s return in contributing to Sydney’s cultural and tourism landscape:
Disney’s The Lion King is a global phenomenon that has captivated millions of theatre-goers around the world, and I’m thrilled it will make its roaring return to Sydney next year. Destination NSW is laser-focused on delivering a vibrant calendar of world-class cultural experiences for Sydney to achieve our ambition of making NSW the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific worth $91 billion by 2035. I look forward to welcoming Disney’s The Lion King back to Sydney and the thousands of visitors who will come to experience its majesty.
Ticket and casting details will be announced later this year, with fans encouraged to join the waitlist at the musical’s official website.
