Harry Potter and the Cursed Child London 2026: The 10th Anniversary Brings Something New

If you have been meaning to see 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' in London, 2026 gives you two very different reasons to catch the show.

The original two-part production is celebrating its 10th anniversary at the Palace Theatre this summer, but it will close permanently on September 20, 2026. From October 9, the story returns in a completely reimagined one-part version designed to run for under three hours.

You can see the original two-part production that premiered in London in 2016 and has collected a record nine Olivier Awards, or you can wait for the new version, which tells the same story in a single performance.

If you want to experience the production in the format that made theatre history, the deadline is September 20, 2026. If you prefer a shorter evening with one ticket and one performance, the new production begins on October 9, 2026.

Here is everything you need to know about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre in 2026.

The 10th Anniversary of the play

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened at London's Palace Theatre on July 30, 2016. Ten years later, the original production is reaching the end of its first chapter.

Over the decade, more than 2.5 million people have seen the production at the Palace Theatre. A total of 276 actors have performed in the West End production, with 45 making their professional stage debuts.

Across the two parts, the London production has delivered 1,762 performances and more than 8,300 hours of stage time.

The show has also become one of the most decorated plays in theatre history, with 60 major theatre honours, including six Tony Awards, and nine Olivier Awards wins that remain a record for a play.

The production has now been seen by more than 14 million people worldwide, evidence that the 'Cursed Child' was not simply another Harry Potter spin-off. It became a major stage production in its own right and helped introduce a new generation of people to live theatre.

The 10th anniversary therefore marks both a celebration and a turning point.

What is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child about?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is set 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Harry is now an adult, working at the Ministry of Magic and raising a family with Ginny. His younger son, Albus, is about to begin his own journey at Hogwarts.

Albus does not find Hogwarts easy. He struggles with the expectations that come with being Harry Potter's son and forms an unlikely friendship with Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Draco Malfoy.

Their friendship becomes the starting point for a dangerous adventure involving the past, time travel and the consequences of trying to change history.

The story explores themes that are different from the original Harry Potter books. It looks at parenthood, family relationships, reputation, legacy and the pressure of living up to somebody else's achievements.

At the centre of it is the relationship between Harry and Albus.

This play shifts the focus from the wizardly world to ask the question: what happens when a famous parent and his child struggle to understand each other?

Who created Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?

The production was created by a major theatre team with strong links to London's contemporary stage scene.

Jack Thorne wrote the play, based on an original story created by J.K. Rowling, Thorne and director John Tiffany. Tiffany also directs the production.

The wider creative team includes Steven Hoggett as movement director, Christine Jones for the original set design, Katrina Lindsay for costumes, Imogen Heap for music, Neil Austin for lighting, Gareth Fry for sound and Jamie Harrison for illusions and magic.

The combination of movement, lighting, sound and stage illusion is a major part of what makes the production different from simply watching a conventional play. The magic is not added around the story.

It is built into the storytelling itself.

The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child London Cast

The current West End company includes:

• David Ricardo-Pearce as Harry Potter
• Claire Lams as Ginny Potter
• Joshua Sullivan as Albus Potter
• Thomas Aldridge as Ron Weasley
• Naana Agyei-Ampadu as Hermione Granger
• Tamia-Renée Alexandra as Rose Granger-Weasley
• Oliver Boot as Draco Malfoy
• Kai Spackman as Scorpius Malfoy

This cast is particularly relevant if you are planning to see the original production before it closes, as the current company is scheduled for the remaining run leading up to September.

For the one part production, the Palace Theatre has also confirmed that David Ricardo-Pearce, Claire Lams, Joshua Sullivan, Thomas Aldridge, Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Tamia-Renée Alexandra, Oliver Boot and Kai Spackman form the announced cast.

The original two part production closes on September 20, 2026

This is the most important date for longtime fans.

The original two part production will have its final performance at the Palace Theatre on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

This is the version that has been running in London since 2016. It tells the story across two separate performances. You can watch both parts on the same day or attend on consecutive evenings.

For the same day option, you watch Part One in the afternoon and Part Two in the evening.

Original two part schedule:

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

• Part One at 2pm
• Part Two at 7pm

Sunday

• Part One at 1pm
• Part Two at 6pm

There are no regular performances on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. Tickets for the original production start from £15 per part. That means the advertised starting price for seeing both parts is £30, although actual prices depend on your chosen date and seat.

If you have never seen Cursed Child and want to experience the original two part production, this is your final opportunity.

The new one part production

The new one part production begins performances at the Palace Theatre from October 9, 2026.

Importantly, this is not simply the original play cut in half.

The production has been reimagined specifically for a single visit, with the same creative and technical teams reshaping the storytelling while retaining the scale, theatrical effects and emotional core of Cursed Child.

The new production has a running time of approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes including an interval.

Tickets start from £25.

New One Part Performance Schedule

• Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 7pm
• Wednesday and Saturday: 1pm and 7pm
• Sunday: 2:30pm

There are no Monday performances listed in the current schedule. For the latest performance times and availability, check the Palace Theatre booking calendar before choosing your date.

Original two part or new one part: Which should you see?

The choice depends on what you want from the experience:

If you are a longtime Harry Potter fan and want to experience the production in its original West End format, choose the two part version before September 20, 2026. This is the production that opened in 2016, won nine Olivier Awards and became a major part of London's theatre history.

If you are travelling to London for a shorter theatre experience, the new one part production is likely to be more convenient. You get the complete story in one visit, with a running time of 2 hours and 55 minutes including an interval.

The one part production also continues well beyond September, making it easier to catch if you cannot make it to the theatre in time for the two part show.

How to Get to the Palace Theatre

The Palace Theatre is located at: Palace Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5AY

By Tube: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly Line, Bakerloo Line) – approx. 5 minute walk

By Tube: Leicester Square (Northern Line, Piccadilly Line) – approx. 5–7 minute walk

By Foot:

• From Piccadilly Circus: walk along Shaftesbury Avenue (5 minutes)
• From Soho: 5–10 minutes depending on starting point
• From Covent Garden: approx. 10–12 minutes
• From Chinatown: 5–8 minutes
• From Oxford Street: 10–15 minutes

By Bus: Multiple central London routes stop along Shaftesbury Avenue and nearby Piccadilly Circus

By Car: Not recommended due to congestion and limited parking in the West End

The area is busiest around showtimes, so public transport is usually the quickest and easiest option.

Age recommendation and family information

• Both versions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are recommended for ages 8 and above. Children under five are not admitted.
• Everyone entering the theatre requires a ticket, regardless of age.
• If you are bringing children or teenagers, note that anyone under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
• The production includes dark themes and moments of theatrical intensity, so parents should consider whether their child is comfortable with darker elements of the Harry Potter universe.
• The one part version also retains the production's major magical and theatrical elements while making the overall experience shorter.

Information at a glance

Original Two Part

Final performance: Closes September 20, 2026
Format: Two performances
Price: From £15 per part
Running time: Approx. full day plan
Wednesday: 2pm and 7pm
Friday: 2pm and 7pm
Saturday: 2pm and 7pm
Sunday: 1pm and 6pm
Age recommendation: 8+

New One Part

Opening performance: October 9, 2026
Format: One performance
Price: From £25
Running time: 2 hours 55 minutes including interval
Wednesday: 1pm and 7pm
Friday: 7pm
Saturday: 1pm and 7pm
Sunday: 2:30pm
Age recommendation: 8+

For Harry Potter fans, seeing the original before it closes offers something that will not be available again.

For everyone else, the new production provides a fresh opportunity to discover why Cursed Child became one of the most successful and awarded plays of the modern West End.

Either way, the Palace Theatre is entering a new chapter in October 2026. The magic is staying. The format is changing.