Roll up, roll up! Barnum, the greatest show on earth, will arrive at Bournemouth Pavilion for one week only in June 2026.

The dazzling Broadway musical is set to captivate audiences with West End favourite and beloved television star Lee Mead leading the cast as the legendary P.T. Barnum.

Barnum is a vibrant, high-energy musical that tells the extraordinary story of P.T. Barnum, the legendary American showman, entrepreneur, and founder of the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

Blending traditional musical theatre with circus spectacle, the show follows Barnum’s journey from humble beginnings to international fame as he creates dazzling exhibitions and sideshows featuring larger-than-life characters like General Tom Thumb and the Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind.

Set to a lively score by Cy Coleman with lyrics by Michael Stewart, Barnum celebrates the power of imagination, ambition, and showbiz flair. Originally staged in London’s West End in 1981 at the London Palladium – famously starring Michael Crawford, who walked a tightrope live on stage – the musical combines rousing songs, acrobatics, and heartfelt drama to paint a portrait of a man who changed the face of entertainment forever.

In 2026, Lee Mead will follow in his footsteps – both metaphorically and literally – as he dons the top hat and takes to the tightrope himself in a breathtaking performance that promises thrills, heart, and unforgettable spectacle.

Best known for his star-making victory on BBC One’s Any Dream Will Do, Mead has since gone on to become one of musical theatre’s most respected performers, earning acclaim in major productions such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wicked, and Legally Blonde.

This spectacular production, directed by Jonathan O’Boyle and choreographed by Oti Mabuse, will feature an extraordinary ensemble cast of over 20 actor-musicians, acrobats and amazing circus acts.

Barnum joins a run of exciting West End and Broadway musicals set to hit the Bournemouth Pavilion stage in 2026. Kickstarting the season in April is West End smash hit, Blood Brothers, which tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.

In early June, Mean Girls is set to bring its iconic characters, razor-sharp wit, and killer songs to the seaside, whilst MAMMA MIA! delivers the ultimate dose of feel-good factor in late July.

Barnum will run at Bournemouth Pavilion from 16 – 20 June 2026, with tickets going on sale from Friday 18 July 2025 from bournemouthpavilion.co.uk.