BIG NIGHT OF MUSICALS RETURNS TO BBC ONE FOR 2026, JASON MANFORD TO HOST

The curtain has risen once again on The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals which is returning to BBC One.

The fifth installment of The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will feature showstoppers from some of the biggest musicals as well as performances from a range of incredible National Lottery-funded arts projects. 

The 2026 special, which will air on BBC One and iPlayer, will feature performances from The Lion King, Oliver!, Sunny Afternoon, Paddington The Musical, Annie, The Choir of Man, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Producers, Wicked and I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical, plus a very special Disney medley performance.

The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals serves as a huge thank you to our players who, over the last 30 years, have helped support more than 20,000 theatre related projects to the tune of £1.3BN. National Lottery funding has helped restore theatres as well as enabling hundreds of performing arts projects.

Host Jason Manford said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be hosting Big Night of Musicals by The National Lottery for the fifth-year running. This event is all made possible because of National Lottery players whose support has raised over £1.4BN for theatre related projects in the UK, which keeps theatre alive and accessible...

"The 2026 line-up is phenomenal, some of the biggest shows in the world are coming together for one night only, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it.” 

Transmission details will be announced in due course.