1. Ben Platt in Midnight At The Never Get

Platt (The Last Five Years, London Palladium) stars in this story about Trevor Copeland and Arthur Brightman who perform love songs in 1965 New York at a time when their love is against the law. Runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory 11 July through 12 September 2026. Tickets

• Read on for reasons including Cats, Confessions II and Rosie Sheehy in The Oresteia

2. Cats at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Melanie La Barrie (Hadestown, Lyric Theatre) and Gary Wilmot star (Anything Goes, Barbican) star in this outdoor revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic musical at this open air venue. Runs 25 July through 19 September 2026. Tickets

3. Madonna releases Confessions II

21 years after the original Confessions On A Dancefloor album comes its follow up co-written with Stuart Price and boasting Bring Your Love, a top 30 UK duet with Sabrina Carpenter, and I Feel So Free which was our April song of the month. Released 3 July 2026 and we hope there’s a tour we can see Madonna to follow.

4. Cruilla Festival starring Suede and David Byrne

Barcelona’s Cruilla Festival runs 8 through 11 July 2026 at Parc del Fòrum and includes Suede, Talking Head David Byrne, Sigrid, Garbage and the Pixies. We haven’t been for years but last saw acts including Suede, Billy Bragg and Rufus Wainwright there. Tickets

5. The Oresteia starring Rosie Sheehy

Sheehy (Guess How Much I Love You?, Royal Court) stars alongside Tom Glynn-Carney (All My Sons, Wyndham’s Theatre), David Morrissey (BFI Q&A Tip Toe) and Mary-Louise Parker in this version by Simon Stone. Runs at the Bridge Theatre 2 July through 19 September 2026. Tickets

6. Robyn at The 02

Robyn’s LP Sexistential was album of the month for us in March. We last saw Robyn onstage at The 02 as special guest of Charli XCX in 2024 and this month she headlines there with this comeback album. This summer’s gigs include also Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin. Tickets

7. Heartstopper Forever film

Kit Connor (6 reasons why you should watch Heartstopper) and Joe Locke (Clarkston, Trafalgar Studios) return for the final feature-longth episode of the young gay romance. Airs on Netflix 17 July 2026.

8. Cleansed at the Almeida

Sarah Kane’s controversial play about lovers and siblings and the lengths they would go to protect each other. Directed by Rebecca Frecknall (A Moon For The Misbegotten, Almeida) and starring Pearl Chanda (Broken Glass, Young Vic), Jack Riddiford (Stereophonic, Duke Of York’s Theatre) and Stuart Thompson (Radiant Boy: A Haunting, Southwark Playhouse). Runs 22 July through 29 August 2026. Tickets

9. Alexandra Burke in I’m Every Woman

X Factor winner Burke (Chicago, Phoenix Theatre) stars in this musical about Chaka Khan at the Troubador Wembley Park Theatre 22 July through 27 September 2026. Tickets

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Menier Chocolate Factory Tickets
• Have you seen a Ben Platt show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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