By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum
WHEN? Friday 20 February through 3 May 2026
What better to blow away the wet cobwebs of this dingy start to the year than to experience Youth Sector?
Turner (Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Harold Pinter Theatre) and Manville (Oedipus, Wyndham’s Theatre) star in Marianne Elliott’s (COCK, Ambassadors Theatre) take on Christopher Hampton’s sexy adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ classic novel. Runs at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre 21 March through 6 June 2026. Tickets Our review
By Neil Durham
WHEN? Tuesday 10 February 2026
HOW TO WATCH? Episodes available on Netflix from Thursday 12 February 2026
McGee created Derry Girls and her follow-up – How To Get To Heaven From Belfast – is about 3 women in their late 30s who investigate the mysterious death of the former schoolfriend they haven’t seen for 20 years.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN? Friday 30 January, opens 10 February and runs through 18 April 2026 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
There’s a kindness and generosity of spirit about this new musical which reminds of the Olivier Award-winning The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button and a final reveal so devastating we spend much of the 2nd act shedding silent tears.
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN? Wednesday 28 January, tour returns to Mighty Hoopla 30 May 2026
Setlist: 24 Hours; Here Comes The Night; Milk; Trigger; Ego; Balenciaga Covered Eyes; Fingers Crossed; Love And Appreication; Release Me
Scandipop appears to be having a moment in the UK currently with Zara Larsson’s Lush Life in the top 10, A-Teens returning to Melodifestivalen with something special and the release of the 1st great album of the year, Beautiful Madness by Agnes.
WHEN? Saturday 31 January 2026 8pm UK time WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
WHERE?: Saab Arena, Linköping
Melodifestivalen 2026 kicks off in fine style in its 66th year with the promising reunion of A-Teens who had UK hits with Upside Down and Halfway Around The World as well as 2 ABBA covers a quarter of a century ago.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
Tracklist: Interlude; Beautiful Madness; Trigger; Got Any?; Milk; Focus; Wake Up; Balenciaga Covered Eyes; Not Capable; Ego; Masterpiece; Sign It; Pre; Lovesongs; Uterus & Universe
‘Life is a beautiful madness, and it’s when we stop chasing perfection that the truly interesting things happen,’ says Agnes as she releases this new album and prepares to headline London’s KOKO next week where we join her.
By Aline Mahrud
WHERE? Gärdehov, Sundsvall WHEN? Saturday 28 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
Nielsen is the 2nd former Melodifestivalen winner competing in its 66th year and finished 3rd in Copenhagen in 2014 singing the gorgeous Undo.
By Aline Mahrud
WHERE? Scandinavium, Gothenburg WHEN? Saturday 7 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
There are 2 returning winners to the 66th Melodifestivalen this year and the 1st is Robin Bengtsson who won MF in 2017 finishing 5th in Kyiv, Ukraine with I Can’t Go On.
Passenger wrote the music and lyrics for this adaptation of the novel at Theatre Royal Haymarket starring The Full Monty‘s Mark Addy and Jenna Russell (Hello Dolly! London Palladium) running 29 January through 18 April 2026. It’s the story of a man who receives a letter from a long-lost friend and walks from Devon to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Tickets Our review
