Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary

Lord of the Dance is coming to the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre for three nights in September 2026, as part of a world tour marking the show's 30th anniversary. It's the same Irish dance production that first debuted in 1996, which has gone on to play to over 60 million people across 60 countries. The 2026 tour is built around that legacy, but it's not just a revival of the original: the production brings new choreography, updated costumes, and a fresh set of special effects and lighting to the stage.

If you've never seen it, the show is built on a few distinct things. There's the precision of the dancing, the loud music, and the pyrotechnics, all woven around a story. The scale of the footwork is one of its most talked-about details: the dancers put in more than 150,000 tap steps in a single performance. It's a visual show, so it works for a general audience regardless of where you're coming from.

Michael Flatley, who created the show, stepped away from the stage in 2016, but he's still the one running things behind the scenes as creator, producer, and choreographer. Talking about the 2026 tour, he said: 'The magic of Lord of the Dance lives in the hearts of our audience, and I'm excited to bring this iconic show back to the UK in 2026. This 30th anniversary tour is a celebration of the incredible journey we've shared with the fans over the years. It's a testament to the enduring power of dreams and the spirit of dance. With fresh choreography, innovative staging and an electrifying cast, we're taking this show to the next level once more.'

In Bournemouth, the show runs for three consecutive nights: Tuesday 1 September, Wednesday 2 September and Thursday 3 September, with every performance starting at 19:45. Tickets start at £45.75.