The Lion King climbs to fourth in West End long-run table
Disney's The Lion King has moved into fourth place among the West End's longest-running musicals.
New performance totals to the end of July 2026, released by the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, put the show on more than 10,622 performances. It has overtaken Blood Brothers in the all-time order WhatsOnStage.
The top of the table is unchanged. Les Misérables remains the West End's longest-running musical with more than 16,189 performances since opening in 1985. The Phantom of the Opera follows with more than 15,897 performances since 1986, with Mamma Mia! third on more than 10,865.
There is movement further down the list. Wicked has risen to seventh place with more than 7,720 performances, passing Starlight Express. Matilda The Musical has entered the top ten for the first time with more than 5,555 performances.
The Book of Mormon has made the biggest climb. It has gone from 16th to 12th place with more than 4,890 performances, after adding over 650 performances since the previous 2025 ranking.
The Mousetrap stands alone. Agatha Christie's play continues to hold first place among all West End productions, musicals and plays combined, with more than 30,642 performances. The Play That Goes Wrong has entered that overall top 20 for the first time, with more than 4,489 performances.
A newer generation is edging upwards. Hamilton has reached more than 2,991 performances since opening at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 2017. Six has played more than 2,830 performances since 2019. Both are now close to Evita, which sits on 3,176 performances.
For fans, this means the order is decided by count, not calendar. The ranking is ordered by number of performances, as Official London Theatre explains, so a show playing eight times a week climbs faster than one with a lighter schedule.
