Dirty Dancing returns to UK stage with 2026 tour stop at Manchester Palace Theatre

Monday, 29 September 2025 15:45

By David Murphy

Iconic stage adaptation of 1987 hit film to run for five nights in Manchester next autumn, with tickets on sale from 30 September

The beloved stage adaptation of Dirty Dancing is set to return to theatres across the UK and Ireland, with a brand-new national tour launching in summer 2026.

The show will stop at Manchester's Palace Theatre from Tuesday 29 September to Saturday 3 October 2026. Tickets go on general release on Tuesday 30 September 2026 via ATG Tickets https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/dirty-dancing/palace-theatre-manchester/

Packed with unforgettable music and exhilarating choreography, the stage version of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage brings the much-loved tale of Baby and Johnny to life. Fans can expect iconic songs including Hungry Eyes, Hey! Baby, Do You Love Me?, and the unforgettable (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.

The new tour is being led by acclaimed producer Karl Sydow, who described the production as “amazing” and promised it would deliver the same energy and emotion that have made it a fan favourite for nearly two decades. “Now more than ever, theatre needs the excitement and joy that Dirty Dancing brings,” he said. “You’ll have the time of your life!”

Returning to direct the production is Federico Bellone, alongside choreographer Austin Wilks.

The story follows Baby and Johnny, two young people from very different backgrounds, who come together for a summer that changes everything. The stage show stays true to the original 1987 film script, penned by Eleanor Bergstein, and retains much of the original dialogue.

The tour will begin with preview performances at Milton Keynes Theatre from 27 August 2026, before travelling to other venues across the UK and Ireland through to summer 2027.

The stage adaptation originally opened in 2006 at London’s Aldwych Theatre, setting a West End record with a £15 million advance and playing to more than two million people over five years. It became the longest-running production in the theatre’s history.

The production is a collaboration between Karl Sydow, Lionsgate, Magic Hour Productions, and Freedom Riders co-producer Ivan MacTaggart.