Jason Manford is returning to host The Royal Variety Performance 2026
As ITV1 reveal the full line-up of performers!
ITV1 has confirmed that comedian, actor and presenter Jason Manford will return to host The Royal Variety Performance in support of the Royal Variety Charity, returning to the magnificent Royal Albert Hall in London, in the presence of Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The King, who is the sole Patron of the Royal Variety Charity, will be watching alongside Queen Camilla, who will be attending the performance for the first time as The Queen.
It'll be Jason's third time hosting, and his sixth appearance on The Royal Variety Performance, in line with legends such as Tommy Cooper and Ken Dodd.
On returning to The Royal Variety Performance, Jason Manford said "What a huge privilege to be asked to host The Royal Variety Performance for a third time. It’s an amazing line up, in aid of a wonderful charity so I can’t wait for everybody to see what surprises we have up our sleeves this year."
As ever, the night promises a star-studded line-up of acts from the world of entertainment, with this year’s show including a TV world exclusive from the upcoming West End musical The Greatest Showman.
Plus there'll be what promises to be a show-stopping performance from original Elphaba, Idina Menzel, to celebrate 20 years of Wicked, performing her rendition of The Wizard & I, as she is joined on stage by the musical's acclaimed composer Stephen Schwartz, and ahead of its return to the West End, and marking 21 years since the stage musical first opened, the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical will perform the exceptional Electricity.
Operation Mincemeat will be bringing current and original cast members together as they are joined on stage by the Royal Naval Association Choir, members of The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, The Band of the Irish Guards and the Band of the Welsh Guards Fanfare Team.
And surprise star cameos will also appear in a specially rewritten version of For Now, and It Sucks To Be Me, from the musical Avenue Q as well as a supersized medley from the current revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s classic Jesus Christ Superstar, led by Sam Ryder.
Plus there'll be music from Jack Savoretti, James Blunt, Vanessa Williams, Britain's Got Talent winners The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir and maestro Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who will make an exclusive appearance to celebrate 30 years since he first became an international superstar. And tenor Alfie Boe will lead the National Anthem.
And elsewhere, The Ramadhani Brothers, along with head balancer Veronika Ivanova, from Cirque Alice, will make their European debuts alongside comedy from Milton Jones and Phil Wang.
Made by Lifted Entertainment, part of ITV Studios, The Royal Variety Performance is executive produced by Fiona Clark for Lifted Entertainment and Giles Cooper OBE and Phil Dale for the Royal Variety Charity, with Catherine Saint as Line Producer.
The Royal Variety Performance will air later this year on ITV1
