The Barbican has announced its autumn/winter 2026 theatre and dance programme, highlighting the UK and European premieres of significant new works. Notably, the season includes the first stage adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s novel End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland.

The 2026 season marks the return of performances to the Barbican Theatre and The Pit after maintenance work. It opens with the UK premiere of Pastoral by Pam Tanowitz Dance from 1 to 3 October. This Barbican co-commission unites choreographer Pam Tanowitz with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw and visual artist Sarah Crowner, featuring a newly commissioned score inspired by Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony. Pastoral originally premiered in 2025 at Bard College’s Fisher Center in New York.

From 8 to 11 October, the Barbican presents the European premiere of End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland, directed by Philippe Decouflé and adapted from Haruki Murakami’s novel. Performed in Japanese with English surtitles, the production stars Tatsuya Fujiwara and is the first stage adaptation of the novel. This event coincides with a rare London appearance by Murakami himself on 11 October, when he will read from his novel The City and Its Uncertain Walls and join a conversation with Simon McBurney.

Additional events tied to Murakami’s visit include Fujiwara introducing a screening of Battle Royale and a subsequent screening of Tony Takitani. These form part of an extended exploration of Murakami-related works at the Barbican.

The season continues with the London premiere of Tom at the Farm from 13 to 17 October. Directed by Rodrigo Portella and based on Michel Marc Bouchard’s play, the Brazilian production follows a young man confronting family secrets after attending his boyfriend’s funeral. The production is led by actor and producer Armando Babaioff.

As part of Dance Umbrella 2026, choreographer Omar Rajeh will present the London premiere of Dance is Not for Us in The Pit from 16 to 17 October. This solo work combines dance and spoken word to reflect on memory, loss and contemporary Lebanon.

The immersive children’s production Univers by Catalan company Engruna Teatre returns to The Pit from 2 to 12 December. Aimed at babies up to two years old, the show incorporates live music, movement and sensory play.

The season concludes with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s annual winter residency at the Barbican Theatre, with further details yet to be announced.