The BBC has announced the transmission date for the National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals, a star-studded concert showcasing the UK’s theatre scene and its lottery-funded projects. The event highlights the impact of more than £1.4 billion awarded to theatre initiatives over three decades.

The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals concert was recorded live on 26 January at Manchester’s AO Arena. Now in its fifth year, the event features a range of performances from leading West End productions, touring shows, and organisations funded by the National Lottery.

Hosted by Jason Manford, the concert celebrates the National Lottery’s support for the arts, which has contributed to over 29,000 theatre-related projects across the UK in the last 31 years.

Performances include numbers from The Lion King, Oliver!, Sunny Afternoon and Paddington The Musical, as well as Annie, with La Voix performing as Miss Hannigan. A Disney medley honouring composer Alan Menken features Lucie Jones, Mae Ann Jorolan and Trevor Dion Nicholas.

A special sequence involves a choir funded by the National Lottery collaborating with The Choir of Man. Additional highlights include performances from Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar starring Sam Ryder, The Producers, Wicked, and I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical, with Alexandra Burke cast as Chaka Khan.

The 90-minute Big Night of Musicals special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7.45pm on 28 March 2026. A companion compilation of highlights from previous years is already available on BBC iPlayer.

This broadcast continues the tradition of showcasing the National Lottery’s ongoing role in supporting the UK’s theatrical landscape through high-profile musical celebrations.