Opera Australia will stage Cameron Mackintosh’s production of “Les Misérables” at the Sydney Opera House in 2027, the first time the show has played the iconic venue.
The production opens in the Joan Sutherland Theatre on Friday, August 27th, 2027, and will be the first time the fully staged production has played in Australia in more than a decade, when it broke box-office records.
The season comes 40 years after the musical’s Australian premiere in 1987. Les Misérables, based on Victor Hugo’s novel with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and a book by Alain Boublil. The musical marked its 40th anniversary in the West End last October, it has been seen by more than 150 million people in 57 countries and translated into 22 languages.
The show has won more than 275 awards worldwide, including five Olivier Awards (among them a special recognition award in April 2025), eight Tony Awards and five Helpmann Awards. It was named Best West End Show at the 2026 WhatsOnStage Awards, and the film adaptation won three Oscars. Songs from the score include “I Dreamed a Dream”, “On My Own”, “Bring Him Home”, “One Day More” and “Master of the House”.
Amy Lane, Opera Australia’s Director of Opera, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be able to present this legendary musical on our iconic stage for the first time, a full forty years on from when it first took this country, and the world, by storm.
“Les Misérables is one of the defining musical theatre works of the modern era and to welcome it to the Sydney Opera House under Opera Australia’s banner is enormously significant, not only because of the musical’s global stature, but because it represents the very best of epic music storytelling. It is a work of extraordinary emotional power that has connected generations of audiences around the world.”
Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Producer of Les Misérables, said: “I’m delighted to bring the most celebrated staging of Les Misérables in the world back to Australia, where audiences have embraced the show with such extraordinary enthusiasm over the years.
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“To finally see it on the stage of the Sydney Opera House is something I have been dreaming of for years, and it feels like a wonderful new landmark for this remarkable musical, especially after the success of Phantom of the Opera here in 2022.
“I’m enormously proud of this production and of the way it has brought a fresh energy to a story that continues to speak to audiences around the world. I can’t wait to see it take its place on that magnificent stage in 2027.”
Steve Kamper, Minister for Jobs and Tourism, said: “Two global icons are coming together in Sydney, with Les Misérables taking the stage at the Sydney Opera House for the very first time.
“This is the kind of world-class cultural experience that attracts visitors to Sydney and keeps our visitor economy moving.
“Les Misérables will bring audiences, visitors and spending into Sydney, supporting jobs and businesses across our tourism and hospitality sectors.”
Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular recently finished a world tour that sold more than 1.3 million tickets across 35 cities, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Earlier this year, First Night Records released Les Misérables: The 40th Anniversary All-Star Cast, a complete recording available on streaming and digital platforms and as a double CD.
The production is supported by the NSW Government through Destination NSW.
Priority pre-sale access to single-performance tickets begins Tuesday, October 27th. General public tickets go on sale from Tuesday, November 3rd 2026. Click here to join the waitlist.