Live theatre has received some good news this week with Disney’s The Lion King setting a new record for presale of a musical at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
The musical surpassed its own record set in 2014.
The stellar start for the musical followed weeks of bad news for the industry off the back of rising inflation and squeezed household budgets.
High-profile cancellations have included Waitress and Beetlejuice. Peak bodies, including Live Performance Australia have been lobbying for government tax offsets to “save” the sector.
The QPAC Lion King sales came ahead of the release of tickets to the general public at 9am today (Thursday 23 July).
In 2014 The Lion King sold out its entire 19-week run.
Disney and QPAC are releasing the the full 16-week Brisbane season today, with performances scheduled through to March 7, 2027.
QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy said the Lion King early results demonstrated the strength of Queensland audiences’ love of musical theatre.
“The scale of this beloved production is unsurpassed, with the Lyric Theatre auditorium readying itself to be reconfigured to create the immersive world of The Lion King and we can’t wait to welcome our first audiences in November,” she said.
Disney’s The Lion King
Where: QPAC Lyric Theatre, Cultural Precinct, South Bank, Brisbane
When: November 15, 2026 to March 7, 2027
Book: Visit qpac.com.au or call 136 246
