What Happened to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Play)?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a critically acclaimed two-part play that premiered in London in 2016, continuing the story of Harry Potter and his son Albus Severus nineteen years after the final book. It quickly expanded globally, winning numerous awards including a record-breaking nine Olivier Awards and six Tony Awards. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, most international productions, including Broadway, transitioned to a reimagined one-part format, with the original London production set to follow suit in October 2026.
Quick Answer
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues to be a major global theatrical phenomenon, performing in multiple cities worldwide. While it originally premiered as a two-part play, most productions, including Broadway since 2021, have been restaged as a single, condensed performance to enhance accessibility. The original West End production in London will conclude its two-part run on September 20, 2026, and reopen as a one-part show on October 6, 2026, ensuring the magic continues for new and returning audiences.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline16 events
Play Officially Announced
J.K. Rowling announced that a new play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, would premiere in London, continuing the story of Harry Potter.
London West End Premiere
The two-part play officially opened at the Palace Theatre in London's West End, following previews that began in June.
Wins Record 9 Olivier Awards
The London production won a record-breaking nine Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, Best Director, and acting awards for Jamie Parker (Harry), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione), and Anthony Boyle (Scorpius).
Broadway Premiere
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened on Broadway at the Lyric Theatre in New York, after extensive renovations to the venue.
Wins 6 Tony Awards
The Broadway production received six Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Direction of a Play, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Sound Design.
Melbourne, Australia Premiere
The play opened at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, marking its third international production.
San Francisco Premiere
A second American production premiered at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco.
Global Productions Suspended Due to COVID-19
All productions worldwide were temporarily suspended due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Broadway Reopens as One-Part Play
The Broadway production at the Lyric Theatre reopened, having been restaged as a single, condensed performance, a format change driven by the pandemic.
Hamburg, Germany Premiere
The first non-English production opened at the Mehr! Theater in Hamburg, Germany, after being delayed from its original 2020 schedule.
Toronto, Canada Premiere
The Canadian premiere opened at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, also as the newly staged one-part version.
Tokyo, Japan Premiere
The Japanese production opened at the TBS Akasaka ACT Theater, marking the first Asian production and the second non-English version.
North American Tour Begins
A North American Tour of the one-part production commenced, starting in Chicago.
London Production Announces One-Part Transition
Producers announced that the original London West End production would transition from its two-part format to a single, reimagined performance in autumn 2026.
Final Performance of London's Two-Part Production
The original two-part production at the Palace Theatre in London is scheduled to have its final performance, concluding a decade-long run in this format.
London Reopens as One-Part Production
The reimagined one-part version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will officially reopen at the Palace Theatre in London, offering a condensed experience.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, and written by Thorne, debuted at London's Palace Theatre on July 30, 2016, as the eighth official story in the Harry Potter series. The play, presented in two parts, quickly garnered immense critical acclaim for its innovative stagecraft, illusions, and compelling narrative that explored Harry Potter's life as an adult and his strained relationship with his son, Albus Severus.
The play's success led to rapid international expansion. It opened on Broadway at the Lyric Theatre on April 22, 2018, where it received ten Tony Award nominations and won six, including Best Play. Further productions followed in Melbourne, Australia (February 23, 2019), San Francisco (December 1, 2019), and the first non-English production in Hamburg, Germany (December 5, 2021).
A significant turning point for the production came with the global COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, which forced the suspension of all live performances worldwide. During this hiatus, the creative team reimagined the two-part play into a single, condensed performance. This one-part version, running approximately two hours and 55 minutes, was first introduced on Broadway when it reopened on November 16, 2021, aiming to make the experience more accessible to audiences. This format was subsequently adopted by new productions in Toronto (May 31, 2022) and Tokyo (July 8, 2022).
As of 2026, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues its successful runs globally. The London West End production, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in July 2026, is the last to maintain the original two-part format. However, this will change, as the London show is scheduled to conclude its two-part run on September 20, 2026, and will reopen as the reimagined one-part production on October 6, 2026. A North American Tour of the one-part version also commenced in September 2024, further expanding its reach. The play has been seen by over 11 million people worldwide.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Play) made different choices?