The Royal Albert Hall has announced five more titles for its Films in Concert strand in 2026, including the European premiere of Home Alone 2, a first outing for inspired sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and the return of Casino Royale, La La Land and Pirates of the Caribbean after previous sell-out screenings.
Those events next December will see the Hall’s auditorium transformed into the world’s most sumptuous cinema, as the movies are screened in full on a 20m HD screen, accompanied by a renowned symphony orchestra bringing each film’s score to life. Home Alone 2 will be in the regular Christmas film slot – the second Saturday in December – with the others all taking place during ‘Betwixtmas’, offering a choice of respite from the seasonal festivities, between Christmas and New Year.
Matthew Todd, Director of Programming at the Royal Albert Hall, said: “We’re delighted to announce that we’ll be giving the Films in Concert treatment to these five classic titles. This format, which brings the magic of movie music to centre stage, continues to go from strength to strength, selling more than half a million tickets since being launched at the Hall in 2009. Following sell-out screenings of Home Alone and How to Train Your Dragon, audiences can continue the story by diving into these live-scored sequels, and there’s also a chance to catch three returning favourites – whether your tastes run to spies, swashbuckling or star-packed musicals.”
The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will take centre-stage for four of the films, with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields presenting Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York was among the biggest box-office hits of the 1990s, catching up with resourceful 10-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), as he confronted the Sticky Bandits (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) while alone in the Big Apple. Its vivid John Williams score will be brought to life with help from the Crouch End Festival Chorus.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is one of the most acclaimed family films of the past quarter-century, winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, and drawing praise from critics for its stunning animation and the rich expansion of its characters’ emotional universes. Conductor Ben Palmer will be on the podium as the movie makes its Films in Concert debut, spotlighting the Oscar-nominated score from English composer John Powell.
The Academy Award-winning La La Land, directed by Damien Chazelle, tells the story of a promising pianist (Ryan Gosling) and aspiring actress (Emma Stone) who cross paths and fall in love, while attempting to harmonise their career journeys in the City of Stars. The concert presentation will feature not just the RPCO, but also a jazz band, as composer Justin Hurwitz conducts his Academy Award-winning music, live on stage.
When Casino Royale in Concert premiered at the Hall in 2017, it was the first time a full James Bond score had ever been performed live. The film, directed by Martin Campbell, was the 21st in the series, and kickstarted the Daniel Craig era, boasting an international cast including Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Jeffrey Wright and Judi Dench. Anthony Gabrieli will conduct the score, which was written by David Arnold, who also soundtracked the venue’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
The Academy of St Martin in the Fields will present Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in concert, performing Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer’s dynamic score, in a show also spotlighting the power of London Voices. The film was one of the sleeper hits of the noughties, capturing the hearts of moviegoers worldwide, as its exuberantly nostalgic score raised the bar for thematic complexity, with its orchestral swashbuckling flavour accentuated by the use of horns for melody.
These five films join previously announced Films in Concert titles for 2026, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar; ‘90s Brit classic, Brassed Off; Marvel’s Black Panther; Matilda – narrated on stage by star Danny DeVito – and all three of Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings films, which can be experienced across a single weekend.
Films in Concert launched in 2009, building on the venue’s history as a place to experience cinema with live musical accompaniment during the silent film era. In the past 16 years, it has curated a programme of beloved films whose unforgettable scores have been performed by the likes of the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Chineke! Orchestra.
Titles have ranged from vibrant musicals (Singin’ in the Rain, West Side Story) to canonical classics (Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Godfather) and contemporary blockbusters (Interstellar, Skyfall). The premiere of Jurassic Park in Concert broke all box-office records, selling out its 20,000 tickets in just 24 hours. Artists who’ve appeared at the shows have included stars Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick), Sigourney Weaver (Aliens) and Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring), directors James Cameron (Titanic) and Sir Sam Mendes (Skyfall), and composers David Arnold (Casino Royale) and James Horner (Titanic).
Tickets for Home Alone 2, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and La La Land go on sale at 10am on Friday from www.royalalberthalll.com, with Casino Royale and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl tickets available from next Tuesday (9 December). For all events, a pre-sale is available to the venue’s Friends and Patrons, 24 hours earlier.