Royal Variety Performance 2025: A Glittering Celebration of British Entertainment

The Royal Variety Performance Returns with Royal Glamour

This year’s Royal Variety Performance 2025 was held on Wednesday 19 November 2025 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, one of the UK’s finest concert halls, seating over 5,000 people. This prestigious annual event represents more than a century of entertainment excellence, combining theatre, music, comedy, and magic in support of a vital charitable cause.

Royal Attendance and Star-Studded Line-Up

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales attended this year’s event, which is the 98th annual Royal Variety Performance. The evening was hosted by acclaimed comedian and actor Jason Manford, who brought his signature Northern wit to the proceedings.

The performance featured an impressive array of talent. Les Misérables celebrated its 40th anniversary with a 400-strong finale led by Michael Ball, whilst hit new musical Paddington and the iconic Les Misérables delivered showstopping performances. Music acts included Westlife, Jessie J, Madness, Laufey, Harry Moulding, Tom Davis, Mick Miller, the cast of Dead Ringers, and America’s Got Talent winners Adrian Stoica and his dog.

A Charity with Purpose

The money raised by the Royal Variety Performance provides most of the funding for the Royal Variety Charity (formerly the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund) and its care-home for retired members of the entertainment profession and their dependents, Brinsworth House. Its combined global TV audience is just over 152 million, making it one of the world’s most-watched entertainment events.

Broadcasting Details and Global Reach

This year’s Royal Variety Performance is to be broadcast on ITV on Sunday 21 December 2025, at 7.05pm. The performance is broadcast on television throughout the world and is considered by many to be a tradition of the Christmas and New Year holiday season, particularly within the 56 countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Royal Variety Performance continues to uphold its status as the world’s longest-running entertainment show, bringing together the finest performers whilst supporting those in the entertainment industry who need assistance. For British audiences and viewers worldwide, it remains an essential part of the festive calendar, combining spectacular entertainment with meaningful charitable impact.