The Lion King at the Hollywood Pantages, January 2027

Disney's The Lion King is back on a Hollywood stage in January 2027, and it's already a good entry on any list of upcoming events in Los Angeles. The touring production lands at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre with a performance on Friday, January 8, 2027. It's an easy pick for a family night out or a date night that isn't dinner and a movie.

When: Friday, January 8, 2027 (check Ticketmaster for the curtain time) Where: Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Tickets: Through Ticketmaster, linked below

What the show is

The musical adapts Disney's 1994 animated film about Simba, a lion cub who flees the Pride Lands after his father Mufasa's death and has to decide whether to come home and face his uncle Scar. The stage version opened on Broadway in 1997, with songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, additional music by Lebo M and Hans Zimmer, and direction by Julie Taymor. It's one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, which says plenty about how well it holds up.

The film's best-known numbers, "Circle of Life," "Hakuna Matata" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," are all in the stage score, and the African choral writing gives the whole evening a different texture from the movie.

Why it works on stage

The look is the draw. Instead of hiding the performers, the production puts them in plain view. Actors wear towering headdresses and carry animal forms on their bodies, and the giraffes, gazelles and birds are built from puppetry and movement you can see being made. The opening procession down the theater aisles has a reputation of its own, so don't skip the early part of the evening. If you want a version of things to do in Los Angeles that feels like a real occasion, this is it.

It also works across ages. Younger kids get the animals and songs, and adults get a story about grief, guilt and responsibility that's heavier than people remember.

The room and getting there

The Pantages opened in 1930 and is the main LA stop for touring Broadway productions, which is why a show like this lands here. The Art Deco lobby is worth arriving early to see. The theater sits on Hollywood Boulevard near the Hollywood/Vine Metro B Line station, which beats hunting for parking on a show night. Garages nearby fill up, so plan extra time if you drive.

Ticket prices weren't listed on the page we could verify, so check Ticketmaster for current seats and pricing before you commit. Touring productions sell out, especially for family-friendly titles, and a Friday night is usually one of the busier slots.

More Hollywood events and neighborhood guides and the full arts and culture calendar are worth a look if you're planning the rest of the weekend around the show.