THEATRE

Epic, emotional and back on tour: the multi award-winning Miss Saigon is on at the Mayflower Theatre for a limited run (27 January – 7 February). Expect soaring songs, spectacular staging and a powerful new cast led by Seann Miley Moore as the scene-stealing Engineer.

Dust off your dancing shoes as Oh What a Night! brings the feel-good hits of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons to Theatre Royal Winchester (9 – 10 January). Expect big harmonies, sharp moves and wall-to-wall classics – from Sherry to December ’63 – for a joyfully nostalgic night out.

Celebrate football, resilience and a nation’s highs and lows in Dear England at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre (13–17 January). This Olivier Award-winning play tells Gareth Southgate’s inspiring story with heart, humour and full-throttle stage drama – a must-see for sports fans and theatre lovers alike.

HERE & NOW, the Steps Musical. Pamela Raith Photography. — Image: *HERE & NOW*, the Steps Musical. *Pamela Raith Photography.*

And if you fancy a dose of good ol’ fashioned singalong pop, HERE & NOW, the brand-new Steps musical brings the feel-good energy to Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre from 20–24 January. Set in a seaside supermarket it follows four friends – Caz, Vel, Neeta and Robbie – as they dream of love and happy endings, only to be derailed by betrayal, heartbreak and a truly disastrous 50th birthday party. Expect big laughs, bigger tunes and the very real temptation to dance in the aisles.

OUTDOORS

Winter Woodland Lights The Hawk Conservancy Trust, near Andover — Image:Winter Woodland Lights The Hawk Conservancy Trust

January gets a glow-up at Hawk Conservancy Trust near Andover at Winter Woodland Lights (16 January – 1 February), a spellbinding after-dark adventure. Think immersive lights, stirring music and awe-inspiring owls swooping through the trees – pure winter magic to banish the blues.

Follow in ancient tradition and gloriously noisy at Butser Ancient Farm near Petersfield with Wassailing the Orchard (16 January). Expect a torchlit procession, merry Morris dancing, rousing songs and plenty of spiced cider as you wake the orchard, chase off evil spirits and make a joyful hullabaloo for a fruitful year ahead.

Experience winter wildlife at the Isle of Wight’s Newtown National Nature Reserve on 21 January 2026 at a Winter Birdwatching Walk. Led by expert guides, these free National Trust walks take you through saltmarshes, meadows and winding creeks, offering a chance to spot and hear a rich variety of birdlife while picking up insider birdwatching tips along the way.

FOOD & DRINK

Image: Chef Sabrina Ghayour, Lime Wood book club

Keen cooks and food lovers, take note: luxe New Forest hotel Lime Wood, near Lyndhurst, launches its dreamy 2026 Book Club series with an intimate evening hosted by Angela Hartnett and Mark Diacono. Kicking things off on 15 January is Sabrina Ghayour, the queen of modern Middle Eastern home cooking, serving bold flavours, big stories and a supper inspired by her much-loved books Persiana and Flavour.

Want to improve your inner wellbeing? Get hands-on with a fermentation workshop at the Isle of Wight’s famous Garlic Farm near Newchurch on 22 January 2026. Led by fermentation expert Josephine Boswell, learn to make everything from kombucha to sauerkraut, pick up starter cultures, and discover tips for turning leftover fruit and veg into delicious, gut-friendly creations.

Celebrate Burns Night at the Solent Hotel, Whiteley, Fareham on 25 January. A five-course feast of Scottish favourites, from haggis Scotch egg to Barwhillanty venison, with live pipers setting the scene for a cosy, festive night out.

Dundee cake trifle with whisky jelly at The Mutton at Hazeley Heath Taste of Scotland five-course dinner 22 January 2026 Hook Hampshire

Near Hook, The Mutton at Hazeley Heath is also going full tartan for a one-night-only Taste of Scotland five-course dinner on 22 January – and it’s shaping up to be a total treat. From 6.30pm, Head Chef Rob Boer serves a love letter to Scottish cooking – smoked ham hock and lentil soup, scallops with black pudding, Balmoral chicken with haggis, a playful Irn Bru sorbet and a show-stealing Dundee cake trifle with whisky jelly.

KIDS

Family on a winter walk - National Trust Images, Natalie Overthrow — Image: Family on a winter walk. National Trust Images, *Natalie Overthrow*

See out the holidays with a classic as The Travelling Players bring the mischievous tale of Pinocchio to Hanger Farm, Totton (4 January). Expect puppets, live music, laughter and a whirlwind of adventures as the wooden boy tries (and fails) to stay out of trouble on his quest to become real.

Cute storytelling sessions for under 5s and their families at The Point, Eastleigh (17–31 January). Follow August the Platypus as he navigates mischief, adventure and unexpected family news in a heartwarming tale.

Little ones can wiggle, munch and transform at Mottisfont near Romsey as The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ trail lands this winter (19 January – 15 March). Expect colourful garden adventures, giant fruity treats, playful activities and a magical butterfly finale – perfect for ages 3–6 on a fresh-air family day out.

Over at Portsmouth Guildhall, mini royals will be spellbound as The Princess Proms sweeps into town with a glittering, sing-along concert of much-loved movie favourites (25 January). Expect soaring songs from Frozen, Moana, Wicked and more, performed by West End stars in a joy-filled afternoon of fairytale magic.

MUSIC

Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Viennese concert at Turner Sims, Southampton Hampshire January 2026 — Image: WNO Orchestra

Kick off 2026 with style as the Welsh National Opera Orchestra brings a sparkling Viennese concert to Turner Sims, Southampton (11 January). Expect waltzes, polkas and a joyful mix of Strauss and Dvořák in a festive musical celebration to start the year on a high note.

Rock meets symphony as the London Symphonic Rock Orchestra cranks things up at O2 Guildhall Southampton (10 January). Think AC/DC, Foo Fighters and Led Zeppelin reimagined with full orchestral power, cutting-edge tech and serious goosebump energy.

An atmospheric gig at Portsmouth Cathedral with Matthew and the Atlas (17 January 2026). Expect emotive, cinematic folk-infused songs echoing through one of the South Coast’s most beautiful historic spaces.

Rousing, regal and for a great cause: The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines takes to the stage at The Anvil, Basingstoke (25 January). Expect a brilliant mix of movie themes, big band favourites and Proms-style flag-waving, with the Chelsea Pensioners adding extra pomp to this uplifting charity concert.

Or how about a spine-tingling indie-rock tribute at Fareham Live on 21 January 2026? The Radiohead Project recreates Radiohead’s iconic sound from OK Computer to In Rainbows. Expect goosebump-inducing performances of Fake Plastic Trees, No Surprises and Karma Police, brought vividly to life with atmospheric visuals and dramatic lighting.

WELLBEING

Warm up, chill out and embrace the cold at Slomo x Tapnell Farm on the Isle of Wight (now – April). Created by Bestival founders Rob and Josie da Bank, enjoy wood-fired saunas, hot tubs, lakeside plunges and fireside lounging, with optional yoga, massage and cosy glamping for the ultimate winter wellness escape.

Making the most of the South Downs countryside, step into a day of calm with Zoe from Fitstate at Queen Elizabeth Country Park’s Women’s Reset & Rebalance Retreat (17 January). Enjoy yoga, meditation, gentle movement, a mindful forest walk and an optional cold-water plunge, finished with a nourishing lunch and expert nutrition tips from Emma.

Like taking to the water? Boost body and mind with the invigorating Cold & Heat Exposure Workshop at Lime Wood, Lyndhurst (19 January). Take part in outdoor sauna sessions, cold plunges and functional breathwork with Tracey Howes in the peaceful Bath Garden.

Or float, relax and reset at the Wolf Moon Sen Sound Sessions at SenSpa, Careys Manor Hotel, Brockenhurst (28 January). Immerse yourself in warm water floating, ambient underwater music and chakra-focused themes for a deeply restorative evening.

EXHIBITIONS

Helios Here Comes the Sun Winchester Cathedral Hampshire January 2026 — Image: *Helios: Here Comes the Sun* exhibition at Winchester Cathedral

Art gets a blockbuster makeover at Winchester Science Centre with Van Gogh Alive (22 January – 22 March 2026). No ordinary art exhibition, the multisensory experience brings Vincent’s masterpieces to life inside a 360° planetarium, where art and science collide through light, colour and sound for an immersive and educational journey.

Pull on your boots (mentally, at least) for Sara Lee: Chalk Lines. Drawings from the South Downs at Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, opening 14 January. Inspired by long walks along the chalk paths of the Downs, expect quietly powerful pastel works, sketchbooks and field notes that capture fleeting light, weather and the emotional rhythm of the landscape.

January gets a serious glow-up as Luke Jerram’s spectacular Helios lands at Winchester Cathedral with Here Comes the Sun (30 January – 1 March). Wander the nave beneath a blazing seven-metre Sun, then join in with everything from pilates to silent discos and a free interactive family trail – a brilliant, mood-boosting way to shake off winter.

And if you haven’t seen it yet, don’t miss Beauty of the Earth: The Art of May, Jane & William Morris at The Gallery at Arc Winchester (until 4 February). An exploration of the beauty of nature and design, this exhibition showcases the Morris family’s art, from embroidery and wallpapers to paintings, celebrating gardens, landscapes and creativity that shaped the Arts & Crafts movement.

COMEDY

Hungry for laughs? Bridget Christie serves up her hilarious new show Jacket Potato Pizza at Theatre Royal Portsmouth (25 January). Expect absurd stories, sharp wit and her trademark chaos – from kidney stones to stray cats – in a night of unforgettable comedy for ages 14+.

Barnstormers Comedy returns to The Arc, Winchester with a night of top London circuit talent (16 January). Hosted by Kevin Precious, the line-up features Comedy Store regulars Paddy Lennox, Stephanie Laing and Joe Wells delivering a mix of sharp wit, quirky observations and heartfelt laughs in a 16+ show.

Big laughs and brilliant honesty: Sue Perkins is touring her new stand-up show The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins, landing at the The Anvil Basingstoke on 30 January. From live TV mishaps to internet-inflicted mortification, this is sharp, joyful comedy about embarrassment, resilience and reclaiming the narrative.

What’s on this January around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

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