The immersive theatrical dining experience will make its Australian debut at The Star in March, with Ulvaeus declaring Sydney the “perfect city” for its next chapter.

ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus is bringing his internationally acclaimed theatrical dining experience Mamma Mia! The Party to Australia, with the production set to open at Sydney Event Centre at The Star in March 2027.

Following successful runs in Stockholm and London, the immersive production will make its Australian premiere in Sydney, combining live performances of ABBA’s greatest hits with a four-course Greek feast and a theatrical love story set on a sun-drenched Mediterranean island.

“Bringing Mamma Mia! The Party to Sydney is a hugely exciting milestone for us,” Ulvaeus said. “From the very beginning, this experience was created to bring people together through music, storytelling and joy, and it has been wonderful to see audiences in Stockholm and London embrace it so wholeheartedly.

“Australia has always felt like a natural next step for us, and Sydney — with its energy, international appeal and love of live entertainment — is the perfect city for this next chapter.”

Created by Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! The Party transports audiences to Nikos’ family-run Greek taverna on the island of Skopelos, where much of the 2008 film adaptation of Mamma Mia! was shot.

Rather than watching a conventional stage musical, guests become part of the action as a cast of 20 musicians and performers brings a romantic comedy to life around their tables.

The evening features a four-course Greek meal accompanied by live performances of ABBA classics including “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo” and “Mamma Mia.” Following the theatrical performance, the venue transforms into a 1970s-inspired disco, with audiences invited to stay and dance to the Swedish group’s catalogue.

The production marks the latest international expansion of a franchise that began in Stockholm a decade ago before opening in London in August 2019.

Across the two cities, Mamma Mia! The Party has attracted almost 1.5 million guests. The London production alone has welcomed more than 700,000 visitors from 110 countries across more than 1,500 performances.

For Australian promoter Paul Dainty, the Sydney premiere represents a particularly significant reunion with ABBA’s music.

Dainty, president and CEO of TEG Dainty, promoted the group’s first and only Australian tour in 1977, when ABBA were at the height of their international popularity.

“Bringing Mamma Mia! The Party to Australia feels particularly special for me,” Dainty said.

“I had the extraordinary privilege of promoting ABBA’s first and only Australian tour back in 1977, and I still remember the phenomenal excitement that followed them across the country. Australia’s love affair with ABBA has never really ended — their music has become part of our cultural fabric.”

Dainty described the new production as a full-circle moment in his career.

“To be now working with Björn and Pophouse to bring this extraordinary celebration of ABBA’s music to Sydney feels like a wonderful full-circle moment,” he said.

“Mamma Mia! The Party is pure joy — it brings people together to eat, sing, dance and experience these songs in an entirely new way — and I can’t wait for Australian audiences to experience it.”

The Australian production is expected to create 151 year-round on-site jobs while attracting visitors from interstate and overseas.

Sophie Arendt, managing director of Mamma Mia! The Party for Pophouse Entertainment, said Sydney had been identified as an important destination in the show’s international expansion.

“Sydney is a defining milestone in the international growth of Mamma Mia! The Party,” Arendt said.

“As a globally recognised city with a vibrant live entertainment scene and strong appeal for both local and visiting audiences, it is the ideal destination for our Australian premiere and an exciting next step in our broader global rollout.”

The production builds on the enduring success of the Mamma Mia! franchise, which began with the stage musical in 1999 and expanded to the big screen with the 2008 film starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Amanda Seyfried. A sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, followed in 2018.

Unlike the stage and film versions, Mamma Mia! The Party offers an original story designed specifically for an immersive dining environment, with the action unfolding throughout the venue rather than on a traditional stage.

The Sydney production is executive produced by Ulvaeus and Pophouse Entertainment, with TEG Dainty presenting the Australian engagement.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with fans able to join a priority-access waitlist ahead of the release.

Mamma Mia! The Party opens at Sydney Event Centre at The Star in March 2027.