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music · Thursday 10 September 2026 · 8:00pm 
Michael Starring Ben - The Magic of Michael Jackson, Millennium Forum Derry
At Millennium Forum · Newmarket Street, Derry, Co. Derry, BT48 6EB
At Millennium Forum · Newmarket Street, Derry, Co. Derry, BT48 6EB
This touring tribute production brings the music and movement of Michael Jackson to Derry’s premier stage for one night in September 2026. Ben Bowman has spent years refining his portrayal of the King of Pop to the point where critics and audiences consistently say the resemblance - in voice, movement and presence - is uncanny. If you grew up with Thriller, Off the Wall or Bad, or if you simply want a night of polished live entertainment with a full band and a proper light show, this is worth making the trip for. It suits fans of all ages, and the Millennium Forum is a genuinely good room for it.
Ben Bowman performs for over two hours, remaining on stage for nearly the entire show with lightning-fast costume changes between the eras of Jackson’s career. The setlist pulls from the full catalogue - Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, Man in the Mirror, Black or White, and tracks from the Jackson 5 years. Behind him is a live band and a full production rig: choreography drawn from the original stage concepts, period-accurate costumes, and a light show designed to match the spectacle. It is not a karaoke night or a tribute act in a pub. This is a properly produced theatre show from James Baker Productions, one of the UK’s established touring companies, and it plays venues like this one on a national circuit that includes Belfast’s Waterfront Hall and Dublin’s 3Olympia.
The Millennium Forum sits on Newmarket Street in Derry city centre, close to the medieval walls and a short walk from the Guildhall. From Belfast, the Translink Enterprise and Goldline coaches serve Derry regularly and the journey takes around 90 minutes; the bus station is a short walk from the venue. From Dublin, the Aircoach and Bus Eireann run services to Derry, or you can drive the N2/A5 route in roughly two hours. If driving from within Northern Ireland, the venue is signposted in the city centre; street parking is available in the evenings on surrounding roads, and the Foyleside car park on Orchard Street is a few minutes on foot.
An evening show gives you time earlier in the day to walk the walls, cross the Peace Bridge, or take in the Bogside murals before heading to the Forum. There is more to see in Derry and across Co. Derry.
Heading to Millennium Forum in Derry? Derry has plenty more to see. Read the Derry area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.