BELFAST, February 3, 2026 — Michael Flatley has secured a crucial legal victory, obtaining an injunction from the High Court in Belfast that allows his 30th-anniversary production of Lord of the Dance to proceed as planned in Dublin this week. The ruling comes after a dramatic turn of events that saw the show initially canceled Tuesday morning.
Legal Battle and Last-Minute Reprieve
The future of the iconic dance show was thrown into doubt before a court intervened.
Earlier Tuesday, Switzer Consulting Ltd., the company previously responsible for running the show, announced its cancellation “with immediate effect.” In a statement, Switzer described itself as “the owner of the show and the intellectual property rights,” attributing the decision to an “ongoing commercial and legal dispute” that couldn’t be resolved quickly enough. The company expressed regret for the disappointment caused to fans and ticket holders.
Flatley swiftly contested the cancellation, calling it “outrageous” and vowing the performance would continue. He then sought an emergency hearing at the High Court in Belfast, ultimately securing the injunction shortly before 4 p.m. local time.
The court order specifically restrains Switzer Consulting Ltd., or anyone acting on its behalf, “from interfering with, seeking to obstruct, issuing press statements or public communications or otherwise or in any way whatsoever seeking to prevent [Flatley] from making use of the intellectual property and rights to Lord of the Dance to include, in particular, seeking to prevent or obstruct the defendant from running/operating the Lord of the Dance show in Dublin on Thursday, February 5th, 2026.” The order also mandates that Switzer “deliver up to [Flatley] all the set and associated materials and costumes forthwith.”
What is the current status of the Lord of the Dance show in Dublin? The show is currently scheduled to go ahead on Thursday, February 5th, 2026, following a court injunction granted to Michael Flatley.
In a statement released after the ruling, Flatley welcomed the High Court’s decision, stating it would “stop Switzer Consulting Limited from further disrupting my shows.” He revealed that his service agreement with Switzer Consulting Limited had been terminated the previous afternoon, and expressed shock that a company he owns would attempt to disrupt the production.
Flatley further explained that Switzer had been in court three hours before issuing the cancellation statement, with a full hearing already scheduled for April. “Our relationship has been validly ended and €0.5 million has been lodged in a solicitor’s account pending the hearing in two months’ time,” he said. “It is unacceptable that Switzer would then issue a statement and I was left no choice but to injunct them from any such further interventions to ensure my shows go ahead from this Thursday. The show must go on and it will go on.”
A Saga of Legal Disputes
This latest development follows a previous legal order, overturned last Thursday by a court in Belfast, that had initially blocked Flatley’s involvement with the Lord of the Dance production.
Switzer Consulting had initiated that civil case, alleging breach of contract related to an agreement allowing them to manage the dance shows. The firm argued they had a valid agreement to run the performances.
The upcoming Dublin performance at the 3Arena is particularly significant, as it serves as a showcase for US bookers. Many are traveling to Ireland to assess the show before deciding whether to bring it to cities across the United States in the coming months.
Quick fact: Lord of the Dance premiered in 1996 and has become a global phenomenon, captivating audiences with its high-energy choreography and Celtic-inspired music.
