Show comparison
ABBA Voyage vs Mamma Mia!
Comparing ABBA Voyage and Mamma Mia! — price, ratings, duration, venue, and which one to book. An honest side-by-side comparison.
ABBA Voyage and Mamma Mia! both celebrate the music of ABBA, but they do it in entirely different ways. Mamma Mia! is a traditional jukebox musical — a warm, funny story set on a Greek island, using ABBA's greatest hits to drive the plot. ABBA Voyage is something completely new — a concert experience featuring digital avatars of ABBA performing their songs in a purpose-built arena with state-of-the-art technology. If you love ABBA, you now have two completely different ways to experience their music live in London.
ABBA Voyage
Mamma Mia!
Quick Verdict
Best value
Mamma Mia!
Highest rated
ABBA Voyage
Shorter show
ABBA Voyage
Who Should See ABBA Voyage?
ABBA Voyage is perfect for anyone who wants to experience ABBA in concert — something that was impossible for decades. The digital avatars (or "ABBAtars") are extraordinary feats of technology, capturing the band as they appeared in their 1970s heyday and performing in real time with a live band. The purpose-built ABBA Arena in east London creates an immersive concert atmosphere, and the technology is genuinely astonishing. It is particularly brilliant for lifelong ABBA fans who never got to see the real band live.
Who Should See Mamma Mia!?
Mamma Mia! is ideal for anyone who wants ABBA songs wrapped in a story — complete with romance, comedy, and a sun-drenched Greek island setting. The musical has been running since 1999 and remains one of the most joyful nights out in the West End. It is perfect for celebrations, group outings, and anyone who wants a feel-good experience that builds to a finale where the entire audience is on their feet dancing and singing along.
How ABBA Voyage and Mamma Mia! Compare
ABBA Voyage is a technology-driven concert experience — it is shorter (around ninety minutes), more intimate with the music itself, and showcases songs in their original concert arrangements. Mamma Mia! is a full-length musical with a plot, characters, and songs that have been reimagined to serve the story. Voyage focuses entirely on the music. Mamma Mia! uses the music as part of a bigger theatrical experience. Voyage is in a purpose-built arena in east London. Mamma Mia! is in a traditional West End theatre.
The Verdict
If you want to hear ABBA's music performed with stunning technology and concert energy, Voyage is a unique experience. If you want a full theatrical evening with ABBA songs woven into a warm, funny story, Mamma Mia! delivers perfectly. Many ABBA fans see both — and they are right to, because the experiences are complementary rather than competing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ABBA Voyage a real concert?
ABBA Voyage features digital avatars of ABBA (known as ABBAtars) performing with a live ten-piece band. The avatars were created using motion-capture technology with the real ABBA members. It feels remarkably like a real concert, even though the performers on stage are digital.
Which has more ABBA songs, Voyage or Mamma Mia!?
Both feature roughly twenty ABBA songs, but with different selections. ABBA Voyage includes deeper cuts alongside the hits, while Mamma Mia! focuses on the best-known songs and arranges them to serve the story.
Where is ABBA Voyage compared to Mamma Mia!?
ABBA Voyage plays at the ABBA Arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, east London. Mamma Mia! plays at the Novello Theatre in the West End. They are in completely different parts of London, so check travel times when planning your visit.