If you were born before 1990, chances are you’ve attended a wedding or school disco where ‘Dancing Queen’ played at an unreasonably high volume while someone’s tipsy uncle slid across the dancefloor on his knees. And if you were born after, well, you’ve definitely witnessed the TikTok generation resurrecting ABBA’s glorious, glitter-soaked pop anthems as if they’d only just been written.
Which is why, when ABBA announced ABBA Voyage, their cutting-edge, sci-fi-meets-70s spectacular in London, it made a strange kind of sense. The world doesn’t just love ABBA; it has a borderline dependency on them. Their hooks are woven into the fabric of Western civilisation. But how do you put on a concert when the band in question is, shall we say, ‘seasoned’? The answer: avatars. Or, as they’re officially known, ABBAtars.
What Is ABBA Voyage?
ABBA Voyage is not just a gig. It’s a full-blown digital spectacle housed in the purpose-built ABBA Arena in Stratford, East London. Forget a creaky old theatre—this is a futuristic venue that looks like something Elon Musk might build if he had a secret obsession with ‘Super Trouper.’ The experience is a collaboration between ABBA and George Lucas’s Industrial Light & Magic, the same wizards responsible for bringing Yoda back to life (though, thankfully, with less green wrinkliness).
So, what happens? You walk in, grab a cocktail with a pun-based name (‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! A Piña Colada After Midnight,’ anyone?), and then watch what appears to be ABBA in their prime, performing as if they’ve time-travelled straight from 1979. Except they’re not real. They’re hyper-detailed digital recreations, singing and dancing with uncanny precision, accompanied by a live band. It’s part gig, part tech miracle, part emotional crisis (because they look so real).
The Tech Behind the Magic
The ABBAtars (yes, we’re saying it again) were created using motion capture, meaning Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid did actually perform—just in skintight suits covered in dots, looking like very glamorous extras from The Matrix. That footage was then used to generate younger, holographic versions of them, down to every dramatic hand gesture and subtle eye twitch.
The lighting, set design, and stage visuals make the whole thing feel staggeringly immersive. You will, at times, genuinely forget they’re not physically there. And then you’ll remember, feel a bit weird about it, and carry on belting ‘Waterloo’ at the top of your lungs anyway.
Who’s Going?
Everyone. That’s the magic of ABBA. Boomers who saw them the first time around, Gen Xers still recovering from Mamma Mia! karaoke nights, millennials who had their ‘Voulez-Vous’ awakening, and Gen Z TikTokers claiming they ‘discovered’ them. The dance floor section (yes, there’s a dance floor) is full of people living their best sequined lives, while the seated areas accommodate those who prefer a more dignified, nod-along appreciation.
Verdict: Worth the Hype?
In a word: absolutely. It’s one of those rare experiences that is both a technological marvel and a genuinely fun night out. You don’t have to be an ABBA superfan to enjoy it—just someone who likes great music, a bit of theatrical magic, and the chance to pretend you’re in a fever dream where the 70s never ended.
So, whether you go for nostalgia, curiosity, or just the sheer joy of witnessing Björn in digital flares, ABBA Voyage is a London must-see. Just don’t be surprised if you leave thinking, ‘Should I get a jumpsuit?’ The answer is always yes.
How to Get There & Tickets
The ABBA Voyage Arena is located in Pudding Mill Lane, Stratford, East London. The closest station is Pudding Mill Lane DLR, which is just a short walk away. You can also get there via Stratford Station, which is well connected by the Central Line, Jubilee Line, Overground, and National Rail services—from there, it’s about a 15-minute walk or a quick DLR ride.
Tickets can be booked online via the official ABBA Voyage website or through major ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster. Prices vary depending on where you want to be—standing in the dance floor section for the full ‘festival in a time warp’ effect or seated for a more relaxed, but no less dazzling, experience. Given the show’s popularity, booking in advance is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment (and the heartbreak of missing out on a synchronised ‘Mamma Mia’ singalong).
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