George Balanchine's The Nutcracker 2026 in New York City, Miami, Philadelphia and more

Few holiday traditions are as closely tied to New York City as settling into your seat at David H. Koch Theater, watching the house lights dim and hearing the opening notes of Tchaikovsky's score.

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker returns to New York City Ballet for the 2026 holiday season, running from Friday, Nov. 27, 2026 through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027 at Lincoln Center.

Balanchine's production premiered with New York City Ballet in 1954 and went on to become one of the most influential American stagings of The Nutcracker. The production pairs Balanchine's choreography with Tchaikovsky's score, elaborate sets and costumes, a live orchestra and a large cast that includes students from the School of American Ballet.

New York isn't the only place to see Balanchine's version this holiday season, either. Several ballet companies around the country are presenting licensed productions in 2026, including Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Philadelphia Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet and Alabama Ballet.

George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" 2026 New York schedule

New York City Ballet's 2026 production begins the Friday after Thanksgiving and continues through the first weekend of January. All performances take place at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Dates with two performances are combined below so you can quickly compare matinee and evening options.

There are no performances currently listed for Christmas Day or New Year's Day. The schedule gets especially dense during the final two weeks of December, giving families and holiday visitors several matinee and evening options.

Where else can you see George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" in 2026?

New York City Ballet may be the company most closely associated with Balanchine's Nutcracker, but it isn't the only place to see his choreography.

Several ballet companies around the country are licensed to present George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, with each company bringing its own dancers, venue and production design to the celebrated choreography. That means fans outside New York have several opportunities to see Balanchine's version during the 2026 holiday season.

What to expect at George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker"

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker unfolds in two acts, following Marie from a Christmas Eve party into a dreamlike adventure involving the Nutcracker Prince, the Mouse King, a snow-covered forest and the Land of Sweets.

Balanchine created the production for New York City Ballet in 1954, drawing on his memories of performing in The Nutcracker as a child while also transforming the ballet into a large-scale American holiday spectacle.

Some of its most famous moments include the Christmas tree transformation, the battle between the Nutcracker's soldiers and the mice, the Waltz of the Snowflakes and the second-act divertissements in the Land of Sweets before the Sugarplum Fairy's grand pas de deux.

At New York City Ballet, the production combines the company's professional dancers with musicians from the New York City Ballet Orchestra and students from the School of American Ballet.

How long is George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker"?

Runtime varies slightly depending on the company presenting the production, but fans should generally plan for about two hours including an intermission.

If you're attending in another city, check the information for your specific performance before heading to the theater.

Where is New York City Ballet's "The Nutcracker" performed?

New York City Ballet performs George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in Manhattan.

The theater is located on the Lincoln Center campus near West 63rd Street and Columbus Avenue. The 1 train to 66th Street-Lincoln Center is one of the most convenient subway options for reaching the venue.

When does George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" start in 2026?

New York City Ballet's 2026 production opens Friday, Nov. 27 at 8:00 p.m. at David H. Koch Theater.

Opening weekend continues with performances at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, followed by 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. performances Sunday, Nov. 29.

When does George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" end?

New York City Ballet's 2026 holiday run concludes Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, with performances at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.

That makes Jan. 2 the final opportunity of the season to see New York City Ballet's production at Lincoln Center before the company moves into its winter repertory season.

Other Balanchine Nutcracker productions wrap earlier: Oregon Ballet Theatre finishes Dec. 24, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Miami City Ballet finish Dec. 27, Philadelphia Ballet closes Dec. 31 and Alabama Ballet finishes Dec. 22.

How to get George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" tickets on SeatGeek

Whether you're planning an annual family tradition in New York, seeing Pacific Northwest Ballet's version in Seattle or catching another Balanchine production closer to home, SeatGeek can help you compare available performances and seats.

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From the Christmas tree rising above the stage to the Waltz of the Snowflakes and the Sugarplum Fairy's arrival in the Land of Sweets, George Balanchine's The Nutcracker remains a holiday tradition in cities across the country.

New York City Ballet's 2026 production runs Nov. 27 through Jan. 2, while additional Balanchine productions stretch across Seattle, Philadelphia, Portland, Miami and Birmingham throughout December. Browse available George Balanchine's The Nutcracker tickets on SeatGeek to find a performance near you.