2026–2027 Season
NUTCRACKER
Dec 5–28
Our most magical production returns to the Opera House stage, transporting audiences of all ages into a realm of the fantastical. Dubbed Helgi Tomasson’s “finest achievement” by the San Francisco Chronicle, our Nutcracker remains the cornerstone of the Bay Area’s holiday season.
Tchaikovsky’s iconic score played by the Grammy Award-winning Orchestra guides us along Clara’s magical journey from her Victorian-era San Francisco home, through the most dazzling onstage blizzard, and onto the stunning Crystal Palace where we meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and an international cast of characters.
Nearly 80 years after San Francisco Ballet presented America with its first-ever Nutcracker in 1944, it remains the ultimate holiday tradition for families, friends, and dance-lovers alike.
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
Jan 29–Feb 7
The Sleeping Beauty is the pinnacle of the classical ballet canon. Choreographed by Helgi Tomasson after Marius Petipa and set to Tchaikovsky’s radiant score, this production honors the grandeur of the 19th-century classic while bringing a fresh vitality, showcasing regal pageantry, virtuosic technique, and enduring romance. It is a fairy tale that is both enchanting and captivating for audiences of all ages—elegant, timeless, and a celebration of classical ballet at its finest.
TITANS OF CHOREOGRAPHY
Feb 16–21
Experience the brilliance of three major European choreographers in a program that celebrates the range, nuance, and stylistic diversity of contemporary ballet. Van Manen’s Grosse Fuge strips movement to its essence—precise, sensual, and utterly exacting. Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, costumed by Zac Posen, moves from virtuosic clarity into sweeping romantic lyricism. Khan’s Dust draws from the haunting legacy of WWI—visceral, dramatic, and emotionally unsparing. From Dutch precision and British elegance to Khan’s singular fusion of South Asian and Western movement—this curation presents a portrait of the art form at its most inventive, disciplined, and alive.
JEWELS
Feb 27–Mar 7
George Balanchine’s Jewels is a singular masterpiece: an abstract triptych that evokes the brilliance of precious gems inspired by the jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. Emeralds shimmers with the elegance and refinement of 19th-century French Romantic ballet, a reflection of Balanchine’s vision of France’s grace and charm. Rubies sparkles with wit, energy, and a touch of New York City jazz, epitomizing the creative partnership between Stravinsky and Balanchine with a distinctly American flair. Diamonds exudes the grandeur and order of Imperial Russia, preserving the essence of the classical heritage Balanchine absorbed as a young man at the Mariinsky Theater. Together, these three luminous ballets form a dazzling tribute to ballet’s past, present, and enduring splendor.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Mar 10–27
Enter Shakespeare’s enchanted forest—a lush world brimming with magic, woodland creatures, and delightful disorder. Set to Felix Mendelssohn’s luminous score, George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream conjures a world where mischievous fairies, bewitched lovers, and bumbling mortals collide in a swirl of magic and mayhem. Balanchine’s sparkling choreography brings every moment vividly and luminously to life. Exquisitely crafted costumes and dreamlike sets by iconic French designer Christian Lacroix—created for the Paris Opera Ballet—wrap every scene in shimmering splendor. Joyful, radiant, and utterly transporting, this production is pure enchantment for dreamers of all ages.
DIVINE CREATURES
Apr 8–27
Three bold voices. One visionary spark. This program traces the enduring influence of ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev through works that reimagine the spirit of the Ballets Russes for today. Dubbed “two ‘it’ choreographers” by The New York Times, witness a world premiere from Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Faun refracts myth through a modern lens, echoing Nijinsky’s revolutionary sensuality. Yuri Possokhov’s next@90 Festival hit Violin Concerto returns with its technical brilliance and Stravinky’s virtuosic score. Distinct in style yet united by collaboration across disciplines, these three works celebrate risk, reinvention, innovation, and artistic virtuosity—hallmarks of Diaghilev’s legacy and the adventurous heart of this season.
MANON
Apr 23–May 2
Three bold voices. One visionary spark. This program traces the enduring influence of ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev through works that reimagine the spirit of the Ballets Russes for today. Dubbed “two ‘it’ choreographers” by The New York Times, witness a world premiere from Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Faun refracts myth through a modern lens, echoing Nijinsky’s revolutionary sensuality. Yuri Possokhov’s next@90 Festival hit Violin Concerto returns with its technical brilliance and Stravinky’s virtuosic score. Distinct in style yet united by collaboration across disciplines, these three works celebrate risk, reinvention, innovation, and artistic virtuosity—hallmarks of Diaghilev’s legacy and the adventurous heart of this season.