The Royal Ballet Nutcracker 2026: Dates, Tickets and What to Wear

Some London Decembers are measured in parties. The better ones are measured in evenings at Covent Garden. The Royal Ballet Nutcracker 2026 returns to the Royal Opera House on Thursday, December 3, and runs until January 13, 2027: Peter Wright's production, the one with the growing Christmas tree, the snowflakes and Julia Trevelyan Oman's designs. For many Londoners it is not one show among many. It is the night the season officially begins.

Here is everything we could confirm on the Royal Opera House's own pages on October 28, 2026: the dates, how tickets work, the running time and the dress question everyone asks.

The Dates: December 3, 2026 to January 13, 2027

According to the Royal Ballet and Opera production page, The Nutcracker plays on the Main Stage from December 3, 2026 to January 13, 2027. The run opens on Thursday, December 3, at 7:30 pm, with a 12:30 pm matinee and a 7:00 pm performance the following day, Friday, December 4. Evening and matinee performances continue through Christmas and into the new year, so you can choose between a weeknight in early December and a festive matinee between Christmas and New Year.

This season carries an extra layer of meaning. The Royal Opera House marks the centenary of Sir Peter Wright, whose production was first performed by The Royal Ballet in 1984 and has defined the London Nutcracker ever since.

How Tickets Work

The production page lists tickets from £10 to £238. A few things are worth knowing before you choose a date:

• Members book first. The Royal Opera House gives its members priority booking, so by the time public booking opens, the most popular dates (early evening performances in the week before Christmas) are often thin. If December is your one London trip, consider booking the moment public sale opens, or choose a January date.
• Tickets are digital. According to the Royal Opera House first-visit guide, tickets are issued as QR codes on your phone rather than paper.
• Age guidance. The production is recommended for ages 5 and up, which explains the family-heavy matinees. Evening performances skew more grown-up.
• Cinema option. The production is also screened in cinemas. It is a fine consolation, but nothing replaces the tree growing in the house itself.

Prices and availability change as the run sells; confirm on the official page before you plan travel around a date.

Running Time

The Royal Opera House gives a running time of about 2 hours and 10 minutes with one interval: Act I runs about 50 minutes, the interval about 30, and Act II about 50. That makes a 7:30 pm curtain an easy evening with time for a late supper, and a 12:30 pm matinee a natural prelude to tea.

What to Wear to the Royal Opera House

The official answer is reassuringly simple. The Royal Opera House has no dress code and invites visitors to wear what they feel comfortable in, while noting that many people dress up for galas and opening nights. In practice, the Nutcracker in December is one of the most dressed-up audiences of the London year, particularly at evening performances.

Our edit for an evening performance

• Velvet or silk in a jewel tone: a midi or long dress in emerald, garnet or midnight blue reads festive without competing with the stage.
• A coat you are happy to check: Covent Garden in December is cold, and the interval is long enough to want your hands free for a glass of champagne.
• Heels you can climb in: the house has many levels, and the walk from the amphitheatre to the bars is real.

For the full guide, from matinee to opening night, see our piece on what to wear to the Nutcracker, and for the house more generally, what to wear to the opera.

Planning the Evening

Arrive early

The auditorium opens 30 minutes before the performance. The Royal Opera House warns that latecomers may have to wait until a suitable break, which can mean up to 90 minutes, so build in a margin for Covent Garden's December crowds.

Dine in the house

Pre-theatre dining opens two hours before the performance, and the rooftop Bar Cicoria is the most elegant place to take a glass before curtain up. Book dining when you book seats; December tables go quickly.

Make a night of the season

The Nutcracker sits at the heart of London's most formal month. Our black-tie events in London guide covers the balls and dinners around it, and if you want a second Nutcracker to compare, read our guide to English National Ballet's Nutcracker at the London Coliseum.

The Royal Ballet Nutcracker or English National Ballet?

London has two great Nutcrackers each December. The Royal Ballet's is the classic: Peter Wright's choreography, Tchaikovsky's score played in a gilded opera house, and a production many families have attended for decades. English National Ballet's, at the London Coliseum on St Martin's Lane, is a newer production that premiered in 2024. If you can only choose one and want the full Covent Garden ritual, choose The Royal Ballet. If you want something fresher, or are coming in January, consider both.

FAQ

When is the Royal Ballet Nutcracker 2026?

From December 3, 2026 to January 13, 2027, on the Main Stage of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

How much are Royal Ballet Nutcracker tickets?

The official production page lists tickets from £10 to £238, checked October 28, 2026. Prices vary by date and seat.

How long is the Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House?

About 2 hours and 10 minutes, including one 30-minute interval.

Is there a dress code for the Royal Opera House?

No. The house says to wear what you feel comfortable in, though many guests dress up, especially for evening performances in December.

Sources: The Nutcracker, Royal Ballet and Opera and Your first visit, Royal Ballet and Opera, both checked October 28, 2026. Dates, casting and prices can change; always confirm with the Royal Opera House before booking.

Planning the rest of your London winter? Explore our London guides or see every Femme Jet Set guide. The Black-Tie Year · London lists the season's balls, galas and opening nights month by month, with the official link for each.

Cover photo: User:FA2010, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.