English National Ballet’s 2026-2027 season “opens up the possibilities of ballet, offering more ways to discover, feel and engage with ballet, on stage and beyond”.
English National Ballet’s Artistic Director, Aaron S. Watkin, said:
Dance has the emotional power to move, creating space for multiple perspectives, reactions and experiences – says ENB’s Artistic Director, Aaron S. Watkin. – Our 2026-2027 season offers a range of opportunities. We’re inviting audiences to ‘feel more’ through thought-provoking new works, much-loved classics, and creative learning, participation and digital programmes that reach more people, in more ways.
English National Ballet invites audiences to ‘feel more’ with a season of live performance, participation programmes, creative health initiatives and digital activity:
- National touring takes ballet across the country
- World premieres from rising choreographic talents Jae Man Joo and Micaela Taylor
- Company performs George Balanchine’s Symphony in Three Movements for the first time
- Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet, the Company’s signature production, tours nationally
- Derek Deane’s Swan Lake in the round celebrates 30 years with Royal Albert Hall performances
- Extensive programme of learning, participation and talent development opportunities
- Watkin and Smith’s Nutcracker released to Ballet on Demand, for viewing anywhere, anytime
The 2026-2027 season begins in September at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, with Rhythm Riot (24 September – 3 October 2026), a new triple bill comprising two world premieres and a Company debut. The programme opens with George Balanchine’s Symphony in Three Movements, originally created for New York City Ballet in 1972 and performed by English National Ballet for the first time.
The evening is completed by two world premieres: the UK debut of Jae Man Joo and a new work from rising choreographic talent Micaela Taylor. Korean-born choreographer Jae Man Joo, recipient of the 2009 Princess Grace Choreographer Award, creates Auguries of Innocence, drawing on William Blake’s poem of the same name. It is set to music by Pēteris Vasks, performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic. Set and costume designs are by Thomas Mika, with lighting design by Mark Henderson.
Micaela Taylor’s Bow Out closes the programme. Inspired by the 1930s jazz era and the Nicholas Brothers, Taylor brings a pulsing new work to English National Ballet’s repertoire. It features a new score by Tru (Philip Buckner), performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, and conducted by Maria Seletskaja. With designs by Candice Macallister, Bow Out “showcases Taylor’s distinctive storytelling and versatile movement style, inviting audiences to experience something fresh and memorable”.
English National Ballet tours Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet in autumn 2026. This signature reimagining of one of the world’s greatest love stories travels to Liverpool’s Empire Theatre (15 – 17 October 2026), Manchester’s Palace Theatre (21 – 25 October 2026), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (3 – 5 December 2026), and the London Coliseum (14 – 24 January 2027), where it first premiered in 1977.
Nureyev’s production is brought to life with sets and costumes by Ezio Frigerio and Franca Squarciapino. Sergei Prokofiev’s score is played live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, conducted by Music Director Maria Seletskaja, Principal Guest Conductor Gavin Sutherland and Benjamin Pope.
The London Coliseum sees the return of Nutcracker (17 December 2026 – 10 January 2027), choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron S. Watkin and Olivier Award-winner Arielle Smith. Costumes and sets are by Dick Bird, with Tchaikovsky’s score played live by English National Ballet Philharmonic. The orchestra is conducted by Music Director Maria Seletskaja, Principal Guest Conductor Gavin Sutherland, David Briskin and Alec Frank-Gemmill.
Johan Inger’s Carmen returns to the company’s repertoire with performances at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London (7 – 17 April 2027), before touring to the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (22 – 24 April 2027). Set to Shchedrin’s arrangement of Bizet’s score, with additional music by Marc Alvarez, it is performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, conducted by Maria Seletskaja and Benjamin Haemhouts. The production has set designs by Curt Allen Wilmer and Leticia Gañan with estudiodeDos, costumes by David Delfin, and lighting design by Tom Visser.
For younger audiences, English National Ballet and English National Ballet School travel to towns and cities across the country with My First Ballet: Cinderella. This introduction to ballet follows nature-loving Cinderella on a journey of self-discovery, choreographed by George Williamson, with designs by Rachael Canning and lighting design by Stevie Mackie. There is a narrator to guide the audience, and the production makes ballet accessible for children as young as three.
The national tour opens at the New Theatre, Oxford (6 – 7 February 2027), with further dates at the Grand Opera House, York (13 – 14 February 2027), Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury (16 – 17 February 2027), Opera House, Manchester (20 – 21 February 2027), and Peacock Theatre, London (25 March – 3 April 2027), with further dates to be announced. London dates include sensory adapted and BSL-interpreted performances, touch tour and visual story guides as part of the My First Inclusive Ballet programme, alongside family workshops offering more ways for audiences to connect with ballet.
English National Ballet’s 2026-2027 season closes with performances of Derek Deane’s Swan Lake in-the-round, marking its 30th anniversary. From 16 – 27 June 2027, the Royal Albert Hall is transformed into a lakeside, with 60 swans, choreography unfolding in the round, and designs by Peter Farmer, lit by Howard Harrison. Tchaikovsky’s score is performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, and conducted by Music Director Maria Seletskaja and Principal Guest Conductor Gavin Sutherland.
Guest Artists
This season ENB welcomes Associate Guest Artist Ksenia Ovsyanick (former English National Ballet Soloist and Staatsballett Berlin Principal) in Rhythm Riot and Romeo & Juliet (London Coliseum); Paris Opera Ballet Étoile Hugo Marchand in Romeo & Juliet (London Coliseum); and Associate Guest Artist Davi Ramos, First Soloist with The Australian Ballet,in Nutcracker.
The company will continue working with its Associate Guest Repetiteur, Cynthia Harvey, along with Guest Repetiteurs Stephanie Arndt, Yannick Boquin, Manuel Legris, Elisabeth Maurin, and Alejandro Parente.
2026-2027 also sees the return of Studio Sessions. This talent development programme offers dancers a supportive and inspiring environment to explore choreographic ideas and develop new skills, culminating with an in-house sharing session.
Through English National Ballet’s engagement, creative learning and participation, we connect with tens of thousands of adults, children and young people each year – in schools, on tour and in our local communities. Our sector leading Dance for Parkinson’s and Dance for Dementia are based at our studios and extend across the UK and online. My First Inclusive Ballet in schools and family hubs widens opportunities to feel inspired and unlock creativity. At the Mulryan Centre for Dance, activity includes youth dance development through Summer Intensives, ENBYouthCo-nnect and ENBYouthCo, Shared Ground artist support, our annual dance showcase Re-Play, Open House and Dance Classes for All.
Ballet Futures continues work to create a more inclusive, equitable and artistically rich art form. The programme supports young dancers from historically underrepresented backgrounds – particularly those of African Diaspora, Caribbean, South Asian and Southeast Asian heritage – through sustained training, mentorship and professional development. Students also benefit from performance opportunities with the company and wider artistic partners.
The Company’s digital content, channels, and platforms bring ballet to audiences anywhere, anytime. BalletActive offers subscribers hundreds of online classes, while Ballet on Demand streams much-loved productions, which in 2026-2027 will include Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith’s critically acclaimed Nutcracker. A new co-production partnership with Marquee TV will expand the Company’s digital reach, with world-class performances and behind-the-scenes content available through the subscription service for audiences across the globe.
2026-2027 Season Listings
Rhythm Riot
Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London
24 September – 3 October 2026
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/rhythm-riot
Romeo & Juliet
Liverpool Empire Theatre
15 – 17 October 2026
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/romeo-juliet
Manchester Palace Theatre
21 – 25 October 2026
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/romeo-juliet
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
3 – 5 December 2026
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/romeo-juliet
Nutcracker
London Coliseum
17 December 2026 – 10 January 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/nutcracker/
Romeo & Juliet
London Coliseum
14 – 24 January 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/romeo-juliet
My First Ballet: Cinderella
New Theatre, Oxford
6 – 7 February 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/my-first-ballet-cinderella/
Grand Opera House, York
13 – 14 February 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/my-first-ballet-cinderella/
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
16 – 17 February 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/my-first-ballet-cinderella/
Manchester Opera House, Manchester
20 – 21 February 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/my-first-ballet-cinderella/
The Peacock Theatre, London
25 March – 3 April 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/my-first-ballet-cinderella/
Carmen
Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London
7 – 17 April 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/carmen/
The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
22 – 24 April 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/carmen/
Swan Lake in-the-round
Royal Albert Hall, London
16 – 27 June 2027
https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/swan-lake-in-the-round/
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.