With tickets now on sale for Nashville’s Nutcracker, Nashville Ballet invites families to plan ahead—and extends the season’s spirit through its Holiday Magic access program.

In Nashville, the holiday season has a way of arriving before the calendar says it should. This year, it comes with pointe shoes, Tchaikovsky, and a familiar sense of wonder: tickets are now on sale for Paul Vasterling’s Nashville’s Nutcracker, returning to Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Jackson Hall from November 27 through December 27, 2026. Single tickets start at $48, giving families the chance to secure seats early for one of Middle Tennessee’s most beloved seasonal rituals.

More than a holiday outing, the production has become woven into the region’s cultural fabric—a meeting place for ballet lovers, first-time theatergoers, grandparents, children, and the generations in between. Nashville Ballet, one of the country’s premier professional ballet companies, continues to position the work as both a world-class artistic experience and a hometown tradition.

Vasterling’s Emmy Award-winning retelling transforms the familiar story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince into a distinctly Nashville adventure. Set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, performed live by The Nashville Symphony, the ballet carries audiences through a dreamlike landscape of swirling snow, whimsical characters, glittering choreography, and storybook spectacle.

“There’s something truly magical about sharing this production with our community year after year,” said Nick Mullikin, Artistic Director and CEO of Nashville Ballet. “Nashville’s Nutcracker has become a holiday tradition for thousands of families, and we’re excited to welcome both long-time patrons and first-time guests to experience the wonder, artistry and joy that make this production so special. It’s a reminder that extraordinary performing arts experiences can be found right here in our own backyard.”

Part of the production’s enduring appeal lies in its balance of grandeur and intimacy. The sparkling Kingdom of Sweets, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the mischievous baby mouse, and the battle with the Mouse King all return as touchstones in a performance designed to delight audiences of all ages while creating the kind of shared memory that becomes family lore.

The ballet’s reputation reaches beyond the stage. Nashville’s Nutcracker has been recognized as Best Dance Production by Broadway World Nashville and inspired an Emmy Award-winning film adaptation. Each season, Nashville Ballet’s professional company artists share the Jackson Hall stage with young dancers from the School of Nashville Ballet and youth from the local community, adding a civic dimension to the spectacle.

Tickets for Nashville’s Nutcracker are on sale now, and families are encouraged to purchase early as many performances traditionally sell out. Season ticket packages that include the production are also available through Nashville Ballet. For details, visit NashvilleBallet.com or contact TPAC’s box office at 615-782-4040.

Youth Auditions Open the Stage to the Next Generation

For young performers, the season offers another kind of invitation. Dancers ages 13 and older who are part of Nashville Ballet or a community partner student program may audition for the Nashville’s Nutcracker Youth Cast, an opportunity to perform alongside the company’s professional artists in a major holiday production.

Youth auditions will be held August 23 and August 30 at The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet. For many participants, the experience offers more than stage time; it provides a direct encounter with the discipline, collaboration, and exhilaration of professional performance.

Additional audition details and registration information are available at www.nashvilleballet.com/youth-cast-information.

Holiday Magic and the Work of Access

If Nashville’s Nutcracker is a celebration of seasonal enchantment, Nashville Ballet’s Holiday Magic initiative is a reminder that access is central to cultural life. The program helps bring the performing arts to children and families throughout Middle Tennessee who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a live ballet performance.

Each year, Holiday Magic provides thousands of students with access to special weekday student matinees, introducing young audiences to live performance while supporting classroom learning through curriculum-based educational materials aligned with Tennessee academic standards. Last season, nearly 3,500 students attended student matinees, including more than 1,700 students from Title I schools.

The initiative also reaches beyond the classroom through partnerships with more than 40 nonprofit and community organizations. Through those relationships, Nashville Ballet provides approximately 2,000 complimentary tickets each year to underserved children, families, veterans, seniors, and individuals for whom a night at the ballet might otherwise remain out of reach.

“One of the most meaningful aspects of Nashville’s Nutcracker is the opportunity to share it with families throughout our community,” Mullikin said. “Through Holiday Magic, we’re creating lasting memories while introducing thousands of children and families to the joy and inspiration of live performance. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the wonder of the arts during the holiday season.”

Nashville Ballet is currently seeking individuals, businesses, and community partners to support Holiday Magic through sponsorships and charitable contributions. A gift of $48 provides one child with the opportunity to experience Nashville’s Nutcracker, turning a ticket into a doorway to imagination, artistry, and belonging.

For more information or to support the initiative, visit www.nashvilleballet.com/donate-holiday.