George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at New York City Ballet
Through Jan 3Nov 27 – Jan 3 · 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM · Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Multiple showtimes including frequent weekend and holiday family matinees at 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM, and evening performances at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM. Sensory-friendly performance scheduled for Jan 3, 2027.
David H. Koch Theater (Lincoln Center)20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023 · 4.3 mi approx. from New YorkDirections
Ages 5 and up recommended (every guest requires a ticket regardless of age; booster seats available)
From $85Tickets start from $85–$120 for fourth ring/rear; prime orchestra $175–$345+. All attendees must have a ticket.
About this adventure
Tschaikovsky's unforgettable score and Balanchine's breathtaking choreography come alive at Lincoln Center with a 62-piece orchestra, 90 dancers, and 125 children from the School of American Ballet. Families are transported to the Land of Sweets by theatrical wonders including a one-ton Christmas tree that grows from 12 to 40 feet onstage, 9-foot Mother Ginger with dancing Polichinelles emerging from her skirt, and a crystalline blizzard of waltzing snowflakes. Lincoln Center theater staff provide complimentary booster cushions for kids. Family matinees (1:00 PM and 2:00 PM) offer convenient daytime curtain times for young ballet-goers.
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