Opera, Dance and Ballet in London

The perfect introductory ballet for children aged three and upwards, the English National Ballet presents a magical, family-friendly version of Cinderella, featuring an enchanted forest and a heroine on a journey to find herself through her love of music and nature. Performed by students of the English National Ballet School Graduate Artists Programme and featuring narration, dance, and music, this is the perfect family outing to get your young ones to fall in love with ballet.

King of Tango German Cornejo and his spectacular dance company return to present a night of authentic Argentine tango and a score that celebrates the legacy of the great tango composer Astor Piazzolla. Ten world class dancers and a live orchestra of musicians and singers come together to spin a story of passion, desire, and drama, told through one of the most irresistible dance forms.

Sink into the Globe Theatre’s highly anticipated 2026 summer season with this electrifying staging of Shakespeare’s playful, chaotic comedy about spells, transformations, and the fickle nature of love. Four young Athenian lovers, caught in a love quadrangle, flee into an enchanted forest, where they become the victim of a love spell by the mischievous fairies that dwell within it. Dream and reality blur into midsummer madness in the sun-soaked open air of the Globe Theatre, making for an unforgettable and immersive theatrical treat.

Kenneth MacMillan's psychologically thrilling 1978 ballet reimagines the story of a real-life scandal in the Austro-Hungarian court, where the death-obsessed Crown Prince Rudolph begins a clandestine affair with the beautiful, morbid Baroness Mary Vetsera, leading to a devastating murder-suicide. Dark desires, family secrets, and political intrigue come together in this searing exploration of the darkest parts of the human psyche.

One of Verdi's most famous operas returns to London, in an elegant production by Oliver Mears and conducted by Verdi specialist Mark Elder. Telling the story of the hunchbacked jester Rigoletto, who tries to protect his daughter Gilda from the attentions of his philandering master, the Duke of Mantua, it's a thrilling story of corruption, power, and murder, told through a breath-taking score and a series of complex characters you won't be able to forget.

Puccini's classic opera returns to the stage with this heartbreaking and heartwarming story of love, friendship, and loss in Paris at Christmastime. Richard Jones bring to life one of the most enduring, popular, and influential operas in the world, filled with beloved characters and a rich, evocative score. A perfect first opera for newcomers and a cherished favourite of long-time opera lovers.

British choreographer Matthew Bourne's dance production tells the story of a small-town Italian-American community whose lives are changed when a handsome, dangerous stranger walks into their diner. With a passionate, high-energy score by Terry Davies and inspired by Bizet's iconic opera, Carmen, The Car Man will sweep you off your feet and into a sizzling American epic.

Deborah Warner's (Billy Budd, Wozzeck) stunning contemporary staging of Benjamin Britten's bleak, harrowing opera returns to the Royal Opera with the story of Peter Grimes, a fisherman driven to madness after the death of his apprentice causes his community to turn against him. Opera lovers will be thrilled and moved by this psychologically complex, atmospheric story of alienation and exile, set to a powerful score.

Witness the works of Wayne McGregor, one of the leading trailblazers in the world of modern dance, with this mixed programme that celebrates his creativity, imagination, and passion for ballet. From Yugen, inspired by American composer Bernstein, to Untitled, 2023, a collaboration with minimalist artist Carmen Herrera, to the premiere of a brand new ballet by McGregor, these performances will inspire and enchant ballet lovers and newcomers alike.

Laurent Pelly's larger-than-life production returns with Donizetti's heartwarming comic opera about a tomboy raised by an unconventional military family as she searches for her happily ever after. Packed with catchy, military-style tunes, this witty, laugh-out-loud bel canto opera conducted by Yves Abel will sweep you away into a light-hearted adventure in the Tyrolean alps.

Richard Jones's energetic, sophisticated staging of Camille Saint-Saëns's grand opera, in this biblical epic that retells the story of the love affair between the superhumanly strong Samson and the Philistine temptress Dalila. Alexander Soddy conducts this harrowing story of temptation, betrayal, and a trial of faith, set to an instantly recognisable and powerful score that will enthrall both seasoned opera lovers and newcomers.

Richard Jones's stunning new staging of Vicenzo Bellini's last ever opera will sweep you away into the tragic love story of Elvira, a Puritan, and Arturo, a Royalist, whose wedding day spirals into tragedy in the wake of misunderstandings, madness, and treason, leading to the ultimate test of faith. This emotionally profound and ethereally composed opera stars Lisette Oropesa stars as the devoted Elvira and Francesco Demuro as the courageous Arturo.

The London Palladium's beloved festive tradition returns this Christmas with a brand-new panto retelling of Cinderella: the magical rags to riches fairytale that we all know and love, told with several cheeky, delightful twists. This fabulous, funny, and outrageous retelling stars Julian Clary as the Fairy Godfather, alongside iconic comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reuniting onstage as the ugly stepsisters. Get ready for a one-of-a-kind festive treat with this sassy panto, filled with spectacular costumes, dazzling special effects, and lots of laughter.

Frederick Ashton’s joyful ballet is a love letter to the countryside, a light-hearted pastoral tale about a battle of wills between Lise and her mother over the question of marrying for love or for money. This whimsical, humourous ballet features dancing chickens, a dizzying ribbon dance, clog-dancing and an adorable Shetland pony, making it a comic masterpiece that will leave you smiling long after you've left the theatre.

Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s visually stunning and ambitious production of The Sleeping Beauty arrives on the Royal Albert Hall stage for the first time. In this dazzling, bewitching spectacle, witness the classic fairy tale come to life, full of gorgeous sets, costumes, choreography, and a score that will take your breath away.

This landmark event brings the groundbreaking work of Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot to new audiences with this Royal Ballet premiere. This mixed programme by the critically acclaimed Spanish/British contemporary choreographic duo presents two parallel performances that explore isolation, relationships, and a love for dance, through a blend of fluid, stirring choreography and stories of yearning and passion.

A personal and powerful collaboration between composer Philip Glass and performer-director Phelim McDermott (Improbable), Tao of Glass explores life, loss, and the question of where true inspiration comes from. Part concert and part performance, it features ten meditations on life, death, and Taoist wisdom, set to ten brand new pieces of music from Glass. It's presented by McDermott, alongside an ensemble of musicians and puppeteers bringing this beautiful story to life.

Globe Director of Education Lucy Cuthbertson and Splendid Productions' Kerry Frampton and Ben Hales team up for a brand new original play for the Globe Theatre's magical summer season. Perfect for the whole family, it follows a boy named Cass, who invents a rich imaginary world of adventuring and heroism, inspired by his grandmother's love for Shakespeare. Don't miss this whimsical and heartwarming celebration of the joy of storytelling.

Inspired by Lionsgate's worldwide blockbuster franchise, Now You See Me, and fresh off a world tour that dazzled audiences across Australia and Singapore, Now You See Me Live is finally coming to the UK. This international stage illusion spectacular features a world-class magic ensemble from around the world, based on the film's Four Horsemen, who enthrall and amaze audiences with their jaw-dropping arsenal of illusion, magic tricks, spectacle, and storytelling.