Opera, Dance and Ballet in London

In January 2026, the English National Ballet will bring a bold reimagining of the classic romantic ballet, Giselle, to the grand stage of the London Coliseum, directed and choreographed by Akram Khan.

Step into the dreamy, wooden, candlelit space of the Sam Wanamaker Theatre, where for the first time Shakespeare’s Globe and Headlong bring to the stage this magical, chaotic story of tricksy fairies and confused lovers.

Witness a timeless story of love and redemption in this dazzling, spectacular production of Puccini's Turandot. Drawing on Chinese and Italian theatrical traditions, this captivating opera about a cold-hearted princess and her mysterious suitor is filled with rich, emotional depths, a breath-taking cultural fusion, and a truly unforgettable score.

La Traviata is one of Verdi's most famous operas, telling the tragic story of the romance between the doomed courtesan Violetta and the romantic Alfredo. Inspired by history, with a timeless story that will leave you in tears, and a powerful, moving score full of the most well-known operatic melodies, this is a must-watch for all opera lovers.

Jamie Manton directs Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s gripping, beautiful opera about three fugitives in a desert boomtown where dreams come true, told through a rich score that blends opera and jazz in a truly unique cultural and musical experience.  

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.

Peter Wright's production brings to life composer Adolphe Adam's enchanting, tragic ballet about the titular Giselle, who kills herself after learning her lover is promised to another, joining a ghostly army of vengeful, wrathful jilted women. Visually stunning, with a sweeping story of love and betrayal, this haunting, timeless ballet is a quintessential piece of the Romance genre.

Richard Jones's critically acclaimed staging of Mussorgsky's epic opera returns to London, conducted by Mark Wigglesworth and starring Bryn Terfel. Capturing a crucial and turbulent moment in Russian history, it chronicles the rise and fall of Tsar Boris Godunov as he confronts vengeful ghosts, his own guilt, and the rise of a usurper who threatens his throne. How far will he go for power?

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.

Woolf Works pays tribute to the unique artistic spirit of Virginia Woolf through a genre-defying, experimental ballet triptych that recreates stories from three of her novels. Choreographer Wayne McGregor brings these unique stories to life through a series of breath-taking contemporary dance performances.

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.

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.

From Scottish Ballet comes a visually stunning, powerful new ballet in which the dying Queen Elizabeth I is haunted by the ghost of her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. With choreography and a set that combine classicism and modernity, as well as a jaw-dropping original score, this is a bold and clever take on an iconic piece of British history and two formidable queens.

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.

Choreographer Crystal Pite, and choreographer and commercial dancer Kameron N Saunders come together to bring you a one-of-a-kind evening of performance, which blends multiple forms from dance to spoken word to create an intimate, powerful experience that explores the complexities of human existence, from bereavement to finding your authentic self. Featuring a score performed by English National Ballet Philharmonic, this will be an unforgettable experience for lovers of dance.