Celebrating 45 Years of Artistic Excellence, Madison Ballet's Beloved Holiday Tradition Returns December 11–20 to Overture Hall, Featuring Live Music by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra!
MADISON, WI - November 5, 2026 - This holiday season, Madison Ballet invites audiences to experience the wonder, imagination, and timeless beauty of The Nutcracker, returning to Overture Center December 11–20, 2026. As part of Madison Ballet's milestone 45th anniversary season, Coming Into View, this cherished holiday tradition promises an enchanting celebration of dance, music, and storytelling that brings families, friends, and generations together.
The Nutcracker features the professional dancers of Madison Ballet, talented students from the School of Madison Ballet, young talent from the Madison community and the magnificent sounds of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky's iconic score live under the baton of Maestro Andrew Sewell. Madison Ballet’s The Nutcracker continues to be one of Madison's most treasured holiday experiences.
From the excitement of the Stahlbaum family's Christmas celebration to the thrilling battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King, audiences will journey alongside Clara into a magical world where snowflakes dance, dreams take flight, and the enchanting Kingdom of Sweets comes alive.
A HOLIDAY TRADITION ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
For 45 years, Madison Ballet has played an important role in shaping the cultural landscape of south-central Wisconsin. Under the artistic leadership of Executive Artistic Director Ja' Malik, the organization continues to honor ballet's classical traditions while embracing innovation, inclusion, and artistic excellence.
"The Nutcracker represents so much more than a holiday performance. It is an opportunity for our community to come together, to create lasting memories, and to experience the extraordinary power of live performance," said Ja' Malik, Executive Artistic Director of Madison Ballet. "As we celebrate our 45th anniversary, I am reminded of the generations of dancers, families, artists, and supporters who have helped build this remarkable organization. Our production honors that legacy while inviting new audiences to discover the beauty and magic of ballet. Whether this is your family's annual tradition or your very first experience with Madison Ballet, we want you to feel that this performance belongs to you.”
THE POWER OF LIVE MUSIC AND DANCE
A defining feature of Madison Ballet's The Nutcracker is its longstanding artistic partnership with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Performing Tchaikovsky's beloved score live, the orchestra elevates the production with the richness, emotion, and energy that only live music can provide.
Together, the dancers and musicians create an immersive theatrical experience that captures the grandeur and intimacy of this timeless holiday classic. Audiences will enjoy some of ballet's most recognizable musical moments, including the Waltz of the Snowflakes, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Waltz of the Flowers, brought to life through the power, passion and precision, of Madison Ballet's outstanding artists!
MAKING THE MAGIC ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE
As Madison Ballet celebrates its 45th anniversary, its commitment to making dance accessible to all remains at the heart of its mission. Through educational initiatives, community partnerships, and accessible performance opportunities, Madison Ballet continues to remove barriers and create meaningful connections between the performing arts and the communities it serves.
The organization’s Behind the Curtain educational initiative returns this year on December 18th, which introduces students throughout Dane County to the extraordinary world of professional ballet, providing opportunities to experience live dance and orchestral music while learning about the artistry, discipline, and collaboration behind a major theatrical production.
Madison Ballet Outreach offers experiences beyond the performance itself. There are 11 Ballet Storytime events taking place at Madison Area Libraries beginning on Monday, November 9th, through December 16th. Schedule: https://www.madisonballet.org/events
CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF POWER, PASSION, AND PRECISION
As one of the organization's signature annual productions, The Nutcracker embodies Madison Ballet’s guiding principles of Power, Passion, and Precision, showcasing the strength of its professional artists, the promise of its young dancers, and the enduring impact of ballet on the Madison community. With spectacular dancing, beloved music, festive costumes, and unforgettable holiday moments, Madison Ballet's The Nutcracker offers an experience that will delight audiences of all ages.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Madison Ballet presents The Nutcracker with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
December 11— December 20, 2026
Overture Hall, Overture Center for the Performing Arts
201 State Street Madison, WI 53703
Tickets Online: www.overture.org/tickets-events/2026-27-season/madison-ballet-the-nutcracker
Tickets over the phone: 608-258-4141
Overture Center Box Office: 201 State Street Madison WI 53704
For tickets and additional information, visit Madison Ballet at www.madisonballet.org/the-nutcracker-2026
ABOUT MADISON BALLET
Madison Ballet is Madison, Wisconsin’s second largest professional ballet company and resident company of Overture Center for the Arts. For more than four decades, Madison Ballet has brought the transformative power, passion, and precision of dance to audiences throughout the Madison community and beyond.
The company’s mission is to foster a deep appreciation for ballet and make this beautiful art form accessible to all. Through professional performances, innovative new works, education, and community engagement, Madison Ballet is committed to creating meaningful experiences that connect artists and audiences.
Madison Ballet’s 45th season, Coming Into View, continues the company’s evolution by bringing together classical tradition, contemporary choreography, live music, and new artistic collaborations.
Media Contact
(photos available upon request):
Peter Rodgers, Marketing Brand Strategist
Madison Ballet
marketing@madisonballet.org
608-278-7990
415-713-0235 (mobile)