Ballet Austin’s 2026–27 Season is all about time. “Time feels increasingly rare,” says Artistic Director Stephen Mills. “It’s easy to find our attention perpetually focused on the next task. Dance asks something different of us. It asks us to pause . . . and be present. This season is an invitation to do just that—to take time to spend together.”
The Long Center | September 25–27, 2026
Magic and mischief take center stage in Stephen Mills’ enchanting reimagining of Shakespeare’s riotous comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Confused lovers, mischievous fairies, and wayward spells collide beneath a moonlit forest canopy in this hilarious tale of romantic mayhem. Set to Felix Mendelssohn’s richly expressive score played live by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Mills’ production is a playful, visually lush celebration of love in all its charm. Clever, whimsical, and irresistibly entertaining, A Midsummer Night’s Dream offers a joyful opening to the season.
The Long Center | December 5–23, 2026
The 64th annual production of Austin’s treasured holiday tradition is a dazzling spectacle filled with sparkling snowflakes, magic, and wonder. Follow Clara on her enchanting journey from a festive holiday party to the shimmering Land of Sweets, where she meets the dazzling Sugar Plum Fairy and the brave Nutcracker Prince. Featuring exquisite costumes, festive sets, and live accompaniment by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, this beloved classic creates cherished holiday memories year after year.
The Long Center | February 12–14, 2027
Director’s Choice / Rhythm of the Heart brings together two striking contemporary works that explore rhythm, melody, and the deeper patterns that shape who we are. Together, these works create a contemporary ballet experience that celebrates connection, inheritance, and the invisible rhythms that unite us.
Partita
Three-time Tony Award–winning choreographer Justin Peck’s Partita, created for the New York City Ballet, is set to Caroline Shaw’s Pulitzer Prize–winning vocal score, and unfolds in a hypnotic cascade of interlocking movement, pulsing with rhythm, connection, and collective energy.
CARBON53
Stephen Mills’ CARBON53 offers a powerful counterpoint—Opening with the power of Steve Reich’s “Clapping Music,” the work explores the concept of identity and the human body as a carbon copy, passed down through generations, slowly altered by time.
The Long Center | March 19–21, 2027
Roses for the Last Dance explores love, connection, and the bonds that shape us. From intimate reflection to collective strength and youthful passion, this trio of dances traces the many forms human connection can take.
One / the body’s grace
Stephen Mills’ One / the body’s grace is an international award–winning work and a meditation on intimacy and relationship. Quietly powerful, the piece honors the presence of shared touch and vulnerability.
Renaissance
Renaissance, choreographed by Amy Seiwert, follows with rhythmic intensity, celebrating community and renewal through movement. Set to the resonant voices of Kitka, an Oakland-based women’s a cappella ensemble, the work draws inspiration from Eastern European musical traditions, weaving together pulsing movement and resonant sound.
Roses for the Last Dance
In Roses for the Last Dance, Stephen Mills channels the soul of Edith Piaf in a passionately charged work that captures love at its most vivid—romantic, playful, and alive with possibility. It is a lush, emotional finale that lingers long after the music ends.
The Long Center | May 7–9, 2027
One of the most beloved classical ballets ever created, Giselle is a tale of young love, betrayal, and redemption that has captivated audiences for nearly two centuries. Set in the idyllic Rhineland, this Romantic Era masterpiece tells the story of an innocent village girl named Giselle, whose heart is broken when the nobleman she loves is revealed to be engaged to another. Consumed by grief, she dies—and rises again as one of the Wilis, the ghostly spirits of betrayed maidens who “dance men to their doom.” But Giselle’s love endures, and in the moonlit second act, her spirit intervenes to save her beloved from their merciless grasp. With a lush score by Adolphe Adam, evocative choreography rooted in Romantic tradition, and an ethereal corps de ballet of Wilis in flowing white tulle, Giselle is both a visceral emotional journey and a breathtaking spectacle of classical dance that lingers long after the final curtain.
Subscriptions and Tickets
Season subscriptions are available now.
Single ticket and Nutcracker tickets will go on sale later in the year. Stay tuned!
Featured Image: Courtesy of Ballet Austin.
