San Francisco Ballet’s 2026–27 Season is a declaration: ballet is alive, full of adventure, and more relevant than ever. It brings Artistic Director Tamara Rojo’s visionary curation to the stage, embracing the artists and ideas shaping the future while celebrating ballet’s rich heritage.
War Memorial Opera House | December 4–27, 2026
San Francisco Ballet’s most magical production returns to the Opera House stage, transporting audiences of all ages into a realm of the fantastical. Dubbed Helgi Tomasson’s “finest achievement” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Nutcracker remains the cornerstone of the Bay Area’s holiday season.
Tchaikovsky’s iconic score played by the Grammy Award–winning Orchestra guides us along Clara’s magical journey from her Victorian-era San Francisco home, through the most dazzling onstage blizzard, and onto the stunning Crystal Palace where we meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and an international cast of characters.
War Memorial Opera House | January 29–February 7, 2027
The Sleeping Beauty is the pinnacle of the classical ballet canon. Choreographed by Helgi Tomasson after Marius Petipa and set to Tchaikovsky’s radiant score, this production honors the grandeur of the 19th-century classic while bringing a fresh vitality, showcasing regal pageantry, virtuosic technique, and enduring romance. It is a fairy tale that is both enchanting and captivating for audiences of all ages—elegant, timeless, and a celebration of classical ballet at its finest.
War Memorial Opera House | February 16–21, 2027
Experience the brilliance of three major European choreographers in a program that celebrates the range, nuance, and stylistic diversity of contemporary ballet. Van Manen’s Grosse Fuge strips movement to its essence—precise, sensual, and utterly exacting. Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, costumed by Zac Posen, moves from virtuosic clarity into sweeping romantic lyricism. Khan’s Dust draws from the haunting legacy of WWI—visceral, dramatic, and emotionally unsparing. From Dutch precision and British elegance to Khan’s singular fusion of South Asian and Western movement—this curation presents a portrait of the art form at its most inventive, disciplined, and alive.
War Memorial Opera House | February 27–March 7, 2027
George Balanchine’s Jewels is a singular masterpiece: an abstract triptych that evokes the brilliance of precious gems inspired by the jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. Emeralds shimmers with the elegance and refinement of 19th-century French Romantic ballet, a reflection of Balanchine’s vision of France’s grace and charm. Rubies sparkles with wit, energy, and a touch of New York City jazz, epitomizing the creative partnership between Stravinsky and Balanchine with a distinctly American flair. Diamonds exudes the grandeur and order of Imperial Russia, preserving the essence of the classical heritage Balanchine absorbed as a young man at the Mariinsky Theater. Together, these three luminous ballets form a dazzling tribute to ballet’s past, present, and enduring splendor.
War Memorial Opera House | March 19–27, 2027
Enter Shakespeare’s enchanted forest—a lush world brimming with magic, woodland creatures, and delightful disorder. Set to Felix Mendelssohn’s luminous score, George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream conjures a world where mischievous fairies, bewitched lovers, and bumbling mortals collide in a swirl of magic and mayhem. Balanchine’s sparkling choreography brings every moment vividly and luminously to life. Exquisitely crafted costumes and dreamlike sets by iconic French designer Christian Lacroix—created for the Paris Opera Ballet—wrap every scene in shimmering splendor. Joyful, radiant, and utterly transporting, this production is pure enchantment for dreamers of all ages.
War Memorial Opera House | April 8–14, 2027
Three bold voices. One visionary spark. This program traces the enduring influence of ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev through works that reimagine the spirit of the Ballets Russes for today. Dubbed “two ‘it’ choreographers” by The New York Times, witness a world premiere from Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Faun refracts myth through a modern lens, echoing Nijinsky’s revolutionary sensuality. Yuri Possokhov’s next@90 Festival hit Violin Concerto returns with its technical brilliance and Stravinky’s virtuosic score. Distinct in style yet united by collaboration across disciplines, these three works celebrate risk, reinvention, innovation, and artistic virtuosity—hallmarks of Diaghilev’s legacy and the adventurous heart of this season.
War Memorial Opera House | April 23–May 2, 2027
Returning to critical and audience acclaim, this is the epitome of Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Choreographed in 1974 while he was the director of The Royal Ballet, Manon is an adaptation of Abbé Prévost’s novel L’Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut. A full-length ballet in three acts, Manon is considered one of MacMillan’s most notable works, showcasing his expertise of narrative choreography and acute insight into human psychology. MacMillan is at his best here: finding full expression in the impassioned duets of the central couple, visceral and desperate in their desire.
The heroine’s struggle to escape poverty makes Manon one of the most dramatic, sensual, and devastating ballets, showcasing the juxtaposition between Manon’s impoverished origins and the lavish world she longs to inhabit.
Contains mature themes.
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: Madeline Woo and Joseph Walsh // © Studio Schuller for San Francisco Ballet
