The Nutcracker plays in 13 productions in Minneapolis–St. Paul between December 4 and December 20, 2026, from the touring NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Orpheum Theatre (December 4–5) to Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy at the State Theatre (December 12–20).
The busiest weekend is December 11–13, with eight productions; December 18–20 has six and December 4–6 four. Seats cost from $5 (St. Paul Ballet, pay as you can) and $16–$17 (Ballet Minnesota's children's seats, Continental Ballet) to about $135 with fees at the State Theatre and the Orpheum; the Orpheum's Gold Circle and Platinum seats cost up to about $220 (Ticketmaster, October 30).
Checked October 30, 2026. Not published yet: the ticket prices of Prima Classical Ballet and of Metropolitan Ballet's regular seats at the Fitzgerald Theater.
Nutcracker in Minneapolis–St. Paul 2026: productions and dates
This guide lists the Nutcracker productions that ballet companies and schools in the Twin Cities area stage with public tickets, but not their abridged versions, such as Twin Cities Ballet's Mini-Nutcracker in Lakeville.
| Production | Venue | Dates 2026 | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet | Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis | December 4–5 | $46.15–$220.25 with fees, Gold Circle and Platinum included (Ticketmaster, Dec. 4) |
| Nutcracker: A Dream of Becoming, North Ballet Theatre | STMA Performing Arts Center, St. Michael; Cowles Center, Minneapolis | December 4–6 (St. Michael), 11–13 (Minneapolis) | $50; seniors and children $40; plus $4.27–$4.88 fees |
| The Nutcracker, Continental Ballet | Schneider Theater, Bloomington Center for the Arts | December 5–6 and 11–13 | $17–$32, fees included |
| The Nutcracker, Prima Classical Ballet | Lindbergh Auditorium, Hopkins High School, Hopkins | December 5–6 | Not published |
| A Minnesota Nutcracker, Twin Cities Ballet | Ames Center, Burnsville | December 11–13 | $51–$77.75 with fees (Ticketmaster, Dec. 11) |
| The Nutcracker, 25th anniversary, Minnesota Ballet Theatre | Eden Prairie Performing Arts Center | December 11–13 | $33–$45; VIP $75 |
| The Nutcracker Reimagined, St. Paul Ballet | The O'Shaughnessy, St. Paul | December 11–12 | Pay as you can, $5–$50, plus fees |
| Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy | State Theatre, Minneapolis | December 12–13 and 19–20 | $37.95–$135.45 with fees (Ticketmaster, Dec. 12) |
| Metropolitan Ballet's Nutcracker | Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul | December 12–13 | VIP $77.50; other seats not published |
| Ashley Ballet Arts' Nutcracker | Ted Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis | December 12–13 | $43–$54; children, students and seniors $39–$50; plus $4.05 fee and tax |
| The Nutcracker Suite, Minnesota Dance Theatre | Cowles Center, Minneapolis | December 18–20 | $40; children 12 and under $25 |
| Nutcracker in Wonderland, Ballet Co.Laboratory | Ted Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis | December 18–20 | From $40, fees included |
| A Minnesota Nutcracker, Twin Cities Ballet | Northrop, Minneapolis | December 19–20 | $36.50–$65.50; relaxed show pick your price, $25–$79 |
| The Classic Nutcracker, Ballet Minnesota | The O'Shaughnessy, St. Paul | December 19–20 | $49; seniors $39; children $16; plus fees |
| Metropolitan Ballet's Nutcracker, with the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra | Lindbergh Auditorium, Hopkins High School, Hopkins | December 20 | $26–$39, fees included |
The Ticketmaster prices are for one performance each, read on October 30 with fees included; they change as seats sell. For A Christmas Carol and other holiday shows, see Evenitto's holiday shows page and our guide to Christmas events in Minneapolis–St. Paul.
Which Nutcracker should you see in Minneapolis?
The Twin Cities' 13 Nutcrackers in 2026 differ in size, length and music:
- The biggest stage and a live orchestra: Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy at the State Theatre, with the 44-piece Nutcracker Orchestra.
- A touring spectacle: NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Orpheum, with acrobatics and large puppets.
- The story moved to Minnesota: Twin Cities Ballet's A Minnesota Nutcracker, in Burnsville and at Northrop.
- A short first ballet: Minnesota Dance Theatre's The Nutcracker Suite at the Cowles Center, an hour to 90 minutes with no intermission.
- A different story: Ballet Co.Laboratory's Nutcracker in Wonderland, and North Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker: A Dream of Becoming.
- The lowest prices: St. Paul Ballet's pay-as-you-can The Nutcracker Reimagined, Continental Ballet from $17 and Ballet Minnesota's $16 children's tickets.
Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy at the State Theatre
Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy returns to Hennepin Arts' State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, from December 12 to 20, 2026, presented by A Dancer's Place Productions. Hennepin Arts lists six performances:
- Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Sunday, December 13 at 3 p.m.
- Saturday, December 19 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Sunday, December 20 at 3 p.m.
Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy has Tchaikovsky's score played live by the 44-piece Nutcracker Orchestra, and a cast that mixes professional dancers and guest artists with local dance students. A Dancer's Place says the story follows young Marie through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The Nutcracker Fantasy is recommended for ages 3 and up, every child needs a ticket, and you can buy at most 8 tickets per order. Buy through Hennepin Arts online, its app, or the State Theatre box office (Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m.); groups of 10 or more call 612-373-5665.
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Orpheum
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet, a touring production by Talmi Productions, plays the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on Friday, December 4 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 5 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The Magical Christmas Ballet bills itself as the largest Nutcracker production in North America, with international dancers, acrobatics and large puppets. Hennepin Arts sells regular seats and Platinum and Gold Circle packages with extras such as a collectible ornament.
A Minnesota Nutcracker by Twin Cities Ballet
Twin Cities Ballet's A Minnesota Nutcracker sets the story in Minnesota, with a Mississippi River paddleboat, Vikings, and the state bird and flower, the loon and the lady's slipper. A Minnesota Nutcracker plays two venues in 2026:
- Ames Center, Burnsville: Friday, December 11 at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 12 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Sunday, December 13 at 2 p.m.
- Northrop, Minneapolis: Saturday, December 19 at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday, December 20 at 2 p.m.
The Saturday 6 p.m. show at Northrop is a relaxed performance with "Pick Your Price" tickets: the house lights stay partly on, the sound is softer and you can come and go. At Northrop, the university's box office lists seats at $36.50 to $65.50 and the relaxed show at $25 to $79 ($49 suggested); tickets for children 17 and under are 20% off (not for the relaxed show). At the Ames Center, Ticketmaster had seats from $51 to $77.75 with fees on October 30.
Nutcrackers in St. Paul
St. Paul has three Nutcracker productions in December 2026, at The O'Shaughnessy and the Fitzgerald Theater.
St. Paul Ballet's The Nutcracker Reimagined is at The O'Shaughnessy, 2004 Randolph Avenue: Friday, December 11 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 12 at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. It runs about 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
St. Paul Ballet's tickets are pay-as-you-can, from $5 to $50 with $35 suggested, plus a $2.75 fee per ticket and 3% per order.
Ballet Minnesota's The Classic Nutcracker is also at The O'Shaughnessy: Saturday, December 19 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 20 at 2 p.m. Seats are assigned; tickets cost $49 for adults, $39 for seniors and $16 for children, plus the same fees.
Metropolitan Ballet dances its Nutcracker at the Fitzgerald Theater on Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on Sunday, December 13 at 2 p.m., all ages: see First Avenue's pages for the Saturday matinee, the Saturday evening show and the Sunday matinee.
First Avenue, which runs the Fitzgerald, publishes only its $77.50 VIP ticket price.
Nutcrackers in Minneapolis, Bloomington and the suburbs
Ashley Ballet Arts performs its school's Nutcracker at Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 South 4th Street on the University of Minnesota campus: Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday, December 13 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Its ticket page prices seats at $43 to $54 for adults and $39 to $50 for children 12 and under, students and seniors, plus a $4.05 fee per ticket and 9.025% tax.
Ballet Co.Laboratory's Nutcracker in Wonderland, which weaves two classic stories together, returns to Ted Mann Concert Hall: Friday, December 18 at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 19 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 20 at 2 p.m.
Nutcracker in Wonderland's tickets start at $40, fees included, and the show runs about 90 minutes plus a 20-minute intermission. After the matinees a VIP meet-and-greet costs $40 more per person.
Continental Ballet's The Nutcracker is at the Schneider Theater in the Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 West Old Shakopee Road: Saturday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, December 6 at 3 p.m., Friday, December 11 at 11 a.m., Saturday, December 12 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 13 at 3 p.m.
Continental Ballet's online box office lists seats at $17 to $32, fees included; the Friday 11 a.m. show is not on sale there.
Minnesota Ballet Theatre's 25th-anniversary Nutcracker is at the Eden Prairie Performing Arts Center, 17185 Valley View Road: Friday, December 11 at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 12 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday, December 13 at 1 p.m.
Minnesota Ballet Theatre's tickets cost $33 to $45, or $75 for a VIP experience, and the show runs about 2 hours with a 20-minute intermission. With the code 26childfree, a child under 5 gets a free ticket with two adult tickets.
Prima Classical Ballet stages its fifth annual Nutcracker at the Lindbergh Auditorium, Hopkins High School on December 5–6.
Metropolitan Ballet also dances its Nutcracker with the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra at Lindbergh Auditorium, Hopkins High School, on Sunday, December 20 at 2 p.m. Metropolitan Ballet's calendar and its ticket seller tix.com list only that show ($26–$39 with fees), though its home page says December 19–20 (checked October 30).
North Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker: A Dream of Becoming follows Clara through four stages of her life. It plays two venues in 2026:
- STMA Performing Arts Center, St. Michael: Friday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6 at 2 p.m.
- Cowles Center, 516 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis: Friday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13 at 2 p.m.
North Ballet Theatre's Afton ticket page gives each show about 2½ hours and prices it at $50 for adults and $40 for seniors and children (and students at the Cowles Center), plus a $4.88 or $4.27 fee.
Short Nutcrackers for young children
Minnesota Dance Theatre premieres The Nutcracker Suite at the Cowles Center on Friday, December 18 at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 19 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 20 at 1 p.m. The Nutcracker Suite runs an hour to 90 minutes with no intermission: the Cowles Center says an hour, Minnesota Dance Theatre about 90 minutes.
The Nutcracker Suite is a new production by several choreographers, with live music from the Lakes Area Music Festival. Minnesota Dance Theatre sells general admission tickets at $40, and $25 for children 12 and under; seating is first come, first seated.
Twin Cities Ballet's Mini-Nutcracker, a shorter version of A Minnesota Nutcracker that lasts less than an hour, plays the Lakeville Area Arts Center on Tuesday, December 1 at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, December 2 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.; tickets cost $22 on the main floor and $18 in the balcony.
Quick answers
When is the Nutcracker in Minneapolis in 2026? The Nutcracker plays in Minneapolis–St. Paul in 13 productions between December 4 and 20, 2026; Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy is at the State Theatre on December 12–13 and 19–20.
How much are Nutcracker tickets in Minneapolis? Nutcracker seats in Minneapolis–St. Paul in 2026 cost from $5 to about $135 with fees, and up to about $220 for the Orpheum's Gold Circle and Platinum seats.
Which Nutcracker is at the State Theatre in 2026? Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy, with a 44-piece live orchestra, is at the State Theatre on Saturdays, December 12 and 19, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sundays, December 13 and 20, at 3 p.m.
Which Nutcracker is at the Orpheum in 2026? NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet, a touring production, is at the Orpheum on Friday, December 4 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 5 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Which Nutcrackers have a live orchestra? Three Nutcrackers list live music in 2026: Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy (the 44-piece Nutcracker Orchestra), Minnesota Dance Theatre's The Nutcracker Suite (the Lakes Area Music Festival) and Metropolitan Ballet at Hopkins High School (the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra).
Is there a relaxed or sensory-friendly Nutcracker? Yes. Twin Cities Ballet's A Minnesota Nutcracker at Northrop on Saturday, December 19 at 6 p.m. is a relaxed performance where you pick your price.
Can toddlers see the Nutcracker? Yes. Twin Cities Ballet's Mini-Nutcracker in Lakeville, suitable for all ages, runs under an hour, for $18 to $22, on December 1–2; Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy is recommended for ages 3 and up, and every child needs a ticket.
Cover photo: the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul at night, September 2017, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; archive photo.