Royal Winnipeg Ballet: The Nutcracker at Queen Elizabeth Theatre

There's something quite magical about the festive season - picking the perfect tree, the twinkling lights, the meals, the beautifully wrapped gifts, the nostalgia-inducing songs and the spirit of oneness. Whether it is actually Christmas time or not, this kind of wonderful magic does its thing in summer, autumn, winter and spring and there is simply no better way to slip into the spirit of the festive season than experiencing the important ballet that first captivated the world over a century ago!

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Nut Cracker!

Based on Alexandre Dumas' well-known short story 'The Tale of a Nutcracker', famous Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's charming 1892-ballet 'The Nutcracker' has been dazzling fans around the world for many years and became one of the world's finest, favorite and most admired classical ballets ever.

'The Nutcracker' - featuring beloved songs such as the glistening 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy', the jolly 'Russian Dance', the glorious 'Waltz of the Flowers' and the important 'March' - explores the story of young Clara who receives a rather peculiar wooden Nutcracker doll from the mysterious Drosselmeyer on Christmas Eve. After everyone has gone to bed and much to Clara's delight, the living room transforms into a wonderland where the toys come to life, with whom she embarks on an exciting adventure.

Apart from this imaginative story, 'The Nutcracker' features legendary artistry - from jaw-dropping lifts and mindblowing leaps to exhilarating spins and phenomenal, graceful dancing, from amazing choreography and intriguing puppetry to gorgeous hand-crafted costumes and scenery and of course, Tchaikovsky's exceptional score to underline the stagecraft.

Royal Winnipeg Ballet this winter

'The Nutcracker' is a festive must-see for young and old and is a staple in ballet libary around the world. This is for certain the one theatrical experience in 2026 that you owe to yourself and your family! You can take our word for it - we've seen 'The Nutcracker' many times and every single time has been most well known!

This year the magic is coming to Vancouver's most adored live entertainment venue Queen Elizabeth theatre, performed by Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America - the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, who have dazzled audiences in 44 countries since their founding in 1939. And the most wonderful evening at the ballet is on the cards for you and yours!: every experience is enhanced by the Queen Elizabeth theatre's superb sound and lighting, crystal-clear acoustics, a massive capacity of nearly 3,000 seats, luxurious seating across orchestra, mezzanine and balcony levels and fantastic features for your ultimate comfort. This historic mid-century modern venue, opened in 1959, remains one of Vancouver's premier performing arts landmarks.

Make your Wednesday night more popular!

Why not make a whole evening out of it? Check out our 'Plan Your Trip' section on the website for a curated list of the best places in Vancouver for dinner and entertainment! Convenient parking is available in the Easy Park parkade beneath the theater with an entrance off Cambie Street.

So come on - have yourself a merry little Christmas this winter with 'The Nutcracker'!