Media Release

February 10, 2025… Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today unveiled the 2026/27 season which marks the company’s 75th anniversary, featuring a rich selection of work that honours its legacy and boldly embraces the future. 

“Celia Franca founded this company with a vision that was nothing short of audacious. To build a world-class ballet company in Canada in 1951 took extraordinary courage, conviction and imagination. That spirit of bold ambition still lives at the heart of The National Ballet of Canada today,” said Muir. 

“It's a great honour to introduce our 75th anniversary season, my fifth as Artistic Director. With this season, we endeavour to honour a legacy of storytelling, innovation and transformation, reflecting on our history and the artistic values that have shaped this company, while at the same time looking boldly forward.” 

Subscriptions for the 2026/27 season are now on sale. Single tickets go on sale September 22, 2026.

The Fall Season begins with John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, a seminal work that was instrumental in the National Ballet’s artistic growth and has marked many milestones in the company’s history. Founding Artistic Director Celia Franca secured the ballet for the company’s inaugural performance at the O’Keefe Centre in 1964 and it was also the final production presented there in 2006 before the move to the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. One of ballet’s great storytellers, Cranko created Romeo and Juliet for Stuttgart Ballet in 1962, crafting a work celebrated for its lyrical pas de deux, theatrical intensity and musicality. Set to Sergei Prokofiev’s glorious score, with sets and costumes designed by Canada’s Susan Benson and lighting by Robert Thomson, Romeo and Juliet remains an unforgettable tale of love, loyalty and forgiveness, onstage October 31 – November 8, 2026.

The Fall Season continues with two trailblazing works by today’s leading dancemakers, showcasing the versatility of the National Ballet, Emergence & Silent Screen, onstage November 13 – 20, 2026. Emergence is a landmark work for the National Ballet and marked Crystal Pite’s first full-scale commission for a classical company. Commissioned in 2009 by then Artistic Director Karen Kain, the award-winning piece is now performed internationally and represents a turning point in contemporary creation for the company. In Emergence, Pite likens the hierarchy of a ballet company to insect societies, transforming the stage into a hive of shifting patterns set to Owen Belton’s hypnotic soundscape. Artistic Director Hope Muir introduced the renowned creative partnership of Sol León and Paul Lightfoot to the National Ballet repertoire with Silent Screen in 2024, earning widespread acclaim. Set to Philip Glass’ Glassworks, the mesmerizing work merges dance and silent film where large screens create a cinematic backdrop for the dancers as they move through a dreamlike stream of images.

The Nutcracker, choreographed by James Kudelka, returns December 5 – 31, 2026. Brimming with colour and fun, this larger-than-life production is a cherished holiday tradition for many with a magical score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, sets and costumes from Santo Loquasto and lighting by Jennifer Tipton.
 
The Winter Season opens with Echoes of Stravinsky, a programme celebrating the National Ballet’s longstanding commitment to live music and the exceptional artistry of The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, led by Music Director and Principal Conductor David Briskin, celebrating his 20th year with the company. Christopher Wheeldon’s Scènes de Ballet will be performed in its entirety by students of Canada’s National Ballet School, marking the first time in our history the school will share a programme with the company. George Balanchine’s Stravinsky Violin Concerto, created for New York City Ballet in 1972, showcases Balanchine’s clarity, musicality and formal ingenuity and his rich artistic partnership with Stravinsky, featuring two exquisite arias and a vibrant ensemble. The programme concludes with Chamber by Medhi Walerski, renowned choreographer and Artistic Director of Ballet BC. Originally created for Nederlands Dans Theater in 2012, Chamber features a score by Joby Talbot, inspired by the primal energy of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Echoes of Stravinsky is onstage February 26 – March 4, 2027.

Dr. Coppélius marks the first full-length story ballet commission by Artistic Director Hope Muir. A reimagining of the beloved classic Coppélia choreographed by Val Caniparoli, a deeply experienced dancemaker in classical narrative structure, this new interpretation focuses on the mysterious inventor himself and offers a timely reflection on empathy and acceptance. Featuring an all-Canadian female creative team, dramaturgy by Eda Holmes, set and costumes by Camellia Koo and lighting by Bonnie Beecher, Dr. Coppélius is set to a score by Léo Delibes and Ernest Guiraud. This magical tale of creativity, love and identity is onstage March 13 – 21, 2027 and will tour to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa April 22 – 24, 2027. 

For the 75th anniversary, Artistic Director Hope Muir has reshaped the International Competition for The Erik Bruhn Prize into The Erik Bruhn Festival of Emerging Artists: A Celebration of Young Talent, an international showcase designed to elevate and advance the next generation of dance talent. The festival brings together exceptional young dancers from leading companies around the world, offering them a rare opportunity to perform, be seen and deepen their artistic and technical experience on a major stage. Building on the legacy of the Erik Bruhn Prize, the festival shifts the focus from competition to artistic exchange, mentorship and professional exposure, reflecting the collaborative spirit of today’s global dance community. Dancers will still perform a classical piece and new contemporary work commissioned for the occasion but in a spirit of celebration rather than competition. Preserving the high standards of the original, the festival is a rare opportunity to champion the stars of tomorrow together on one stage for one night only, March 24, 2027.

The Summer Season begins with a new work by Resident Choreographer David Dawson, June 5 – 12, 2027. The Beginning of Forever will be the internationally celebrated dancemaker's first full-length commission for the National Ballet and is a choreographic odyssey about beginnings and endings, love and loss, dissolution and return. A trilogy of works that form a sweeping arc that showcases the dancers at their most expressive, both physically and spiritually. Following the huge success of Dawson’s Anima Animus and The Four Seasons, this world premiere marks an exciting new chapter in the company’s creative evolution, with a commissioned score by Grammy Award-winning composer Peter Gregson.

The 75th anniversary season concludes with one of the most important works in the company’s storied history, Rudolf Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty, onstage June 18 – 27, 2027. First performed by the National Ballet in 1972 with lavish designs by Nicholas Georgiadis, this signature ballet helped define the company’s international reputation. Founding Artistic Director Celia Franca took a leap of faith in acquiring The Sleeping Beauty, recognizing the extraordinary potential of such a prestigious collaboration for a young company, ushering in a period of remarkable artistic growth, international touring and acclaim. Today, the National Ballet is the only company in North America to perform Nureyev’s version. Restaging The Sleeping Beauty in this anniversary season honours the deep connection Nureyev forged with the National Ballet and its artists, while introducing a new generation to the visual and technical brilliance of a quintessential legacy ballet.

75th Anniversary Opening Day Celebrations
October 31, 2026

The first performance of this milestone year will be a Share the Magic matinee, where the National Ballet will welcome more than 1,600 community members who might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit the theatre to a free performance of Romeo and Juliet.

“Opening our 75th season with Share the Magic feels profoundly meaningful,” said Muir. “These free performances are an invitation, our way of saying The National Ballet of Canada belongs to everyone. We are committed to always aligning our mission with access and want audiences across the city to feel welcomed into what we do, to feel the joy of ballet without barriers.”

Following the Share the Magic matinee, The National Ballet of Canada is delighted to present a special gala opening night performance of Romeo and Juliet. The evening will honour the company’s enduring legacy and bold ambition in a glittering celebration of dance and shared memories.

New in 2026/27
Early 6:30 pm Performances 

For those who prefer an earlier start time and greater flexibility on how to experience ballet, the 2026/27 season will feature two 6:30 pm performances: Emergence & Silent Screen on November 17, 2026 and The Sleeping Beauty on June 22, 2027. 

Family-Friendly Matinee 

To welcome and support those new to the art form, especially families, we introduce a special truncated matinee of The Sleeping Beauty on June 26, 2027. Featuring just one act, the matinee is a shorter, beautiful introduction to one of ballet’s great classics, at a reduced ticket price. 

This production of Romeo and Juliet entered the repertoire of The National Ballet of Canada on February 8, 1995 and was totally underwritten by Walter Carsen, O.C.

The Romeo and Juliet revitalization (2027) is supported by production underwriters Mary & John Crocker. 

Lead philanthropic support for Silent Screen is provided by an Anonymous Donor. Additional support is provided by The Producers’ Circle (2025). 

Lead philanthropic support for Emergence (2009) is generously provided by Gail Hutchison. Additional support is provided by The Sabourin Family Foundation (2027). 

The Nutcracker (1996) was made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Susan Scace & Arthur Scace, C.M. and Lawrence & Ann Heisey. 

The Nutcracker revitalization (2026) is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, The Arrell Family Foundation and The Henry White Kinnear Foundation. Additional support is provided by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation. 

Chamber is generously supported by The Producers' Circle.   

The Producers’ Circle (2027): John & Claudine Bailey, Indra & Rags Davloor, Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin, Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Judy Korthals & Peter Irwin, Mona & Harvey Levenstein, Jerry Lozinski, O.C. & Joan Lozinski, O.C., The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation and Alexander Younger & Sarah Richardson. 

Stravinsky Violin Concerto is presented by Walter Carsen, O.C. 

Dr. Coppélius is supported by The Anna McCowan-Johnson New Creations Fund. 

The Erik Bruhn Festival of Emerging Artists: A Celebration of Young Talent is generously sponsored by John and Claudine Bailey. 

Lead philanthropic support for The Beginning of Forever is generously provided by an Anonymous Presenting Donor. 

The Sleeping Beauty (2007) is made possible by generous contributions from Margaret Fleck & Jim Fleck, C.C., The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Gretchen Ross and Nancy Pencer & Michael Benjamin. Additional support is provided by Fondation DRG (2027).  

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage with the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages; and the Government of Ontario with the Honourable Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and Minister of Sport. 

Celia Franca. Photo by Janina Mokrzycki. Genevieve Penn Nabity. Photo by Karolina Kuras.