Media Release
Celebrating the 75th Anniversary Season
Commemorative Coin from the Royal Canadian Mint
Special Exhibition at the Toronto Reference Library
September 8, 2026… The National Ballet of Canada celebrates its 75th anniversary in the 2026/27 season. To mark the special milestone, the National Ballet partners with the Royal Canadian Mint on a commemorative coin and the Toronto Public Library on a special exhibition exploring the company’s 75-year history.
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75th Anniversary Coin
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The Royal Canadian Mint is commemorating the National Ballet’s 75th anniversary with a special coin featuring the iconic golden egg from the company’s beloved production of The Nutcracker. Crafted in 99.99% fine silver with selective gold-plating, the 1 oz coin is presented in a clamshell with graphic beauty box.
“For 75 years, The National Ballet of Canada has played a vital role in enriching Canadian culture and developing our world-class dancers and productions,” said Simon Kamel, Interim President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “We are delighted that our newest ovoid coin brings to life an iconic scene from The National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker, a production that has delighted generations of Canadians through the magic of ballet.”
The commemorative coin retails for $239.95 and is available for purchase at mint.ca.
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A Legacy in Motion: The National Ballet of Canada at 75
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Toronto Public Library invites everyone to celebrate the National Ballet’s milestone anniversary through A Legacy in Motion: The National Ballet of Canada at 75, an exhibition showcasing original archival materials from the company's beginnings in 1951 to the present day. A collaboration with the National Ballet, items on display in Toronto Reference Library's TD Gallery are drawn from collections held by the Toronto Public Library’s rare and unique Special Collections and by The National Ballet of Canada Archives and include original design sketches, archival photographs, original programs and costumes worn on stage by dancers.
This exhibition was curated jointly by Toronto Public Library Special Collections and The National Ballet of Canada with production and exhibition design by Toronto Public Library’s Preservation and Digitization team.
“It is a special occasion to collaborate with The National Ballet of Canada Archives in presenting this exhibition. Seeing original designs displayed alongside the costumes and other materials creates a powerful connection between the creative process and the finished work on stage. Together, our collections tell a rich story of artistic imagination, collaboration and performance history," said Allison Lennox, Senior Manager, Special Collections, Toronto Public Library.
The exhibition will be on display from September 26, 2026 to January 10, 2027 with a special dance workshop exploring the movement and artistry of ballet on October 22, 2026, at the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto.
The 2026/27 season opens on October 31 with a special 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.
Founded in 1951 by Celia Franca, The National Ballet of Canada is one of the world’s leading ballet companies, with 76 dancers, its own orchestra and a permanent home at The Walter Carsen Centre in Toronto. Led by Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director, the company is renowned for its diverse repertoire, presenting traditional full-length classics alongside contemporary works, commissioning new ballets and supporting the development of Canadian choreographers.
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This production of Romeo and Juliet entered the repertoire of The National Ballet of Canada on February 8, 1995 and was entirely underwritten by Walter Carsen, O.C.
Lead philanthropic support for the 2027 revitalization of Romeo and Juliet is provided by Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, O.Ont. and production underwriters Mary & John Crocker.
The Nutcracker (1995) was made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado, C.M. & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Susan Scace and 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, O.Ont., The Arrell Family Foundation and The Henry White Kinnear Foundation. Additional support is provided by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation and The Pitblado Family Fund.
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 Department of Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada; and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, and the Ministry of Sport, Government of Ontario.
The National Ballet of Canada's first performance took place on November 12, 1951 at Eaton Auditorium. Artists of the Ballet in Les Sylphides. Photo by Ken Bell.
Rudolf Nureyev and Karen Kain in The Sleeping Beauty (1975). Photo by J. Hefferman.
For more information and interview opportunities, please contact:
Touchwood PR
Andréa Grau, Founder and Owner
Chelsea Cabello, Senior Publicist
Sydney Clarke, Publicist
NBOC@touchwoodpr.com
The National Ballet of Canada
Catherine Chang, Associate Director of Communications & Content Strategy
Sarah Johnsen, Interim Communications Manager
Media@national.ballet.ca