Der Nussknacker (The Nutcracker) is a two-act classical ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, first performed on 18 December 1892 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. The libretto, based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's fairy tale via Alexandre Dumas's lighter retelling, was devised by Marius Petipa, with choreography realized by his assistant Lev Ivanov. Despite a cool reception at its premiere - Tchaikovsky himself called it dull - it has since become the most frequently performed ballet in the world, a fixture of the Christmas season on every continent.
Tickets for the Bolshoi Theatre's December 2025 Nutcracker run sold out within two hours of going on sale, prompting the theatre to introduce an auction system and named e-tickets to combat scalpers.
According to Dance/USA data reported in December 2025, US Nutcracker ticket revenue for large ballet companies rose from $57M to over $84M between 2022 and 2024, with attendance up 18%.
The Grand Classic Ballet toured The Nutcracker across dozens of German cities from January 2026, including Oberhausen, Munich, Stuttgart, Bochum, Magdeburg, Berlin and Bonn.
The Leipziger Ballett is scheduled to perform Der Nussknacker at the Leipzig Opernhaus on 3 and 4 December 2026.
The Hamburg Staatsoper staged John Neumeier's Nutcracker production across six performances in December 2025 and January 2026, with family introductions scheduled for late December 2026.
Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet performed with live orchestra at the Admiralspalast in Berlin.
Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet performed with live orchestra in Mannheim.
A traditional ballet staging of the classic work in Essen.
"The Nutcracker" ballet performed to live music at Munich's Löwenbräukeller - a Christmas fairy tale for the whole family.
A classic ballet performance of The Nutcracker with live orchestra in Frankfurt.
The classic ballet "The Nutcracker" performed by Grand Classic Ballet. A traditional winter tour featuring world-class dancers.
Grand Classic Ballet performs Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" in a production that pairs classical choreography with a modern staging - a great night out for families and ballet lovers alike.
Tchaikovsky's classic ballet about a girl who enters a magical world on Christmas Eve. A performance full of magic, music, and dance for the whole family.
Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" performed at the Semperoper in Dresden - a timeless ballet classic in a grand setting.
The classic ballet "The Nutcracker" performed by Grand Classic Ballet. A festive production for the whole family.
The classic ballet "The Nutcracker" takes the stage at Staatstheater Oldenburg.
Crown Ballet® brings Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" to the stage - a festive classical ballet for the whole family, performed by an international cast with live orchestral accompaniment.
Crown Ballet performs the beloved classic "The Nutcracker" at Stadthalle Cottbus - a festive evening of Tchaikovsky's music and classical dance.
A traditional Christmas ballet performance from the Grand Classic Ballet series at Operettenhaus Hamburg.
A classic ballet production of "The Nutcracker" performed by an international ballet ensemble and festival orchestra.
Crown Ballet® brings Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" to the stage with a live orchestra - a classical ballet for the whole family and a perfect pre-Christmas outing.
"The Nutcracker" ballet with live music - a classic Christmas fairy tale on stage at Classic Remise in Düsseldorf.
A festive staging of The Nutcracker at Classic Remise in Düsseldorf, bringing the beloved Christmas classic to the stage on a winter evening.
The classic ballet "The Nutcracker" performed by the Bonn Opera House ensemble.
Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" performed by an Italian ballet ensemble - a Christmas classic featuring stunning costumes, sets and virtuosic dancing.
A classical performance of "The Nutcracker" by Grand Classic Ballet - a magical story of Clara and a come-to-life Nutcracker during the Christmas season.
International Ballet Company Italia brings Tchaikovsky's classic two-act ballet to the stage - a festive Christmas show for audiences of all ages.
A renowned Italian ballet ensemble performs Tchaikovsky's two-act classic with lavish costumes and precise choreography - a festive evening for families and ballet lovers alike.
Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" performed by the Saarländisches Staatstheater at the Großes Haus in Saarbrücken - a festive ballet classic for the Christmas season.
Tchaikovsky's classic ballet "The Nutcracker" performed at Stage Theater im Hafen Hamburg.
A classic ballet production of "The Nutcracker" by Grand Classic Ballet. Perfect family entertainment for the winter holiday season.
A renowned Italian ballet ensemble performs Tchaikovsky's two-act classic, with lavish costumes, precise choreography and a touch of modern dance.
The classic ballet "The Nutcracker" performed by the Hamburg State Opera ensemble.
A renowned Italian ballet ensemble performs Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" in 2 acts - a Christmas classic with lavish costumes and precise choreography.
The classic Christmas fairy tale of The Nutcracker performed as a ballet spectacular.
The classic Christmas story of The Nutcracker performed as a ballet, perfect for children and families.
The classic ballet "The Nutcracker" performed by Grand Classic Ballet. A traditional winter tour featuring professional dancers.
The classic Christmas ballet tale of The Nutcracker performed by young dancers.
A renowned Italian ballet ensemble performs Tchaikovsky's two-act "Nutcracker" in Siegburg, with lavish costumes, precise choreography and the composer's beloved festive score.
The classic "Nutcracker" ballet in a festive Christmas staging - a family-friendly performance at Stadthalle Mülheim in Mülheim an der Ruhr.
Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet performed by a renowned Italian ensemble - Clara's magical Christmas night journey told across two acts.
The traditional Nutcracker ballet with orchestra performed by a professional ballet company.
A renowned Italian ballet ensemble performs Tchaikovsky's two-act "Nutcracker" in Münster, with lavish costumes, detailed sets and dancers whose precision shines from the opening scene.
Paris Ballet Theater performs The Nutcracker with live orchestra - Tchaikovsky's beloved Christmas ballet on tour in the 2026-2027 season, suitable for the whole family.
A classic ballet production of "The Nutcracker" performed by an international ballet ensemble and festival orchestra.
Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" performed by an Italian ballet ensemble - a Christmas classic with magnificent costumes, sets, and virtuosic dancing.
The timeless ballet classic The Nutcracker performed with live orchestral accompaniment. Perfect for the whole family.
A festive ballet gala in Düsseldorf pairing "The Nutcracker" with "Swan Lake" - two timeless classics performed on one stage to close out the year.
A traditional ballet performance of The Nutcracker by Grand Classic Ballet.
The classic ballet "The Nutcracker" performed with a live orchestra – a festive New Year's Eve event at the RheinMain CongressCenter in Wiesbaden.
A classic ballet performance of "The Nutcracker" presented by the International Festival Ballet & Festival Orchestra.
Grand Classic Ballet performs Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker on its traditional winter tour - a show for families and ballet lovers, mixing classical choreography with a modern production.
An Italian ballet ensemble performs Tchaikovsky's two-act classic, telling the story of Clara's magical Christmas night journey through a world of fantasy, with lavish costumes and high-precision choreography.
Crown Ballet® presents a classical production of "The Nutcracker" with live orchestra music - an enchanting fairy tale for the whole family.
Tchaikovsky's enchanting ballet performed by Grand Classic Ballet - the story of Clara and the magical Nutcracker in the realm of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" performed by a renowned Italian ensemble - Clara's fairy-tale journey through a world of living dolls and a magical prince, with lavish costumes and precise choreography.
The classic ballet "The Nutcracker" performed by Grand Classic Ballet. A traditional winter tour featuring professional dancers.
Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet performed by a renowned Italian ensemble - Clara's magical Christmas journey told in two acts, with lavish costumes and live orchestral music.
Grand Classic Ballet performs Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker on its traditional winter tour - a family-friendly ballet staging that pairs classical choreography with a modern production.
Royal Classical Ballet performs Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" at the CCH - Congress Center Hamburg in Hamburg.
A classic ballet production of "The Nutcracker" performed by an international ballet ensemble and festival orchestra.
Grand Classic Ballet brings Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" to the Kaisersaal in Erfurt as part of its beloved annual winter tour - an evening of timeless classical dance.
Grand Classic Ballet performs Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker in a production that pairs classical choreography with a modern staging - a great night out for families and ballet lovers alike.
Grand Classic Ballet performs Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker in a production that pairs classical choreography with a modern staging - a great outing for families and ballet lovers alike.
Tchaikovsky's timeless masterpiece performed as a ballet with live orchestra in Hannover.
A classic ballet performance of The Nutcracker with live orchestra. A magical story for the whole family.
A classic ballet performance of The Nutcracker with live orchestra at Westfalenhalle.