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Ballet in London

From traditional ballet shows to more experimental productions, immerse yourself in stunning ballet performances in London.

Last Updated: 08 July 2026 Date Created: 07 July 2026

A male and female dancer wearing white, on stage, with a gnarly tree and large bauble in the background on the set of English National Ballet's Nutcracker.
English National Ballet's Nutcracker by Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith © Johan Persson. Image courtesy of English National Ballet.

London’s beautiful ballet venues and theatres include the world-famous Royal Ballet and Opera, with its opulent, velvet-clad auditorium; the equally stunning and ornate London Coliseum; and Sadler's Wells, with its more modern and intimate setting.

Browse London’s best ballet venues and companies below. For even more performances, or if you'd like to learn to dance yourself, explore our guides to  London's best dance shows and dance classes.

English National Ballet

A ballerina wearing a sparkly beige leotard is lifted into the air by a group of ballet dancers wearing flowy red and white outfits.

See the English National Ballet bring stories to life through dance, accompanied by the English National Ballet Philharmonic, at venues across London, including Sadler’s Wells Theatre and the London Coliseum. One of the world's leading ballet companies, the English National Ballet brings the great classical ballet tradition to wide audiences while reimagining beloved works with bold creativity.

This year, enjoy a varied programme, from the much-loved Christmas tradition of The Nutcracker, set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and featuring more than 100 dancers on stage at the London Coliseum (17 Dec-10 Jan), to the return of Rudolf Nureyev’s acclaimed production of Romeo and Juliet, celebrating the ballet’s 50th anniversary at the London Coliseum (14-24 Jan 2027).

The English National Ballet also offers workshops, classes and events throughout the year, welcoming everyone from complete beginners to experienced dancers.

Royal Ballet and Opera

A photo of the exterior of the Royal Ballet and Opera House with the famous ballet statue and red flags hanging outside

Visit the Royal Ballet and Opera, home to the Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Formerly known as the Royal Opera House, the historic venue is London's third-largest theatre and presents a vibrant programme of bold new productions, contemporary works and celebrated classical revivals, while championing emerging talent.

Discover its rich history on a behind-the-scenes tour, exploring areas usually closed to the public, including the production workshops – you might even catch a glimpse of the Royal Ballet in rehearsal. If you'd like a taste of what it's like to experience a performance here, don't miss Live at Lunch, a series of free 45-minute lunchtime performances featuring Royal Ballet and Opera artists alongside special guests.

The Royal Ballet

Watch one of the world's most celebrated classical ballet companies, the Royal Ballet, perform at the Royal Ballet and Opera in Covent Garden. This season features Manon (13 Oct-25 Nov), Kenneth MacMillan's passionate adaptation of Abbé Prévost’s 1731 novel, transporting audiences to the decadent world of 18th-century Paris, where everything is for sale, even love.

You can also experience Visionaries: Robbins and MacMillan (9-28 Nov), a mixed programme opening with Jerome Robbins' joyful Dances at a Gathering, set to the music of Chopin, before concluding with MacMillan's powerful Song of the Earth.

Discover this season's varied programme, from visionary new works and groundbreaking productions to timeless ballet classics.

London Coliseum

During the production of The Nutcracker Ballet at the London Coliseum, five ballet dancers wearing red and white striped tights and bodices are dancing on stage.

Enjoy incredible opera, classical music and ballet performances at the London Coliseum, home to the English National Opera and the largest theatre in London's West End. Each season brings an impressive programme of ballet productions to its vast stage, providing the perfect setting for breathtaking sets, large-scale choreography and world-class dance companies, alongside musicals and concerts.

This year, the State Ballet of Georgia presents a new production of Swan Lake (17-26 July), while the festive season welcomes the return of the English National Ballet's beloved production of The Nutcracker (17 Dec-10 Jan), choreographed by Artistic Director Aaron S. Watkin and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Arielle Smith. In January, Rudolf Nureyev's magnificent Romeo and Juliet (14-24 Jan), originally created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, returns in a powerful retelling of Shakespeare's tragic romance.

Browse the wide selection of performances taking place at the London Coliseum throughout the year.

Sadler’s Wells

A man holds a young woman in his arms. She is wearing a bronze corset, a flowy white skirt and red ballet shoes.

Don’t miss a chance to catch a ballet show at Sadler’s Wells, one of the world's leading dance venues, renowned for bringing outstanding UK and international dance companies to London. Across its two performance spaces – Sadler's Wells Theatre and the Lilian Baylis Studio – the venue celebrates dance in all its forms, from classical ballet and contemporary works to boundary-pushing new productions.

Last year saw the return of Matthew Bourne's acclaimed production of The Red Shoes and Rambert's award-winning Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby.

The 2026 season welcomes another Matthew Bourne favourite, The Car Man (28 July-29 Aug), a fast-paced and dramatic reimagining of Bizet's Carmen. Set in a greasy 1950s diner in the American Midwest, this gripping production follows the passions, betrayals and desires of a close-knit community whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of a mysterious stranger.

Browse the full programme of ballet and dance performances at Sadler's Wells.

 

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