The Joffrey Ballet’s 2025-2026 season will be a momentous and historic celebration of dance and artistry featuring U.S. and Chicago premieres by renowned choreographers Liam Scarlett and Yuri Possokhov. Held at the Lyric Opera House, the company's performances will also honor legendary figures Martha Graham, Glen Tetley and Joffrey co-founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino. This milestone year marks 70 years of Joffrey’s groundbreaking contributions to ballet, 30 years in Chicago, and a decade of Christopher Wheeldon's acclaimed The Nutcracker.
The Joffrey’s 70th season kicks off with the U.S. premiere of Liam Scarlett’s Carmen (September 18–28, 2025), a fiery tale of love and defiance set in 1930s Spain. From the creator of Frankenstein, Scarlett reimagines Bizet’s iconic opera into a ballet of raw emotion and gripping intensity.
Christopher Wheeldon's "The Nutcracker" commissioned by The Joffrey Ballet will be celebrating a decade of enchanting dance lovers this season. (Photo courtesy of The Joffrey Ballet)
The holiday season sparkles with Christopher Wheeldon's The Nutcracker (December 5–28, 2025), a beloved tradition reimagined within the grandeur of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Audiences will once again journey with Marie and her Nutcracker prince through a dazzling, dreamlike adventure.
In American Icons (February 19–March 1, 2026), the Joffrey pays tribute to four dance trailblazers: Martha Graham, Glen Tetley, Robert Joffrey, and Gerald Arpino. This electrifying program showcases masterpieces that have defined American ballet, from Graham’s groundbreaking choreography to Arpino’s joyful Kettentanz and Tetley’s poignant Voluntaries.
Closing the season in spectacular fashion is the Chicago premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s Eugene Onegin (June 4–14, 2026). A co-production with San Francisco Ballet, this full-length adaptation of Pushkin’s literary masterpiece tells a story of love, regret, and fate, brought to life by Possokhov’s stirring choreography and Ilya Demutsky’s evocative score.
“This milestone season reflects the Joffrey’s revolutionary spirit,” says The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE. “From Carmen’s bold intensity to the legacy of American Icons and the grandeur of Eugene Onegin, this is a season that will leave audiences breathless.”
Joffrey President and CEO Greg Cameron adds, “Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino believed in the power of dance to transform and inspire. As we celebrate 70 years, we honor our past while pushing forward into an exciting future.”
Beyond the stage, the Joffrey commemorates its legacy with The Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S. exhibition (October 3, 2025–January 31, 2026) at Wrightwood 659, exploring the company’s profound impact on American ballet. Additionally, the 10th anniversary of The Nutcracker will be celebrated through ART on THE MART (November 2–December 28, 2025), where scenes from Wheeldon’s beloved ballet will illuminate Chicago’s skyline.
The Joffrey continues its commitment to emerging artists with The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Works (March 2026), showcasing five world premieres by ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American) choreographers at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
Three-program subscriptions (excluding The Nutcracker) start at $135 and are available at joffrey.org. Single tickets go on sale this summer. For more details, visit joffrey.org or call 312.386.8905.
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