How to Get Tickets to ‘George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker’ Ballet Online

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A holiday classic is back! Every year around December, productions of The Nutcracker (especially the beloved New York City Ballet version) come back to enchant longtime ballet-lovers and newcomers alike. With iconic choreography from George Balanchine, Tschaikovsky’s music, and world-class ballet dancers, it’s no wonder that tickets to the upcoming 2024 performances are selling out fast.

At a Glance: How to Buy The Nutcracker Ballet Tickets Online

Based on the Alexandre Dumas père version of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (1816), there are several companies around the country who put up the show this time of year — but the Christmas magic really comes alive for the NYCB’s full-scale production at the David H. Koch Theater. With 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 40 stagehands and more than 125 children, not to mention elaborate stage elements and intricate lighting, it’s a show worth seeing in-person. The good news is there are plenty of ways to buy The Nutcracker ballet tickets online so you don’t have to wait at the box office.

NYCB’s beloved production has been performed in New York City every year since it’s premiere on February 2, 1954, and is seen live by more than 100,000 people annually. One of the most famous elements of the production? A one-ton Christmas tree, which grows “from a height of 12 feet to 41 feet,” according to the description on The New York City Ballet’s site. “Other notable feats include the comic figure of Mother Ginger — 85 pounds and nine feet wide, the costume requires handling by three people once it is lowered by pulley over the dancer’s head — as well as the continuous flutter of the purest, crystal-shaped snowflakes (which are swept up and conserved after each performance for reuse).”

If you need tickets to see The Nutcracker this holiday season, read on for the best places to buy New York City Ballet tickets (and tickets to other productions across the U.S.) online.

How to Buy The Nutcracker Ballet Tickets Online

Looking for The Nutcracker tickets online? We found the best ticket sites for getting New York City ballet tickets, plus included where to buy resale stubs for any potential sold-out dates closer to the end of the year.

How to Watch NYCB’s The Nutcracker Online

The first performance of NYCB’s production was on February 2, 1954, and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker has been an annual holiday tradition ever since. While this company usually puts on 47 performances of the ballet annually, the production was actually filmed, so you can now stream The Nutcracker ballet online.

If you don’t have Apple TV+, there are three ways to sign up, each with different benefits. The most straightforward way is to sign up for the monthly plan which costs $9.99/month after a seven-day free trial. You can also get Apple TV+ is through the Apple One bundle, which bundles the streamer with up to six other Apple services like iCloud+, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade. The Apple One bundle starts with a 30-day free trial, and then plans start at $19.95/month after that.

Not sure if you’re ready to sign up for yet another streamer? The pro-shoot of NYCB’s production of The Nutcracker from 2015 is actually available to buy on DVD and Blu-ray online. From mischievous mice to a battalion of toy soldiers, this ‎1 hour and 50 minute filmed version captures all the on-stage excitement.