The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker

The Joffrey’s Nutcracker returns to the Lyric Opera House from Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 27, 2026, opening at 7 p.m. and closing with a 1 p.m. matinee, according to the company. Christopher Wheeldon’s version moves the story to Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, where Marie and the Nutcracker prince wander the fairgrounds past a Golden Statue, an Arabian enchantress, Venetian masked dancers, Chinese dragons and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

Tchaikovsky’s score is played live by the Lyric Opera Orchestra under Scott Speck. The production runs about two hours with an intermission. Single tickets start at $47 and are on sale through the Joffrey’s box office at 312-386-8905 and online, per BroadwayWorld. Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company is the presenting sponsor.

Weekend matinees are the family shows and sell first; weeknight performances in the first two weeks tend to have the best seats left.

Plan your visit

The Lyric Opera House is at Wacker and Madison, a block from the Washington/Wells Brown, Orange, Pink and Purple Line station and a short walk from Ogilvie and Union stations for Metra riders. Garages on Wacker and Madison charge event rates around $30 and clear slowly after the show; the L is faster. Doors open an hour before curtain and the coat check lines are long on matinee days, so arrive early. Dress is anything from jeans to velvet.