Next Generation Ballet's Nutcracker plays the Straz Center Dec. 18-22, with six shows. Tampa City Ballet dances it at USF Dec. 5-8 and in New Tampa Dec. 11-19.
Tampa has two Nutcrackers this December. Next Generation Ballet dances it six times at the Straz Center from Friday, Dec. 18, to Tuesday, Dec. 22. Tampa City Ballet performs it at the University of South Florida Dec. 5-8 and at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center Dec. 11-19.
Last checked Oct. 15, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the Straz Center’s Nutcracker page and Tampa City Ballet’s upcoming season page.
Know before you go
- Straz Center: Next Generation Ballet, Morsani Hall, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Dec. 18-22
- Straz tickets: online or at the Ticket Sales Office, 813-229-7827
- Tampa City Ballet: University of South Florida, Dec. 5-8; New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Dec. 11-19
- Tampa City Ballet tickets: through the company’s website
Next Generation Ballet at the Straz Center
Next Generation Ballet is the ballet company of the Straz Center’s Patel Conservatory. The Straz calls its Nutcracker “a cherished Tampa holiday tradition,” with the company’s young dancers performing alongside professional guest artists. The 2026 performances, all in Morsani Hall, from the Straz Center’s event page:
| Day | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | Dec. 18 | 7 p.m. |
| Saturday | Dec. 19 | 2 p.m. |
| Saturday | Dec. 19 | 7 p.m. |
| Sunday | Dec. 20 | 1 p.m. |
| Sunday | Dec. 20 | 6 p.m. |
| Tuesday | Dec. 22 | 2 p.m. |
There is no Monday show. The Straz has not named this year’s guest artists on its page.
Tickets
Tickets are on the Straz Center’s event page or by phone from the Ticket Sales Office, 813-229-7827, which also opens 90 minutes before each performance. If a date looks sold out, the Straz points buyers to Vivid Seats, which it names as its official resale marketplace. Buy from the Straz or that marketplace, not from other resale sites.
Clara’s Christmas Party
A limited number of tickets in select Front Mezzanine and Front Balcony seats include Clara’s Christmas Party in the Premium Experience Balcony Terrace Lounge before the show: a hot cocoa bar, holiday treats, a holiday cocktail (or an alcohol-free version) and a holiday photo, the Straz says.
Parking
The Straz Center lists its garages and rates on its parking page. Downtown street meters run 8 a.m. to midnight seven days; see our getting around guide. On Saturday, Dec. 19, the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade starts at 6:15 p.m. on the Hillsborough River downtown, shortly before the 7 p.m. curtain, so allow extra time. Check our road construction and closures page before you drive in.
Tampa City Ballet
Tampa City Ballet calls The Nutcracker its “beloved tradition.” Its season page lists two runs in 2026:
- University of South Florida: Dec. 5-8
- New Tampa Performing Arts Center: Dec. 11-19
The company has not posted performance times on its own site yet. We will add them, with ticket links, when it does. Tampa City Ballet also gives a “Nutcracker”-inspired performance at Hyde Park Village’s Holiday Happening on Thursday, Nov. 19, the village says; details are on our holiday lights page.
What this means for you
- The Straz has six performances, three of them matinees: 2 p.m. Dec. 19, 1 p.m. Dec. 20 and 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22.
- Going Saturday night, Dec. 19? The boat parade is on the river the same evening; leave extra time.
- Tampa City Ballet’s run starts two weeks earlier, on Dec. 5, the same day as Santa Fest downtown.
More: holiday lights and Christmas events, Santa Fest and the tree lighting, Winter Village ice skating and arts and exhibitions this month.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Nutcracker at the Straz Center in 2026?
Next Generation Ballet’s Nutcracker runs Dec. 18-22 in Morsani Hall: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19; 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20; and 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, according to the Straz Center.
Who dances the Straz Center Nutcracker?
The young dancers of Next Generation Ballet, the ballet company of the Straz Center’s Patel Conservatory, with professional guest artists, the Straz Center says.
Is there another Nutcracker in Tampa?
Yes. Tampa City Ballet performs The Nutcracker at the University of South Florida Dec. 5-8 and at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center Dec. 11-19, 2026, according to the company’s website.
What is Clara’s Christmas Party at the Straz?
A premium ticket for select Front Mezzanine and Front Balcony seats that adds a pre-show party in the Balcony Terrace Lounge with a hot cocoa bar, holiday treats, a holiday cocktail or an alcohol-free version, and a holiday photo, the Straz Center says.
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