For thousands of St. Louis families, the holidays officially begin when the tree grows on the Touhill stage. Saint Louis Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker,’ choreographed by Artistic Director Gen Horiuchi, returns to the Touhill Performing Arts Center November 28–29 and December 18–23, 2026, with matinee and evening performances.
Horiuchi’s production is the region’s grand one: a huge cast of company dancers, students from the School of Saint Louis Ballet and child performers, glorious costumes and sets, and Tchaikovsky’s score carrying Clara from the Christmas party through the snow kingdom to the Land of Sweets. Sensory-friendly touches and the company’s special one-hour ‘Shorter Tale’ performances (December 1 and 18) open the tradition to the youngest audiences.
Book the matinees early — they are the season’s first sellouts.
The Touhill is at 1 University Boulevard (UMSL). Tickets at stlouisballet.org.
