Richmond Ballet's The Nutcracker runs Dec. 5-23, 2026, at the Carpenter Theatre with the Richmond Symphony. Tickets start at $33.60; event parking from $8.
Last checked Nov. 3, 2026. This page is updated each year; the same address carries the next season’s dates. Sources: Richmond Ballet’s Nutcracker page and Dominion Energy Center’s event listing and directions and parking page.
Yes, The Nutcracker is on for 2026. Richmond Ballet performs it Dec. 5-23 at the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St., in downtown Richmond, about 13 miles southeast of Short Pump. The Richmond Symphony plays live. Tickets start at $33.60, fees included, and are on sale now.
Quick answer
- Dates: Saturday, Dec. 5, to Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2026; 17 performances
- Where: Carpenter Theatre, Sixth and Grace streets, Richmond
- Tickets: from $33.60; every guest 2 and up needs one
- Run time: about two hours, with one 20-minute intermission
- Box office: 804-344-0906, ext. 224, weekdays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Performance dates and times
From Richmond Ballet’s performance list, which matches the theater’s own listing:
| Date | Times |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Dec. 5 | 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 6 | 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 11 | 7 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 13 | 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | 7 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 19 | 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 20 | 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. |
| Monday, Dec. 21 | 7 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Dec. 22 | 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 23 | 1 p.m. |
Doors open one hour before each show, according to Dominion Energy Center.
Tickets
- Price: from $33.60, which Richmond Ballet says includes facility and online convenience fees.
- Children: there is no separate child price. Every guest 2 and up needs a ticket.
- VIP package, matinees only: seats in the first three rows and access to the Donor Lounge.
- How to buy: online through Etix from the Richmond Ballet page, or from the Richmond Ballet box office at 804-344-0906, ext. 224, weekdays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Mobile and print-at-home tickets are on delayed delivery and arrive seven days before the show, the theater says.
Resale sites list Nutcracker seats at well above face value. Buying from Richmond Ballet or the theater gets the listed price.
Parking and getting there
The drive from Short Pump is east on Interstate 64, then into downtown. The theater is at the corner of Sixth and Grace streets. Dominion Energy Center’s parking page lists these options:
| Parking | Address | Price | Walk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth of Virginia Parking Deck | 11 N. Sixth St. | $8 event rate, card only | About 3 minutes |
| Lot at Grace Street | 609 E. Grace St. | Event rate, price not listed | About 1 minute |
| Lot at Broad Street | 623 E. Broad St. | Event rate, price not listed | About 1 minute |
| 5th and Marshall Deck | 500 E. Marshall St. | $5 an hour or $25 a day | About 4 minutes |
| 7th and Marshall Deck | 607 E. Marshall St. | Event rate, price not listed | About 4 minutes |
- The Commonwealth deck opens two hours before showtime and closes an hour after the show, and the theater says it may not open for every event.
- The 5th and Marshall deck and the 5th and Broad lot are the theater’s picks for matinees between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Accessible parking is at most of the lots above.
- Backpacks, boxes, laptop bags and briefcases are not allowed inside; diaper bags and medical bags are.
Our getting around guide covers the drive from Short Pump, and road construction and closures lists work that could slow the drive.
Accessibility and what to know
- Strobe lighting and smoke effects are used in the production, Richmond Ballet says.
- Sensory bags are free at the concierge desk in the box office lobby, with an ID.
- Assisted listening: the theater uses the Sennheiser MobileConnect app; pick “Carpenter Theater” in the app.
- For ADA or medical accommodations, contact Dominion Energy Center’s administrative office ahead of the show at 804-592-3330.
More holiday shows near Short Pump
- GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden runs Nov. 23 to Jan. 3.
- The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen lights its tree Saturday, Dec. 5, and its KOS Band Christmas show is Dec. 21 and 22; see arts and exhibitions this month.
- Everything else for the season is on holiday lights and Christmas events.
What this means for you
Seventeen shows over three weeks give families a choice of weekday evenings and weekend matinees. Buy from Richmond Ballet or the theater to pay the listed price, budget $8 for the Commonwealth deck on evenings, and use the 5th and Marshall deck, which the theater recommends for daytime shows.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Richmond Ballet Nutcracker in 2026?
Dec. 5-23, 2026, at the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center in downtown Richmond, with 17 performances. The first is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and the last at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23.
How much are Nutcracker tickets in Richmond?
Richmond Ballet says tickets start at $33.60, including fees. There is no separate child price, and everyone 2 and up needs a ticket. A VIP package with front-row seating is sold for matinees.
How long is The Nutcracker at Richmond Ballet?
About two hours, including one 20-minute intermission, according to Richmond Ballet. The production uses strobe lighting and smoke effects.
Where do I park for the Nutcracker at the Carpenter Theatre?
Dominion Energy Center lists the Commonwealth of Virginia Parking Deck, 11 N. Sixth St., at $8 for events, about a three-minute walk, plus lots on Grace and Broad streets and the 5th and Marshall deck at $5 an hour.
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