Atlanta Ballet Nutcracker 2026: Dec. 5-26 dates and times

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker page and the venue’s event page. This page is updated each year at the same address.

Yes, it is on this year. Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker runs Saturday, Dec. 5, to Saturday, Dec. 26, 2026, at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway. There are 19 performances. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, the venue says.

At a glance

• When: Dec. 5-26, 2026; most shows at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, in Cobb County
• Running time: 2 hours and 8 minutes, with one intermission
• Parking: $20 a vehicle on site, credit card only
• Doors: open 90 minutes before each show
• Questions: Atlanta Ballet Patron Services, 404-892-3303

The production

The company dances Yuri Possokhov’s version of the ballet, and the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra plays Tchaikovsky’s score live, according to Atlanta Ballet. The show runs 2 hours and 8 minutes, including intermission.

The production is not at the Fox Theatre. Atlanta Ballet and the venue both list the 2026 run at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Every performance

From the Cobb Energy Centre’s event page:

There is no performance on Christmas Day.

Tickets

Atlanta Ballet sells tickets from its Nutcracker page, and the venue links to Ticketmaster. Neither page lists a price range, so check the seat map for the date you want. Resale sites also list seats; the ballet and the venue are the official sellers.

Parking and getting there

• On-site parking costs $20 a vehicle, paid by credit card only. The venue has 1,000 spaces and does not sell prepaid parking, the Cobb Energy Centre says.
• Arrive early. Doors open 90 minutes before each show. Allow time to park and pass the venue’s security screening.
• For road work that could slow the drive, check our road construction and closures page; for transit and parking across the city, see getting around Atlanta.

Bringing children

Atlanta Ballet answers questions on age limits, lap seating, late seating and the venue’s bag policy on its FAQ page, or by phone at 404-892-3303. At more than two hours with intermission, the 2 p.m. matinees suit younger children best.

What this means for you

• Pick your date: there are 19 shows, and only three are on a weekday afternoon.
• Budget $20 for parking on top of tickets, and bring a credit card.
• Want something closer to downtown? The Alliance Theatre’s A Christmas Carol and the Botanical Garden’s lights are in our holiday lights and Christmas events guide.

Related: arts and exhibitions this month, things to do this month, Christmas parade and tree lighting and date night in Atlanta.

Frequently asked questions

When is Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker in 2026?

Dec. 5-26, 2026, at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway. There are 19 performances, most at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; the Christmas Eve show is at 1 p.m.

Is the Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre?

No. Atlanta Ballet and the venue both list the 2026 run at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in the Cobb Galleria area.

How long is Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker?

2 hours and 8 minutes, including intermission, Atlanta Ballet says.

How much is parking for the Nutcracker?

$20 a vehicle in the venue’s on-site lot, credit card only, the Cobb Energy Centre says. It has 1,000 spaces and no prepaid parking.

Is there a Nutcracker show on Christmas Day?

No. The schedule skips Dec. 25. There is a 1 p.m. show on Christmas Eve and a final 2 p.m. show Saturday, Dec. 26.