nutcracker tickets in Durham, NC

America's Christmas Tradition

2025 Season

Share the joy of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet with family and friends. Give the gift of a spectacular holiday experience featuring an international cast, whimsical puppetry and opulent costumes and sets, hand-crafted by the finest artisans of Europe. Go back to a simpler time and make memories your family will cherish forever. Celebrate the season with America’s most beloved Nutcracker tradition! Tchaikovsky’s timeless score sets the stage for a Christmas your family will never forget. Get tickets today!

Kissy Doll 2024

The Theater

About Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham

Welcome to the home of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet: The Durham Performing Arts Center. Since its opening in 2008, DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) has become the center for live entertainment in North Carolina. Recognized for its contemporary design, DPAC features 2,700 seats, intimate sightlines, and state-of-the-art sound and video. Ranked annually among the top-five theaters in America by three leading national magazines that cover live entertainment events and venues, in 2020 DPAC was among ten U.S. venues nominated for Theatre of the Decade by Pollstar Magazine.

With a mission of presenting one-of-a-kind live entertainment events, DPAC truly has “something for everyone,” hosting up to 550,000 guests per year to its 200 to 250 performances.  Each season, the stage at DPAC comes alive with spectacular touring Broadway productions, high-profile concert and comedy events, family shows and special events of all kinds.

Owned by the City of Durham and operated under the direction of Nederlander and Professional Facilities Management (PFM), since 2011 DPAC has been listed as the #1 performing arts organization in the region by the Triangle Business Journal.

Partner Studio

Durham Partner Ballet Studio: Durham School of Ballet and the Performing Arts

Nutcracker wouldn’t be Nutcracker without the local Children’s cast! Dancing alongside the full international professional cast are local Durham children from Durham School of Ballet and the Performing Arts.

Durham School of Ballet and the Performing Arts, LLC (DSBPA) offers classes for students age two through adult who enjoy dancing, as well as for those who wish to pursue a professional career. Instructors are currently certified by ABT National Training Curriculum, Escola National de Ballet de Cuba, Imperial School of Dancing, and New England Conservatory of Circus Arts. They encourage and support their staff in pursuing continuing education opportunities for the benefit of students’ training. DSBPA constantly looks for opportunities to train students from communities traditionally underrepresented in classical ballet and aerial via national partnerships such as Project Plié and are seeking local partnerships with underrepresented groups. 

party with kids gifts

'Tis The Season Of Savings

Save Up To 25% on Select Merchandise Collections with promo code NUTS25

“What a magnificent show! We’ve attended several different performances of the nutcracker in the past. This show puts all of them to shame! We plan on making this a regular holiday event for our family! Thank you for such a great holiday experience!!”

“Loved the nutcracker production. Costumes were beautiful and dancers as usual did not disappoint. Great family holiday experience”

“Commitment to the theme of Love and Peace”
CNN News

“Technically supreme dancing, dazzling... authentically opulent...”
Calgary Herald

“Technical prowess was…truly “great”...whimsical sets and giant animal stick puppets and colorful costumes… stellar Arabian Variation… breathtaking!”
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2014

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