Ballet Memphis' The Nutcracker plays the Orpheum Dec. 12-20, from $38.55. Plus A Christmas Carol at Theatre Memphis, Frozen, Elf Jr. and holiday concerts.
Last checked Oct. 23, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates, times and prices come from the Orpheum Theatre Group, Ballet Memphis, Theatre Memphis, Playhouse on the Square, Hattiloo Theatre and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
Yes, The Nutcracker is on this year: Ballet Memphis dances it at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main St., Dec. 12-20, 2026, with eight performances and tickets from $38.55. Theatre Memphis’ A Christmas Carol opens Dec. 4 for its 49th year, and the Midtown stages fill with holiday shows for families from Nov. 6. The Orpheum box office is 901-525-3000.
Plan ahead
- Nutcracker tickets: Orpheum listing, Ticketmaster or the box office, 901-525-3000
- A Christmas Carol: Theatre Memphis box office, 901-682-8323
- Parking downtown: arrive 45 minutes early, the Orpheum advises; lots listed below
Ballet Memphis’ The Nutcracker
Ballet Memphis calls it “Memphis’s Nutcracker,” made for the Orpheum stage, with more than 100 professional dancers and students from across the city (Orpheum listing). Doors open an hour before each show. Prices run $38.55 to $178.20, and the Orpheum warns that tickets from anyone other than its box office or Ticketmaster may be counterfeit or overpriced.
| Date | Times |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 13 | 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 19 | 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 20 | 2 p.m. |
The Dec. 12 matinee falls on the same day as the 11 a.m. Memphis Holiday Parade on Beale Street, a block from the Orpheum; see our Christmas parade page and allow extra time.
Before the ballet
- Nutcracker Story Time with Novel Bookstore, Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., at Novel Bookstore: the story, some dancing and a ballerina to meet. Free, but ticketed, one ticket per family (Ballet Memphis).
- Nutcracker Tea, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at The Peabody: tea, sweets, crafts, a mini-performance, a ballet class and a photo with dancers. $80 a ticket, or $1,000 for a table of 10, benefiting the company’s Children’s Enchantment Fund (Ballet Memphis).
A Christmas Carol at Theatre Memphis
Theatre Memphis stages A Christmas Carol for the 49th consecutive year, Dec. 4-23, in its 411-seat Lohrey Theatre at 630 Perkins Extended in East Memphis, the company said in its season announcement. It is not part of the season membership, though members get a discount. The theater’s box office is 901-682-8323; performance times will be on its performance schedule.
Family holiday shows in Midtown
| Show | Dates | Where | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narnia the Musical | Nov. 6 to Dec. 20 | The Circuit Playhouse, 51 S. Cooper St. | Public matinees 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays |
| Disney’s Frozen | Nov. 13 to Dec. 20 | Playhouse on the Square, 66 S. Cooper St. | 7 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays |
| Elf the Musical Jr. | Nov. 20-29 | Hattiloo Theatre, 37 S. Cooper St. | 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20, 27 and 28; 2 p.m. Nov. 21, 28 and 29 |
For grown-ups, Playhouse on the Square’s The Night Shift Before Christmas, Nov. 20 to Dec. 20 in the Memphian Room at The Circuit Playhouse, is an adult comedy that spoofs “A Christmas Carol” in a Texas burger restaurant (Playhouse listing).
Holiday concerts
- Home Alone in Concert, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, Orpheum Theatre: the film with John Williams’ score played live by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra; $36.10 to $117.25 (Orpheum).
- Frost: A Holiday Cirque Extravaganza, 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2, Halloran Centre, 225 S. Main St.; $35.55 to $59.60 (Orpheum Theatre Group).
- Magic of Memphis, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s holiday show with choirs and Dancing Santas, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 255 N. Main St. (MSO calendar).
- Handel’s Messiah with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. each night: Monday, Dec. 21, at Lindenwood Christian Church; Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Germantown United Methodist Church in Germantown, about 11 miles east; and Wednesday, Dec. 23, at St. Paul United Methodist Church (MSO calendar).
- Drew and Ellie Holcomb’s Neighborly Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 22, Orpheum Theatre. The Orpheum lists it as sold out (Orpheum).
- Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis, Saturday, Dec. 26, Orpheum Theatre (Orpheum).
Parking downtown
The Orpheum recommends arriving at least 45 minutes before showtime and lists two nearby garages where parking can be reserved ahead, according to its parking page:
- Downtown Mobility Center, 60 Beale St.
- MLGW Garage, 234-238 S. Front St.
The same page warns that Front Street between Union and Monroe avenues is closed through Dec. 1 for streetscape work. Check our road construction and closures and getting around pages before you drive, and our parking guide on Beale Street for the blocks around the theater.
What this means for you
- The Nutcracker has eight shows over two weekends; Friday, Dec. 18, and Sunday, Dec. 20, have one show each, the other days two.
- Book the Dec. 12 matinee knowing the Beale Street parade fills downtown that morning.
- A Christmas Carol is in East Memphis, away from the downtown parking crunch; the Orpheum, Halloran Centre and Cannon Center shows need a downtown garage or lot.
Related: holiday lights and Christmas events, arts and exhibitions this month and New Year’s Eve in Memphis.
Frequently asked questions
When is The Nutcracker in Memphis in 2026?
Ballet Memphis performs The Nutcracker at the Orpheum Theatre Dec. 12-20, 2026: 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, 13 and 19, 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 18 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 20.
How much are Nutcracker tickets in Memphis?
The Orpheum lists prices from $38.55 to $178.20. Tickets are sold through the Orpheum box office, 901-525-3000, and Ticketmaster.
When is A Christmas Carol at Theatre Memphis?
Dec. 4-23, 2026, in the Lohrey Theatre, 630 Perkins Extended. It is the theater’s 49th annual production and is sold separately from season memberships.
What holiday shows are good for kids in Memphis?
Disney’s Frozen at Playhouse on the Square (Nov. 13 to Dec. 20), Narnia the Musical at The Circuit Playhouse (Nov. 6 to Dec. 20), Elf the Musical Jr. at Hattiloo (Nov. 20-29) and Home Alone in Concert at the Orpheum on Nov. 28.
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