Miami City Ballet Raises the Curtain On a Thrilling 2026-27 Season
(Miami Beach, FL – September 16, 2026) – The curtain will soon rise on Miami City Ballet’s 2026–27 season with American Rhythms, an exhilarating mix of ballet, music, fashion, and unmistakable American style.
From October 16–25 in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, MCB Artistic Director Gonzalo Garcia launches his first fully programmed season with a bold mixed-repertory program featuring the hotly anticipated world premiere of Push the Buttons of the Civilized by Tony Award-winning choreographer and Miami native Patricia Delgado, created in collaboration with award-winning Miami artist Emily Estefan; the company premiere of Jerome Robbins’ iconic N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz, featuring new GapStudio costumes designed by Zac Posen; and the dazzling Allegro Brillante by George Balanchine.
Three ballets. Three generations of American creativity. One high-energy opening to a season that honors Miami City Ballet’s celebrated past while looking boldly toward an exciting future.
The season continues with the return of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, the Miami City Ballet premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a spring mixed-repertory program entitled Icons & Innovators, and the season finale, Alexei Ratmansky’s Swan Lake Presented by Oceania Cruises®.
“Every season we create tells a story, and this one reflects everything that makes Miami City Ballet such an extraordinary place,” said Artistic Director Gonzalo Garcia. “We celebrate our Balanchine heritage while embracing exciting new artistic voices, beloved classics, and productions that remind us why ballet continues to inspire people of every generation. Whether joining us for a thrilling mixed-repertory program, a cherished holiday tradition, an unforgettable family adventure, or one of ballet’s greatest masterpieces, I hope everyone leaves the theater feeling inspired, uplifted, and eager to return.”
“There has never been a more exciting time at Miami City Ballet,” said Executive Director Scott Altman. “A thrilling new era is taking shape, fueled by tremendous energy, artistic ambition, and a deep respect for the extraordinary legacy that brought this company to where it is today. I’m honored to join Gonzalo, our remarkable artists, and the entire MCB community at this moment, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience all that lies ahead.”
AMERICAN RHYTHMS
October 16–25, 2026 | Miami & Fort Lauderdale
Artistic Director Gonzalo Garcia’s first fully programmed season begins at full throttle with American Rhythms, an exhilarating mixed-repertory program celebrating the innovation, musicality, and creative spirit of American dance.
At its heart is one of the season’s most anticipated events: the world premiere of Push the Buttons of the Civilized by Patricia Delgado, the Miami-born, Tony Award-winning choreographer of Buena Vista Social Club and former MCB Principal Dancer, created in collaboration with award-winning Miami artist Emily Estefan. This fall marks a homecoming twice over for Delgado, as Buena Vista Social Club launches its national tour in Miami before she returns to the company where her own career began for the world premiere of her first work created specifically for a ballet company. Uniting two acclaimed artists with deep Miami roots, the premiere creates a distinctly Miami centerpiece for Gonzalo Garcia’s first fully programmed season.
The company premiere of Jerome Robbins’ electrifying N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz shifts the energy into high gear. Created in 1958, the groundbreaking “ballet in sneakers” traded pointe shoes for sneakers and blended ballet with jazz, capturing the energy, attitude, and swagger of a new generation. For this MCB premiere, Robbins’ iconic work takes on a bold new look with GapStudio, led by celebrated fashion designer Zac Posen, creating new costumes for the production that meld Posen’s distinctive fashion sensibility with Robbins’ youthful vision while bringing a fresh visual dimension to the celebrated work.
Completing the program is George Balanchine’s dazzling Allegro Brillante, a virtuoso burst of speed, precision, and musical brilliance that connects the evening’s fresh creative energy to the Balanchine legacy at the heart of Miami City Ballet.
Together, the three works span generations of American creativity, from Balanchine’s neoclassical brilliance and Robbins’ jazz-infused cool to Delgado’s Push the Buttons of the Civilized. American Rhythms offers longtime ballet lovers and first-time audiences alike an irresistible introduction to the extraordinary range of Miami City Ballet.
Tickets for American Rhythms and all performances in Miami City Ballet’s 2026–27 season are on sale now at MiamiCityBallet.org or by calling 305.929.7010.
And that is only the beginning.
Spanning October 2026 through May 2027, Miami City Ballet’s five-program season continues with holiday magic, a spectacular journey down the rabbit hole, a second mixed-repertory program featuring another major world premiere, and the return of one of the greatest classical ballets ever created.
GEORGE BALANCHINE’S THE NUTCRACKER®
December 11–27, 2026 | Miami
No holiday season in South Florida is complete without George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. A cherished Miami tradition for countless families, this enchanting production fills the stage with spectacular dancing, unforgettable music, timeless wonder, and Miami’s distinctive color and joy. From the magical journey through the Land of Sweets to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, audiences of every age are invited to experience the warmth and imagination that have made this production one of Miami City Ballet’s most treasured annual traditions. Whether returning year after year or discovering it for the first time, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® continues to create memories for generations of families.
ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
February 25–March 21, 2027 | Miami & Fort Lauderdale
The adventure continues with the long-awaited Miami City Ballet premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s spectacular Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. One of the most celebrated story ballets of the 21st century, this theatrical tour de force transforms Lewis Carroll’s beloved tale into an imaginative world overflowing with extraordinary choreography, unforgettable characters, theatrical spectacle, and visual surprises around every corner. Filled with humor, fantasy, and boundless imagination, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland promises an experience unlike anything else on South Florida stages and an irresistible entry point for families and first-time ballet audiences.
ICONS & INNOVATORS
March 26–April 18, 2027 | Miami, Fort Lauderdale & West Palm Beach
Spring celebrates ballet’s past, present, and future with Icons & Innovators, a dynamic mixed-repertory program pairing George Balanchine’s majestic Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 with Tough Luck, a world premiere by New York City Ballet Principal Dancer and acclaimed choreographer Tiler Peck and Justin Peck’s exhilarating Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes. Together, the three works bring generations of choreographic vision to one stage, showcasing the artistry, athleticism, and creative spirit that continue to propel ballet forward.
SWAN LAKE PRESENTED BY OCEANIA CRUISES®
April 29–May 23, 2027 | Miami, Fort Lauderdale & West Palm Beach
The season reaches its breathtaking conclusion with Swan Lake Presented by Oceania Cruises®, Alexei Ratmansky’s acclaimed production of ballet’s most enduring masterpiece. Returning to South Florida following two sold-out engagements, the production is performed with a live orchestra and more than 50 dancers onstage, bringing sweeping romance, dramatic power, and extraordinary beauty to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score.
One of the most beloved works in the classical repertory, Swan Lake tells the timeless story of Prince Siegfried, Princess Odette, and the battle between love and deception. Ratmansky’s internationally celebrated production honors the ballet’s rich classical heritage while bringing renewed dramatic depth and emotional resonance to one of the art form’s defining masterpieces. Miami City Ballet is proud to remain the only American company presenting this extraordinary production.
A SEASON DESIGNED TO EXPERIENCE AGAIN AND AGAIN
New this season, Miami City Ballet introduces the Storybook Ballet Bundle, a curated subscription package bringing together three of the season’s biggest productions: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Alexei Ratmansky’s Swan Lake Presented by Oceania Cruises®. As the only subscription package that includes George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, the Storybook Ballet Bundle offers subscriber benefits including flexible exchanges, savings on additional tickets, and invitations to exclusive events.
Whether attending a single performance or returning throughout the season, audiences can experience the full breadth of Miami City Ballet’s artistry, from bold new repertory and spectacular storybook adventures to beloved classics and holiday traditions.
Tickets, subscription packages, and complete performance information are available at MiamiCityBallet.org or by calling 305.929.7010.
2026–27 SEASON
American Rhythms
October 16–25, 2026
Miami • Fort Lauderdale
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
December 11–27, 2026
Miami
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
February 25–March 21, 2027
Miami • Fort Lauderdale
Icons & Innovators
March 26–April 18, 2027
Miami • Fort Lauderdale • West Palm Beach
Swan Lake Presented by Oceania Cruises®
April 29–May 23, 2027
Miami • Fort Lauderdale • West Palm Beach
ABOUT MIAMI CITY BALLET
Miami City Ballet is one of America’s premier ballet companies, recognized nationally and internationally for its artistic excellence, vibrant style, and innovative spirit. Founded in 1985 by Miami philanthropist Toby Lerner Ansin, the company has earned its place as a leader in the field, nurturing new choreographic voices, forging bold collaborations, and championing greater inclusivity in classical ballet. Its artistic leadership has included Founding Artistic Director Edward Villella (1985–2012), Lourdes Lopez (2012–2025), and current Artistic Director Gonzalo Garcia. Rooted in the legacy of George Balanchine while embracing a wide-ranging repertory of more than 100 works, Miami City Ballet performs for nearly 125,000 audience members annually across South Florida and on tour. The Miami City Ballet School annually serves over 1,500 students from around the world, and the company’s community engagement programs reach approximately 20,000 people each year, using the power of dance to inspire, educate, and connect. Miami City Ballet is based in Miami Beach at the Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Center, designed by the internationally acclaimed architectural firm Arquitectonica.
Isabella DeVivo and Alexander Kaden in N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz. Photo by Danielle Levitt.