December 3, 4, 5, and 6, 2026
Ballad Health Performing Arts Center

A Magical Holiday Tradition You
Won’t Want to Miss!

Kingsport Ballet’s The Nutcracker has become a holiday must-see in our region of the Tri-Cities, Tennessee, Virginia, and beyond. We have been staging this full-length ballet since 2003 and continue to find new ways to delight the audience while keeping the magic of this ballet classic alive! Be sure to come see the exciting changes we have planned for our 2026 production!

After selling out multiple years in a row, we are excited to offer a fourth show on Thursday evening.

Our production takes place at the Ballad Health Performing Arts Center at Northeast State Community College. Stay tuned for information about ticket sales, coming soon!

View the 2025 Nutcracker Program Book!

Nutcracker Program

The Story of The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker tells the story of Clara, who lives in a small German town in the late 1800s. After an exciting and eventful holiday party thrown by her parents, Clara falls asleep and is whisked away into a dreamland filled with larger-than-life mice, a Nutcracker prince, and the lively characters of the Land of Sweets. There, she is Princess Clara, and is delighted by the vibrant Spanish dancers, the lively Chinese dolls, and the mysterious Arabian dancers. These unforgettable characters are joined by Princess Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, who dance a beautiful pas de deux, sure to delight the child in all of us.

Ballet dancers on stage during a performance in the Land of Sweets, with a scenic backdrop of a garden and stone staircase, and dancers seated on the sides in period costumes.
Ballet dancers performing the waltz of the flowers on stage with a painted scenic backdrop of a garden with trees, pink flowers, and a staircase.
Ballet dancers performing on stage with a painted scenic backdrop of trees, some dancers seated on each side, dressed in classical costumes.
A scene from a ballet performance with children and adults on stage, featuring a decorated Christmas tree, a fireplace, and set pieces resembling a grand room, with dancers in colorful costumes and a dancer as a Nutcracker solider.
Ballet performance featuring a man dressed in black Victorian clothing as Drosselmeyer and a girl in a pink dress holding a nutcracker on a decorated stage with a Christmas tree, presents, furniture, and a fireplace.
Ballet dancers performing on stage, the Sugar Plum fairy in a white tutu at center stage with the nutcracker prince beside her, with a painted garden backdrop, dancers in tutus, some sitting and some standing, in a classical ballet scene.
See More Nutcracker Photos