2025/2026 Season - BALLET & DANCE
Welcome to the New National Theatre Tokyo
Experience a lifetime of theatre through opera and ballet
Tokyo is a stage for all things fascinating from all over the world, including the performing arts. Join us in the heart of the metropolis and indulge in the captivating performances of world-class opera, ballet, dance, and drama.
The New National Theatre Tokyo (NNTT) is a globally unique institution that comprises three venues: Opera Palace, Playhouse, and The Pit.
Tokyo is a stage for all things fascinating from all over the world, including the performing arts. Join us in the heart of the metropolis and indulge in the captivating performances of world-class opera, ballet, dance and drama.
The New National Theatre Tokyo (NNTT) is a globally unique institution that comprises three venues: Opera Palace, Playhouse, and The Pit.


The Opera Palace, with a seating capacity of 1,806, hosts enchanting opera and ballet performances featuring internationally renowned conductors, directors, choreographers, singers, and the talented dancers of the National Ballet of Japan (NBJ). Together, they continuously deliver exquisite entertainment to the audience, creating unforgettable experiences on stage. The walls and ceilings of the Opera Palace auditorium are finished with thick oak wood, creating not only a warm ambiance but an ideal acoustic environment that allows the singers' voices to resonate beautifully. The venue itself feels like a musical instrument.
International visitors can enjoy any performance fully as there are English and Japanese surtitles displayed during all opera performances. The entire theatre is designed to maximise natural light, offering a delightful experience.
Don't miss the chance to explore the foyer exhibitions and indulge in authentic Italian cuisine on the third floor before or after a performance.
Adding to its appeal, the NNTT is located in Hatsudai, just one station away from vibrant Shinjuku. When sightseeing in the capital, enhance your experience by including a visit to the NNTT.
The Opera Palace, with a seating capacity of 1,806, hosts enchanting opera and ballet performances featuring internationally renowned conductors, directors, choreographers, singers, and the talented dancers of the National Ballet of Japan (NBJ). Together, they continuously deliver exquisite entertainment to the audience, creating unforgettable experiences on stage. The walls and ceilings of the Opera Palace auditorium are finished with thick oak wood, creating not only a warm ambiance but an ideal acoustic environment that allows the singers' voices to resonate beautifully. The venue itself feels like a musical instrument.
International visitors can enjoy any performance fully as there are English and Japanese surtitles displayed during all opera performances. The entire theatre is designed to maximise natural light, offering a delightful experience.
Don't miss the chance to explore the foyer exhibitions and indulge in authentic Italian cuisine on the third floor before or after a performance.
Adding to its appeal, the NNTT is located in Hatsudai, just one station away from vibrant Shinjuku. When sightseeing in the capital, enhance your experience by including a visit to the NNTT.
2025/2026 SEASON
BALLET & DANCE
Artistic Director of Ballet & Dance Miyako YOSHIDA
The theatre is a place for extraordinary experiences. Our goal is to provide a space where audiences can discover something new through the stories and expressions brought to life on stage. With this vision in mind, we have set our objectives for the 2025/2026 season: to inspire our dancers to uncover new dimensions of themselves and express their individuality. By encouraging each dancer to find their unique colours and bring them to the stage, we aim to create a vibrant and unforgettable experience for our audience.
We are thrilled to announce three new productions for the upcoming season. The first on the list is the holiday favourite, The Nutcracker. This time, we are excited to collaborate once again with Will Tuckett, who choreographed The Tragedy of Macbeth in 2022. Together, we will bring you a fresh, exciting, and delightful take on The Nutcracker--a reimagined winter classic we hope you'll fall in love with.
Our next new production is Hans van Manen's 5 Tangos, presented as part of the triple bill Ballet Coffret. Originally scheduled for the first year of my tenure as Artistic Director, this production was unfortunately postponed. I am thrilled that we can finally bring it to life on stage. This captivating ballet for adults seamlessly merges Astor Piazzolla's iconic tango music with classical ballet. It will be performed alongside David Dawson's A Million Kisses to my Skin and George Balanchine's Theme and Variations. It will be interesting to see how our dancers bring their unique artistry to these diverse works.
The final production is a new work by Naoya Homan, set to premiere in July 2026 as part of Double Bill at the Playhouse .Homan, a former dancer with the National Ballet of Japan, has an impressive history of choreographing numerous works for the NBJ Choreographic Group during his time with the company. Since then, he has established himself as a celebrated choreographer in his own right. We are thrilled to commission him for this exciting new piece. This Double Bill will showcase two original works by the National Ballet of Japan: Homan's new creation and Jessica Lang's Escaping the Weight of Darkness, returning to the stage for the first time in a decade.
We will also present several beloved works from our repertoire, including Cinderella, which will open the season, and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon, whose previous run was unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic. Additionally, audiences can look forward to Raymonda and Swan Lake, which celebrate the beauty of our company. I believe each of these productions will showcase the individuality of our dancers.
The dance performances will include two Japan premieres: Robot, l'amour éternel by France-based choreographer Kaori Ito, and FRIENDS OF FORSYTHE, an exciting collaboration between the legendary William Forsythe and emerging artists.
These lineups are each vibrant and full of charm. We hope you'll come to the theatre and enjoy our dancers' unique performance.
The theatre is a place for extraordinary experiences. Our goal is to provide a space where audiences can discover something new through the stories and expressions brought to life on stage. With this vision in mind, we have set our objectives for the 2025/2026 season: to inspire our dancers to uncover new dimensions of themselves and express their individuality. By encouraging each dancer to find their unique colours and bring them to the stage, we aim to create a vibrant and unforgettable experience for our audience.
We are thrilled to announce three new productions for the upcoming season. The first on the list is the holiday favourite, The Nutcracker. This time, we are excited to collaborate once again with Will Tuckett, who choreographed The Tragedy of Macbeth in 2022. Together, we will bring you a fresh, exciting, and delightful take on The Nutcracker--a reimagined winter classic we hope you'll fall in love with.
Our next new production is Hans van Manen's 5 Tangos, presented as part of the triple bill Ballet Coffret. Originally scheduled for the first year of my tenure as Artistic Director, this production was unfortunately postponed. I am thrilled that we can finally bring it to life on stage. This captivating ballet for adults seamlessly merges Astor Piazzolla's iconic tango music with classical ballet. It will be performed alongside David Dawson's A Million Kisses to my Skin and George Balanchine's Theme and Variations. It will be interesting to see how our dancers bring their unique artistry to these diverse works.
The final production is a new work by Naoya Homan, set to premiere in July 2026 as part of Double Bill at the Playhouse . Homan, a former dancer with the National Ballet of Japan, has an impressive history of choreographing numerous works for the NBJ Choreographic Group during his time with the company. Since then, he has established himself as a celebrated choreographer in his own right. We are thrilled to commission him for this exciting new piece. This Double Bill will showcase two original works by the National Ballet of Japan: Homan's new creation and Jessica Lang's Escaping the Weight of Darkness, returning to the stage for the first time in a decade.
We will also present several beloved works from our repertoire, including Cinderella, which will open the season, and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon, whose previous run was unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic. Additionally, audiences can look forward to Raymonda and Swan Lake, which celebrate the beauty of our company. I believe each of these productions will showcase the individuality of our dancers.
The dance performances will include two Japan premieres: Robot, l'amour éternel by France-based choreographer Kaori Ito, and FRIENDS OF FORSYTHE, an exciting collaboration between the legendary William Forsythe and emerging artists.
These lineups are each vibrant and full of charm. We hope you'll come to the theatre and enjoy our dancers' unique performance.
Ballet Coffret 2026 6 February - 8 February, 2026
- A Million Kisses to my Skin
Choreography by David DAWSON
Music by Johann Sebastian BACH
Company Premiere
- 5 Tango's
Choreography by Hans van MANEN
Music by Astor PIAZZOLLA
- Theme and Varitations
Choreography by George BALANCHINE
Music by Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
FRIENDS OF FORSYTHE 25 March - 29 March, 2026
Choreography by William FORSYTHE, Rauf "Rubberlegz" YASIT, Lex ISHIMOTO, Riley WATTS, Brigel GJOKA and JA Collective (Aidan CARBERRY, Jordan JOHNSON)
Raymonda 25 April - 3 May, 2026
Swan Lake 5 June - 14 June, 2026
Choreography by Marius PETIPA, Lev IVANOV and Sir Peter WRIGHT
Production by Sir Peter WRIGHT in association with Galina SAMSOVA
Music by Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
String SAGA / Escaping the Weight of Darkness 3 July - 5 July, 2026
Immerse Yourself in the Theatre Space:
Pre and Post-Performance Delights
The NNTT strives to not only put on high-quality performances but also to ensure the overall quality of the theatre experience.
Restaurant and Buffet
At the NNTT, you can enjoy a buffet in the foyer before the performance and during intermissions. Don't miss the opportunity to try the special menu items inspired by the repertoire. You can also visit the Maestro restaurant on the 3rd floor of the theatre where you can sample authentic Italian cuisine. Sharing your expectations or impressions from a performance while savouring good food makes for a perfect day at the theatre.
Theatre Shop
As soon as you enter through the entrance on the 1st floor, you will notice the theatre shop. Here, you can purchase commemorative items such as performance photos and original merchandise from the NNTT.
Hatsudai Art Loft and Information Centre
At the main entrance on the 1st floor and the galleries on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the NNTT, you can enjoy the free exhibition called "Hatsudai Art Loft," which showcases costumes and props from our productions. It provides a rare opportunity to appreciate the costumes and props up close and to experience the entire theatre space as an art form.
In addition, on the 5th floor, the Information Centre provides access to various resources related to the performances, including books, programmes, and sheet music. Visitors can browse materials and watch performances by the NNTT using tablets, video booths, and as video projections.