2026/2027 Season - BALLET & DANCE

For nearly 30 years, the National Ballet of Japan has refined the traditions of classical ballet under five artistic directors, weaving in a sensibility that is quintessentially Japanese. The 2026/2027 season invites audiences to experience the beauty and spirit of ballet we have inherited, alongside the challenges of its ongoing innovation.

The season opens with the new ballet City Lights, inspired by the classic films of the legendary comedian Charles Chaplin. Chaplin's world, which conveys emotion and story without words, resonates deeply with the art of ballet. Choreographer Alastair Marriott, who recently revised Giselle for us and knows our company's strengths inside out, brings this silent drama gently to life on stage. Through this work, we look forward to revealing new facets of our company's charm to audiences.

DANCE to the Future 2026 will feature works choreographed by the company's dancers, alongside a new commission by First Soloist Yoshito Kinoshita. Kinoshita, who has created impressive works through the NBJ Choreographic Group--an initiative to nurture choreographers within the company--now embraces a fresh challenge. In our quest to expand the possibilities of ballet, we will continue to actively provide opportunities for our dancers to present their own works.

The dance programme will also feature new works by Kenta Kojiri and Kaori Ito. Drawing on their extensive international experience, both artists bring fresh and inventive perspectives to the stage.

The 2026/2027 season repertoire features The Nutcracker, newly produced last season, alongside Tales of Hoffmann and Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet, both carrying on the legacy of dramatic ballet, as well as Don Quixote, the longest-running work in the National Ballet of Japan's repertoire. Each of these timeless works holds universal appeal and continues to captivate audiences across generations. We present these cherished classics while adapting them to resonate with contemporary sensibilities.

This approach is exemplified in a double bill featuring La Sylphide and The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude. By presenting both a classical ballet blanc and an innovative contemporary work, the programme aims to embody the approach and artistic vision that the National Ballet of Japan values.

In addition, our production of Giselle, performed at the Royal Opera House in London in 2025, will be presented as a triumphant return in Fukuoka and Hyogo. We are thrilled to share the experiences and achievements gained from the London performances with audiences in Japan, bringing this production to multiple regions nationwide.

We believe that tradition is not something to be merely preserved, but something to be refined and transformed over time, and passed on to future generations. Building on the foundations of the traditions we have cultivated, the 2026/2027 season--looking ahead to our upcoming 30th anniversary--will mark a solid step toward taking flight into the future. Our dancers and staff dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to bringing these performances to life. We very much look forward to sharing these inspiring moments with you in the theatre.