Birmingham Royal Ballet is back with an electrifying new season, blending timeless classics with bold, modern productions.
Carlos Acosta and Birmingham Royal Ballet unveil a spectacular 2025-26 season.
Artistic Director Carlos Acosta said: ‘Following the Company’s most successful Nutcracker season ever, preparations for our spring 2025 tour of Cinderella are well underway, but already we are looking ahead and I am so happy to announce the return of two of the more recent jewels in BRB’s crown, Black Sabbath – The Ballet and Don Quixote. Amongst many achievements, these productions are two of which I am possibly most proud as I mark five years with the Company. I continue to honour the memory of my close collaborator and CEO Caroline Miller in my first season without her at my side, and we all remain positive and excited about what lies ahead.’
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Cinderella
Cinderella, 19 Feb – 1 Mar 2025
Step into the magical world of Cinderella, where Fairy Godmothers triumph over cruel stepmothers, pumpkins turn into sparkling carriages, and a jewelled slipper changes one young woman’s life forever. This timeless story of love, courage, and kindness reminds us all to have faith in our wildest dreams; one day they might just come true.
Prokofiev’s wonderful music, performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, provides the enchanting soundtrack to this fairytale performance. Cinderella will be at Birmingham Hippodrome (19 Feb – 1 Mar 2025).
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BRB2: Carlos Acosta’s Ballet Celebration
Carlos Acosta’s Ballet Celebration, Tue 6 May
From Tues 6 – Sat 17 2025, BRB2, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s second company, embarks on its third UK tour. Described as ‘pinsharp and personality laden’ by The Daily Telegraph, BRB2 brings together the world’s most talented young dancers, the stars of tomorrow, to showcase their incredible potential.
For this tour, Carlos Acosta has created a brand-new gala production, featuring highlights from the repertory of Serge Diaghilev’s revolutionary troupe. These dancers, musicians, and designers set a new standard in creativity, and their work continues to inspire the world of dance today. The performance will include iconic pieces like The Firebird, Spectre de la Rose, Les Sylphides, and Scheherazade.
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Black Sabbath – The Ballet Returns
Black Sabbath – The Ballet, 18–27 Sept 2025
After a sell-out premiere in 2023, Black Sabbath – The Ballet is back! Following an international tour, this groundbreaking production—which first brought heavy metal fans to ballet—opens the 2025-26 season at Birmingham Hippodrome (18–27 Sept 2025). Expect reworked interviews, enhanced sound design, and even more electrifying energy. Featuring re-orchestrated Black Sabbath classics like Paranoid, Iron Man, and War Pigs, this genre-defying ballet cranks the volume up to 11!
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Don Quixote
Don Quixote, 12–21 Feb 2026
Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote returns in Spring 2026, bringing its vibrant Spanish energy back to Birmingham Hippodrome (12–21 Feb 2026). Bursting with passion and breathtaking choreography, this production features exhilarating duels, spirited flamenco, and show-stopping pas de deux. Set to Ludwig Minkus’ rich and evocative score, performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, it’s a feast for the senses that captures the heart of classical ballet.
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A Christmas Tradition: The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker, 21 Nov – 13 Dec 2025
Sir Peter Wright’s magical Nutcracker returns to Birmingham Hippodrome (21 Nov – 13 Dec 2025) after breaking box office records in 2024. This much-loved festive favourite, with its enchanting story, breathtaking choreography, and unforgettable score, continues to captivate audiences of all ages more than two centuries after its debut.
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A Night to Remember: Sir Peter Wright Centenary Gala
Pictured: The Green Table
A celebration of Sir Peter Wright’s Centenary will take place at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, when Sir Peter will be in his 100th year (he turns 99 in November 2025). The evening will feature highlights from Sir Peter’s many brilliant classical productions for the Company, along with the BRB’s first performance of Kurt Jooss’s The Green Table since the early 1990s, when Sir Peter himself introduced it to the repertory. Sir Peter began his career with Ballet Jooss, and The Green Table is a work he greatly admires.
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20th-Century Masterpieces: A Triple Bill to Remember
Carlos Acosta’s Ballet Celebration, 18–20 June 2026
From 18–20 June 2026, BRB will present a stunning Triple Bill at Birmingham Hippodrome. The programme opens with The Green Table, Kurt Jooss’s powerful anti-war ballet, a haunting depiction of the futility of peace negotiations. Theme and Variations follows, showcasing George Balanchine’s brilliance in a breathtaking display of classical ballet. The evening concludes with Birthday Offering, Sir Frederick Ashton’s elegant tribute to The Royal Ballet, celebrating its rich heritage with grace and grandeur.
From rock ‘n’ roll rebellion to timeless fairytales, BRB’s 2025-26 season is set to captivate Birmingham audiences once again. Whether you’re a devoted ballet fan or experiencing it for the first time, these spectacular performances promise something truly unforgettable.
