The Nutcracker, the all-time favorite fairy tale, keeps casting its spell on every generation. It asks whether we can settle for a world of appearances or if happiness demands believing that everything has a soul and a destiny. Children’s faith changes the world, and adults learn from them to feel, not just see. A plain wooden doll, trapped by a curse in an awkward body. A girl who sees the feeling heart inside the painted shell—and will do anything to break the spell.
Budapest Highlights
On December 14, The Nutcracker lands at the Budapest Congress Center, and also at 1165 Budapest, Hunyadvár St. 43/B, with tickets from about $11.70 to $15.60. The same day in Szentendre, Pátriárka St. 7, seats run around $24.80.
Advent in the Buda Castle District screens The Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker recording at Miklós Ybl Square (Ybl Miklós tér) 2–6 on December 14 and 20, tickets roughly $9.80. The grand Budapest run at 22 Andrássy Ave. (Andrássy út 22.) spans December 13–14, 16, 18, 20, December 23–28, December 30, January 2–4, January 6–8, and January 10–11, with premium seats around $210 across dates. Another Budapest venue, 17 Nagymező St. (Nagymező utca 17.), hosts shows December 18–21 and December 22–23 at about $70.50. A Christmas ballet edition plays December 23 on Jagelló Road (Jagelló út) 1–3. The stage at 8 Liszt Ferenc Square (Liszt Ferenc tér 8.) offers The Nutcracker – full ballet music with the Danubia Orchestra on December 17, plus a Christmas concert, Nutcracker and the Melodies of the Holidays, on December 19. A reimagined classic tale–dance show arrives December 20 at 18 Csörsz St. (Csörsz u. 18.), tickets about $22.20–$25.00. London’s Royal Ballet broadcast returns December 25 at 21 Rákóczi Road (Rákóczi út 21.), tickets near $13.90. In Angyalföld, 23–25 Kárpát St. (Kárpát utca 23–25.) presents shows December 27–30 for roughly $22.20–$27.80.
Beyond the Capital
Győr’s Our Nutcracker (A mi Diótörőnk) unites 13 dance schools December 15–16 at 7 Gergely Czuczor St. (Czuczor Gergely u. 7.), and the city hosts another Nutcracker on December 21 at 16 Martyrs of Arad Road (Aradi vértanúk útja 16), plus January 17 at 46 Miklós Radnóti Road (Radnóti Miklós út 46) ($29.20–$48.70). The Ballet Theatre of Székesfehérvár plays December 15–17 at 8 Main Street (Fő utca 8.) ($3.90–$8.40). Szeged Contemporary Ballet performs December 17–18 at 1 Viktor Vaszy Square (Vaszy Viktor tér 1.) ($8.90–$18.80), then brings its production to 16–20 Little Rook St., Budapest (Kis Rókus u. 16–20.) December 20–22. Kecskemét stages The Nutcracker (Diótörő) December 20–21 at 1 Ferenc Deák Square (Deák Ferenc tér 1). Budaörs sweetens things with Chocolate Bar // The Nutcracker (Csokibár // Diótörő) on December 22 (26 Szabadság Road, $5.60–$7.00). Ferencváros hosts a one-act fairy-tale ballet on December 21 at 27 Haller St. (Haller u. 27).
On Tour in January
January keeps the magic rolling: Szeged (1–3 Upper Tisza Bank, Felső Tisza-part 1–3.) on January 3 ($33.50–$64.20), Szombathely on January 8 ($29.20–$41.70), Kaposvár on January 10 ($27.20–$44.40), Eger on January 13 (4 Hatvani Gate Square, Hatvani kapu tér 4.), Miskolc’s Generali Arena on January 14 ($29.20–$45.10), Veszprém on January 15 ($31.30–$58.40), and Budapest’s 1 György Dózsa Road (Dózsa György út 1.) on January 18 ($36.30–$67.10).
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
