Budapest’s Nutcracker Season: Dates, Venues, Prices

Discover Budapest’s 2025
when: 2025.12.18., Thursday - 2025.12.21., Sunday, Budapest

The Nutcracker still asks the big question: settle for appearances, or believe that everything has a soul and a fate? A plain wooden doll trapped by a curse; a brave girl who sees a beating heart in painted wood and fights to break the spell. Children’s faith reshapes the world—and reminds adults to feel, not just look. Here’s where the magic lands in 2025/26 across Budapest and beyond.

Budapest headliners

Dec 20, 2025: The Nutcracker, a reimagined classical fairy-tale dance show, Budapest Congress Center, 1124 Budapest, Csörsz u. 18.
Dec 20, 2025: The Nutcracker (A diótörő), 1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 22. Tickets: $214.9.
Dec 20, 2025: The Royal Ballet recorded screening, Advent in the Buda Castle District, 1013 Budapest, Ybl Miklós tér 2–6. Tickets: $9.7.
Dec 20–22, 2025: The Nutcracker (Diótörő) – Szeged Contemporary Ballet (Szegedi Kortárs Balett), 1024 Budapest, Kis Rókus u. 16–20. Tickets: $23.6.
Dec 18–21, 2025 and Dec 22–23 & Dec 25–28, 2025: The Nutcracker (Diótörő), 1065 Budapest, Nagymező utca 17. Tickets: $34.3–$84.2.
Dec 23, 2025: The Nutcracker (A diótörő) – Christmas ballet, 1123 Budapest, Jagelló út 1–3.
Dec 25, 2025: The Royal Ballet 2025/26 – Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, recorded from London, 1088 Budapest, Rákóczi út 21. Tickets: $13.6.
Dec 27–30, 2025: The Nutcracker (DIÓTÖRŐ), 1133 Budapest, Kárpát utca 23–25. Tickets: $22.0–$27.6.
Dec 30, 2025; Jan 2–4, 6–8, 10–11, 2026: The Nutcracker (A diótörő), 1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 22. Tickets: $214.9.
Jan 18, 2026: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (A Diótörő), 1146 Budapest, Dózsa György út 1. Tickets: $36.2–$66.9.

Beyond the capital

Dec 20–21, 2025: The Nutcracker (DIÓTÖRŐ), 6000 Kecskemét, Deák Ferenc tér 1.
Dec 21, 2025: The Nutcracker (Diótörő), 9021 Győr, Aradi vértanúk útja 16.
Dec 21, 2025: The Nutcracker (Diótörő) – fairy-tale ballet in one act, “Bring the fairy tale to life!”, 1096 Budapest, Haller u. 27.
Dec 22, 2025: Chocolate Bar (Csokibár) // The Nutcracker (Diótörő), 2040 Budaörs, Szabadság út 26. Tickets: $5.5–$6.9.
Jan 3, 2026: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (A Diótörő), 6700 Szeged, Felső Tisza-part 1–3. Tickets: $33.2–$63.6.
Jan 8, 2026: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (A Diótörő), Szombathely, Sugár u. 18. Tickets: $29.0–$47.0.
Jan 10, 2026: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (A Diótörő), 7400 Kaposvár, Arany János u. 97. Tickets: $27.1–$44.3.
Jan 13, 2026: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (A Diótörő), 3300 Eger, Hatvani kapu tér 4.
Jan 14, 2026: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (A Diótörő), Generali Arena (Generali Aréna), 3500 Miskolc. Tickets: $29.0–$44.9.
Jan 15, 2026: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (A Diótörő), 8200 Veszprém, Külső-kádártai út 5. Tickets: $31.1–$58.1.
Jan 17, 2026: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (A Diótörő), 9025 Győr, Radnóti Miklós út 46. Tickets: $29.0–$48.4.

Good to know

Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs. Prices converted from HUF to USD.

2025, adminboss

Pros
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Family-friendly holiday pick: classic story, lots of matinee options, and several low-cost screenings that work for kids’ attention spans
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Internationally famous subject: Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is instantly recognizable to U.S. visitors, so you know what you’re getting
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Multiple price tiers: from ~$6–$10 recorded screenings to $20–$85 regional shows and premium $215 seats on Andrássy út, so easy to match a budget
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Easy logistics in Budapest: most venues are central or near Metro/tram lines; taxis and rideshares are plentiful, and December traffic is manageable at night
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Plenty of dates across late Dec–Jan, including after Christmas, which is great if you arrive post-holiday
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Mix of formats: full ballet, contemporary takes, and cinema screenings—good if you want either a splashy night out or a quick, affordable taste
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Day-trip potential: performances in cities like Szeged, Győr, and Veszprém can pair with sightseeing and are reachable by rail or car
Cons
Hungarian language pops up in titles and programs (“A Diótörő”), and some intros will be in Hungarian—ballet itself is nonverbal, but supertitles/announcements may not be in English
The priciest Budapest production (~$215) is steep versus many U.S. regional Nutcrackers, and can sell out fast
Non-Budapest venues are less known internationally, and getting there in winter can mean longer train times or icy driving
Compared with marquee ballets in London/NYC, production values vary between venues; some shows are recorded screenings rather than live performances

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