The Nutcracker returns across Hungary in 2025–2026 with a full slate of ballets, screenings, and concerts—headlined by major dates in Budapest on December 13–14, 2025. The timeless tale still asks whether we can settle for appearances, or if joy demands faith that everything has a soul and a destiny. A plain wooden puppet trapped by a curse. A young girl who sees the loving heart beneath the paint and fights to break the spell. Children’s belief can change the world—and remind adults to feel, not just see.
Budapest front and center
Budapest is overflowing with options. At 22 Andrássy Avenue (Andrássy út 22) in Terézváros (1061 Budapest), “A diótörő” runs December 13–14, then returns December 16, 18, 20, and December 23–28, December 30, plus January 2–4, 6–8, and 10–11, 2026. Tickets range from $0 to $210–$380 depending on the date. The venue also hosts on December 17 “A diótörő – teljes balettzene” with the Danubia Orchestra at 8 Franz Liszt Square (Liszt Ferenc tér 8), and “Diótörő és az ünnep dallamai – Karácsonyi koncert” on December 19 at the same square.
Royal Ballet on the big screen
The Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker appears via recorded screenings as part of “Advent in the Buda Castle District (Advent a Budavári Palotanegyedben)” at 2–6 Miklós Ybl Square (Ybl Miklós tér 2–6) (1013 Budapest) on December 14 and 20, 2025, tickets $9.60. Another broadcast, “The Royal Ballet 2025/26 – Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Csajkovszkij: A diótörő),” screens December 25 at 21 Rákóczi Road (Rákóczi út 21) (1088 Budapest), tickets $13.50.
City-by-city highlights
– Budapest, 16th District (Hunyadvár u. 43/B): December 14, tickets $11.40–$15.20.
– Szentendre (Pátriárka utca 7): December 14, fixed at $24.10.
– Győr (9022, Czuczor Gergely u. 7): “Our Nutcracker – 13 Dance Schools (A mi Diótörőnk – 13 tánciskola),” December 15–16, $13.50.
– Székesfehérvár (Fő utca 8): Székesfehérvár Ballet Theatre (Székesfehérvári Balett Színház), December 15–17, $3.80–$8.20.
– Szeged (Vaszy Viktor tér 1): Szeged Contemporary Ballet (Szegedi Kortárs Balett): The Nutcracker (DIÓTÖRŐ), December 17–18, $8.80–$18.70.
– Budapest, 17 Nagymező Street (Nagymező utca 17): multiple Nutcracker runs Dec 18–21, 22–23, 25–28, all at $68.50.
– 13th District, 4 József Attila Square (József Attila tér 4): Ékszer Ballet Ensemble (Ékszer Balett Táncegyüttes), December 19, $5.40.
– Hegyvidék (Csörsz u. 18): “Classic Fairy Tale Dance Show, Reimagined (Klasszikus mese-tánc-show, újragondolva),” December 20, $21.50–$27.00.
– Millenáris area (Kis Rókus u. 16–20): Szeged Contemporary Ballet (Szegedi Kortárs Balett), December 20–22, $20.40.
– Győr (Aradi vértanúk útja 16): December 21.
– Ferencváros (Haller u. 27): “The Nutcracker – A One-Act Fairy-Tale Ballet / Bring the Fairy Tale to Life! (Diótörő – mesebalett egy felvonásban / Keltsd életre a tündérmesét!),” December 21.
– Budaörs (Szabadság út 26): “Chocolate Bar // The Nutcracker (Csokibár // Diótörő),” December 22, $5.40–$6.80.
– Hegyvidék (Jagelló út 1–3): “The Nutcracker – Christmas Ballet (A diótörő – karácsonyi balett),” December 23.
– 13th District (Kárpát utca 23–25): The Nutcracker (DIÓTÖRŐ), December 27–30, $21.50–$27.00.
January tour continues
Szeged (Felső Tisza-part 1–3) hosts “Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Csajkovszkij: A Diótörő)” on January 3, 2026, $32.80–$62.90. Budapest’s 22 Andrássy Avenue (Andrássy út 22) continues January 2–4, 6–8, and 10–11, $116–$210–$380. Szombathely (Sugár u. 18) welcomes the ballet January 8, $27.60–$39.50. Kaposvár (Arany János u. 97) follows January 10, $25.70–$42.00. Eger (Hatvani kapu tér 4) appears January 13. Miskolc’s Generali Arena (Generali Aréna) (3500) on January 14 offers $27.60–$42.70. Veszprém (Külső-kádártai út 5) on January 15 lists $29.50–$55.10. Győr (Radnóti Miklós út 46) on January 17 features $27.60–$46.10. Budapest’s Heroes’ Square end, 1 Dózsa György Road (Dózsa György út 1) (Zugló), hosts January 18 at $34.20–$63.10.
Plan ahead
Additional date clusters run weekly from December 8 through New Year’s, with organizers reserving the right to change programs and schedules. Online ticketing is available across venues.
