This guide covers September 21–27, 2026. For the current week, see Ballet This Week: September Week 4, 2026.
Fall season is officially here. New York City Ballet opens with Balanchine’s Jewels on Tuesday, Fall for Dance brings $30 tickets and companies from around the world to City Center, and Pacific Northwest Ballet opens its season Friday with a world premiere. In Chicago, this is your last week to catch the Joffrey’s Liliom.
This Week at a Glance (Mon Sept 21 – Sun Sept 27)
| Performance | Dates this week | City | Venue | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewels — New York City Ballet | Sept 22–27 | New York | David H. Koch Theater | Check official site |
| Fall for Dance Festival, Programs 1–3 | Sept 22–27 | New York | New York City Center | $30, every seat |
| Liliom — The Joffrey Ballet | Sept 24–27 (final week) | Chicago | Lyric Opera House | Main floor from $47 (Sept 25); others: check official site |
| Serenade — Pacific Northwest Ballet | Sept 25–26 (run continues to Oct 4) | Seattle | McCaw Hall | Check official site |
New York
Jewels — New York City Ballet
- When: Tue Sept 22 – Fri Sept 25 at 7:30 pm; Sat Sept 26 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; Sun Sept 27 at 3 pm
- Where: David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza (map)
- Tickets: nycballet.com — check the official site for current pricing
NYCB opens its 26-27 season with Balanchine’s three-part Jewels: Emeralds to Fauré, Rubies to Stravinsky, and Diamonds to Tchaikovsky. It has no plot, which makes it an easy first ballet, and it runs about two hours according to NYCB’s repertory notes. Ages 13 to 30 should look at NYCB’s $30 for 30 rush program, which NYCB says opens for the new season on September 22. Full details are in our guide to Jewels at the David H. Koch Theater.
Fall for Dance Festival — New York City Center
- Where: New York City Center, 131 W 55th Street (map)
- Tickets: $30 for every seat, according to City Center — nycitycenter.org
The 23rd Fall for Dance Festival mixes five short programs, each with a different lineup of companies. Three programs fall in this week, and each has something for ballet fans:
- Program 1 — Tue Sept 22 and Wed Sept 23, 7:30 pm: Skylar Brandt and Aran Bell dance Gerald Arpino’s L’Air D’Esprit, alongside A.I.M by Kyle Abraham and Martha Graham Dance Company.
- Program 2 — Thu Sept 24 and Fri Sept 25, 7:30 pm: Boston Ballet brings the New York premiere of Akram Khan’s Vertical Road (Reimagined) 2023. Also on the bill: PHILADANCO! and a world premiere preview from Robbie Fairchild’s Players.
- Program 3 — Sat Sept 26, 7:30 pm and Sun Sept 27, 2 pm: The Royal Ballet gives the US premiere of Loughlan Prior’s Paganini – The First Virtuoso, with Juan Tomás de la Molía and Lior Tavori Dance Company.
City Center also offers free pre-show dance lessons for ticket holders an hour before some performances (this week: Wed Sept 23 at 6:30 pm, Fri Sept 25 at 6:30 pm, Sun Sept 27 at 1 pm), subject to capacity. Casting and programs can change.
Chicago
Liliom — The Joffrey Ballet
- When: Thu Sept 24 and Fri Sept 25 at 7:30 pm; Sat Sept 26 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; Sun Sept 27 at 2 pm (final performance)
- Where: Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive (map)
- Tickets: joffrey.org — main floor from $47 on Sept 25; check the official site for other dates
John Neumeier’s Liliom, based on the Molnár play that inspired Carousel, is having its Chicago premiere with the Joffrey. Michel Legrand wrote the score, and a 17-piece jazz band plays live on stage. It runs 2 hours 20 minutes with one intermission. Under 30? The Joffrey’s 30 Under 30 offer ($30, promo code 30UNDER30) applies to select seats but not the Sept 27 performance. More in our Liliom guide.
Seattle
Serenade — Pacific Northwest Ballet
- When: Fri Sept 25 at 7:30 pm; Sat Sept 26 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm (continues Oct 2–4)
- Where: McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St (map)
- Tickets: pnb.org — check the official site for current pricing
PNB opens its 2026/27 season with a triple bill: Balanchine’s Serenade, the world premiere of Jessica Lang’s Pages (music by David Lang) on September 25, and Alexei Ratmansky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. PNB offers a free half-hour Ballet Talk an hour before every performance. Our Serenade guide has the details.
Book Ahead
These are after this week, but worth booking now:
- NYCB Fall Fashion Gala — Thu Oct 1, David H. Koch Theater (check the official site for the start time). Three world premieres, from Alysa Pires, Justin Peck and Jennifer Archibald. nycballet.com
- Fall for Dance, Programs 4 and 5 — Sept 30 to Oct 3, New York City Center. San Francisco Ballet, Miami City Ballet and The Australian Ballet are on these bills. nycitycenter.org
- The Australian Ballet, Oscar — Oct 8–11, New York City Center. A new story ballet by Christopher Wheeldon about Oscar Wilde, with a Joby Talbot score played live by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. City Center lists tickets from $45. nycitycenter.org
- PNB Serenade, second weekend — Oct 2–4, McCaw Hall. Includes an audio-described matinee on Sat Oct 3 at 2 pm. pnb.org
Visitor Tip: Opening Week
Three of this week’s four shows open a new season or a new festival. If your dates are flexible, compare weekday and weekend availability on the official seat maps before you choose a night. Also look for the free extras this week: City Center’s pre-show dance lessons, the Joffrey’s Meet the Artists talks, and PNB’s Ballet Talks. All three are free with a ticket. For more on saving money, see How to Get Cheap Ballet Tickets in the US. If it is your first night at the ballet, start with Ballet Etiquette: What to Wear and When to Clap and How to Choose Seats at a Ballet Performance.
Schedules and prices can change. Please confirm on the official site before booking. Spotted an error? Let me know.
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