Huntsville Ballet's Nutcracker with the symphony runs Dec. 11-13 at the VBC, $45 to $55. Plus A Christmas Carol Dec. 4-13 and more holiday shows near Madison.

Huntsville Ballet’s 56th annual Nutcracker runs Friday, Dec. 11, to Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026, at the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall in the Von Braun Center, with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky’s score live. The Von Braun Center is in downtown Huntsville, about 10 miles east of Madison.

Last checked Nov. 6, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Huntsville Ballet and its Nutcracker ticket page, Fantasy Playhouse and the Von Braun Center.

The Nutcracker 2026 at a glance

  • When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12; 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13
  • Where: Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe St. SW, Huntsville
  • Tickets: $45, $50 or $55 by seat section, plus a $5 processing fee
  • Music: live, by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra
  • Box office: Huntsville Ballet, 256-539-0961, tickets@huntsvilleballet.org

The Nutcracker: times and tickets

Huntsville Ballet sells tickets through its own ticket page, which lists four performances:

Day Time
Friday, Dec. 11 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13 1 p.m.
  • Prices: Gold $55, Green $50 and Blue $45, plus a $5 ticket processing fee, the ballet’s ticketing page says.
  • Refunds: none, but tickets can be exchanged for another performance. The ballet says programming and dates are subject to change.
  • Sweet Seats: an upgrade with a behind-the-curtain tour led by a cast member, onstage photos and gifts from the Sugar Plum Fairy. Existing tickets can be upgraded; call the ballet office at 256-539-0961 to choose a performance. They are limited to 15 seats a show, only at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, and sales close Dec. 1, the ballet says.
  • What you see: Clara and her Prince, the soaring Christmas tree, the snowflakes, the Waltz of the Flowers, Mother Ginger and the Sugar Plum Fairy, as the ballet describes its production.

Saturday’s 2 p.m. and Sunday’s 1 p.m. shows are the matinees, the easiest pick for young children. Huntsville Ballet does not publish a running time on its ticket page.

A Christmas Carol, Fantasy Playhouse

Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy stages A Christmas Carol at the VBC Playhouse, in the same building, over two weekends, according to its website:

  • First weekend: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4; 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5; 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.
  • Second weekend: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10; 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11; 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12; 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13.
  • Tickets: Fantasy Playhouse lists single Mainstage tickets at $25 for adults and $19 for children 18 and under, plus a $1.75 fee, on its ticket information page. Confirm the Christmas Carol price with the box office, 256-539-6829, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dec. 11-13 is a busy weekend at the VBC: The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol play the concert hall and the Playhouse at overlapping times, so allow extra time to park.

More holiday shows near Madison

When Show Where
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 A Celtic Christmas, Irish dance and music from the A Taste of Ireland company Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
Nov. 13-22 Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley, the Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon comedy VBC Playhouse

Georgiana and Kitty plays at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21, with 2 p.m. matinees Nov. 15, 21 and 22, according to the Von Braun Center’s listings.

In Madison itself, the library’s free holiday band concert and the city’s Christmas on Main events are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page. The Madison City Community Orchestra played its Christmas concert at Madison Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. 7, in 2025, the city’s Special Events page shows; the 2026 date had not been posted as of Oct. 20. This page will add it.

Parking and getting there

The Von Braun Center is at 700 Monroe St. SW in downtown Huntsville. From Madison, take I-565 east into downtown. The VBC’s parking page says:

  • On-site VBC parking is $15, in surface lots and the covered South Hall garage (from Clinton Avenue, turn onto Pollard Street), which has indoor access to every venue.
  • Closest to the concert hall and Playhouse: the Saturn Ballroom lot, entered from Clinton Avenue. The Monroe lot by the box office, entered from Monroe Street, also serves the concert hall.
  • City of Huntsville parking nearby is $5, including the Monroe Street garage across from the VBC box office.
  • The VBC is cashless: card and mobile payments only, for parking, concessions and bars.

For road work on the way, see our road construction and closures page, and for parking at events in Madison, our getting around guide.

What this means for you

  • Nutcracker seats are $45 to $55 plus a $5 fee; the matinees are Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
  • Tickets cannot be refunded, only exchanged, so pick your date before you buy.
  • Budget $15 for VBC parking, or $5 in a city lot, and bring a card, not cash.

More guides: holiday lights and Christmas events, Christmas parade and tree lighting and New Year’s Eve.

Frequently asked questions

When is The Nutcracker in Huntsville in 2026?

Huntsville Ballet’s 56th annual Nutcracker, played live by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, runs Dec. 11-13, 2026, at the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall in the Von Braun Center. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13.

How much are Nutcracker tickets in Huntsville?

Huntsville Ballet’s ticket page lists Gold seats at $55, Green at $50 and Blue at $45, plus a $5 processing fee. There are no refunds, but tickets can be exchanged for another performance. Sweet Seats, an upgrade with a backstage tour and onstage photos, are booked by phone at 256-539-0961; they are limited to 15 a show, offered only at the 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday shows, and sales close Dec. 1.

When is A Christmas Carol at the Von Braun Center?

Fantasy Playhouse stages A Christmas Carol at the VBC Playhouse over two weekends: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4; 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6; 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, and Friday, Dec. 11; and 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 13.

Where do I park for the Nutcracker at the Von Braun Center?

On-site VBC lots and the South Hall garage cost $15, and nearby City of Huntsville parking costs $5, according to the VBC. The Saturn Ballroom lot, entered from Clinton Avenue, and the Monroe lot by the box office are closest to the concert hall. The VBC is cashless.