Whether you are a seasoned ballet enthusiast or a first-time attendee seeking an unforgettable night out, the Houston Ballet’s 2025 to 2026 season will certainly be for you. From timeless classics like Giselle to groundbreaking world premieres, this season delivers the exceptional talent, artistry, and athleticism you would expect from an incredible local company’s dancers. Read on for a look at this year’s schedule.

Exploring the Legacy of the Houston Ballet

The Houston Ballet Foundation was established in 1955 and the professional company was established in 1969. It has since grown into one of the most respected ballet companies in the world. With a budget of over $41.2 million and an endowment of $110.8 million, the company supports a resident ballet company of exceptional dancers trained at the Houston Ballet Academy. The company’s reach extends far beyond its home at the Wortham Theater Center, with performances in major cultural capitals like New York City, Paris, London, and Tokyo.

Under the guidance of Stanton Welch AM and former American Ballet Theatre principal Julie Kent, it has grown into the fourth largest ballet company in the US. continues to innovate and expand its repertoire. Known for his powerful storytelling and athletic choreography, the former dancer has crafted over 40 original works for the company. Kent brings decades of performance experience and artistic insight to her role as Artistic Director.

This incredible professional ballet company is also known for its ambitious touring schedule. Recent tours have included stops in Dubai, Melbourne, London, and Washington, D.C., solidifying its reputation as one of the premier ballet companies in the world.

Interestingly, the Houston Ballet Academy plays an important role in training the next generation of dancers and has produced more than 60 percent of the current company. Many of these dancers have gone on to perform with major companies around the world, including the American Ballet Theatre and the Royal Ballet.

Must-See Performances in the 2025—2026 Season

Last year, The Houston Chronicle described the Houston Ballet’s 2024 season as “electrifying” and “sharp.” This season should be equally impressive and engaging. Let’s explore the 2025 calendar before the fall hits.

Onegin

The Houston Ballet season opens with Onegin, which is scheduled for September 5th through 14th, 2025. Onegin is John Cranko’s searing adaptation of Pushkin’s novel. Tchaikovsky’s music coils around the characters like memory itself—melancholic and unrelenting. Onegin’s dismissal of Tatiana’s love and his tragic reawakening to it lands less like fiction and more like a universal parable about time, choices, and the unbearable ache of second chances.

Rock, Roll & Tutus

From there, the mood lifts but doesn’t lose intensity. Scheduled from September 18th through 28th, Rock, Roll & Tutus is exciting, fun, and genre-smashing. A refreshingly offbeat detour from classical canon, this ballet dials up the volume—both literally and choreographically—on what ballet can be. A triptych of works, this ballet includes Rooster, choreographed by Christopher Bruce, Illuminate, by company soloist Jacquelyn Long, and Vi et animo by Stanton Welch.

Sylvia

But perhaps no work this season reaches across history and geography with quite the same lyrical conviction as Sylvia, which is scheduled for Winter 2026 between February 26th and March 8th. In Welch’s retelling, Greek mythology is an epic of female agency—not suffering or oppression. The mythic and mortal merge in this bold, evocative ballet.

Broken Wings

The second half of March brings Broken Wings, which is Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s love letter to Frida Kahlo. Though many biographies stumble under the weight of their subjects, Ochoa’s work dances thoughtfully and emotively through the iconic artist’s inner and outer worlds. Pairing this with Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort and a world premiere by Welch to music by Mason Bates makes for a uniquely impactful ballet.

An Evening with the Stars

Spring closes with An Evening with the Stars, which is scheduled for May 28th through June 7th and which includes a world premiere by Alice Topp. Alongside Welch’s Tapestry, which was inspired by Turkish looms and Mozart’s rich cadences, and Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering, this ballet is a can’t-miss.

Giselle

The 2025 to 2026 season closes with Giselle from June 11th through 21st. Welch’s 2016 version restores lost measures and resurrects old ghosts—not just from Adam’s score but from Houston Ballet’s own history. Giselle was the flicker that fed the company’s flame, a 1967 performance that ignited a legacy in then-nascent Houston.

Final Thoughts: The 2025 Season is Unmissable

As one of the world’s top ballet companies, the Houston Ballet grants us a truly world-class cultural experience. Whether on a date or as a family affair, an evening at the ballet is an unforgettable experience that also supports the arts in Houston.

Ready to plan your night out? Visit the Houston Ballet’s website to book your tickets and learn more about the 2025 season.