2026 holiday shows and performances to enjoy this season

Greater Toronto Area

The Nutcracker, The National Ballet of Canada

The Nutcracker is an annual tradition that has delighted and captured the imagination of families for generations. It is one of Toronto’s most popular family holiday shows.

This performance is held at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Dates: December 5–31, 2026

Location: 145 Queen Street West, Toronto

Cinderella, Canadian Stage

Canadian Stage’s annual holiday panto continues in 2026 with a hilarious take on the classic Cinderella story. This interactive musical comedy features familiar songs and jokes the whole family will enjoy.

Don’t miss this event at the magnificent Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre.

Dates: December 5, 2026–January 3, 2027

Location: 189 Yonge Street, Toronto

Sing-Along Messiah, Tafelmusik

Join the sing-along featuring George Frideric Handel, a cast of soloists and the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir for an interactive performance of his iconic composition.

Whether you love to sing your heart out or listen and sway to the music, the whole family will enjoy this Toronto tradition.

Get tickets for the show at Toronto’s heritage theatre, Massey Hall.

Date: December 20, 2026

Location: 178 Victoria Street, Toronto

Un-Silent Night, Choir!Choir!Choir!

Sing classic Christmas tunes in an open-participation performance led by Toronto-based Choir, Choir, Choir at Massey Hall. No singing experience required—just come ready to have fun.

Performances also take place in Ottawa on December 20 at the National Arts Centre.

December 19, 2026 (Toronto)

Location: 178 Victoria Street, Toronto

Cirque du Soleil’s T’was The Night Before...

Set at Meridian Hall, this fresh take on the beloved poem features thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters and a holiday soundtrack.

Dates: December 10, 2026–January 2, 2027

Location: 1 Front Street East, Toronto

Celestia, Paquin Entertainment Group

Purchase tickets online to experience light and music in a 360-degree immersive story at St James Cathedral, featuring extraordinary visuals and an orchestral score.

When: November 6, 2026–January 31, 2027

Where: 106 King Street East, Toronto

Various holiday shows, Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO)

Enjoy these holiday performances at Roy Thomson Hall:

Elf in Concert

Enjoy John Debney’s score performed by the TSO, as the movie plays on the big screen.

Dates: December 3–6, 2026

TSO Holiday Pops: A Celtic Celebration

The TSO celebrates the season with fiddling power couple Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy and the McMaster Leahy family.

Dates: December 9–10, 2026

Location:  60 Simcoe Street, Toronto

Festival of Carols, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir 

Sing classic and contemporary Christmas carols with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto.

Dates: December 1–3, 2026

Location:  1585 Yonge Street. Toronto

Ottawa Region

The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition, Ballet Jörgen

Set to Tchaikovsky’s familiar score, this twist on The Nutcracker story includes snowflake-filled landscapes, lumberjacks, Mounties and Canadian woodland.

Performances take place at venues across Ontario, including Huntsville, Hamilton and Brantford.

Dates: Various dates in December

Niagara Region

2026 Holiday Season, Shaw Festival

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella and a holiday performance inspired by Arnold Lobel’s stories add joy to the season. Families can book tickets for behind-the-scenes workshops before the show and learn about the special touches that bring the production to life.

Dates: November 5–December 23, 2026

Location:  85 Queen Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Home For the Holidays, Niagara Symphony Orchestra

Home For the Holidays is a popular holiday tradition in the Niagara area.

Celebrate the familiar songs and sounds of the most magical season as Stratford Festival stars Jennifer Rider-Shaw and Robert Markus are accompanied by the region’s esteemed Niagara Symphony Orchestra, alongside the Laura Secord Secondary School Choir.

This show takes place at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.

Date: December 20, 2026

Location: 250 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines

Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington

Snow White and the Seven Tenors: A Panto, Drayton Entertainment

A pantomime twist on the classic story about  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, featuring outrageous costumes, pop-culture humour, chart-topping hits and gags kids and adults can enjoy. This performance is presented by Drayton Entertainment, one of Canada’s most successful professional theatre companies. It also runs at King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene, October 21–November 14, 2026.

Dates: November 19–January 10, 2027

Location: St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, 40 Benjamin Road, Waterloo

Northeastern Ontario

Handel’s Messiah, Sudbury Symphony Orchestra Chamber Series

Sudbury Symphony Orchestra joins the Sudbury Chamber Singers and the Bel Canto Chorus for a performance of Handel’s Messiah, one of the most beloved choral masterpieces.

Location: ​​154 College Street, Greater Sudbury

Northwest Ontario

Holiday Pops, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra

Conductor Jeff Christmas (how fitting!) and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra deliver a festive celebration featuring Christmas classics, heartwarming traditions and delightful surprises.

This show takes place at Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

Date: December 19, 2026

Location: 1 Paul Shaffer Drive, Thunder Bay

Kawarthas and Northumberland

One Night Only, Westben

Choose from two locations to enjoy a Westben holiday musical tradition. Bundle up and enjoy hot apple cider and homemade cookies at The Barn, the beloved timber-framed venue, or attend the performance at Norwood United Church on December 5, 2026.

Dates: November 28–29, 2026

Location: The Barn, 6698 County Road 30 North, Campbellford

Whether you are looking for Christmas plays or time-honoured holiday concerts, Ontario has a performance that will brighten your holiday spirit. Book your tickets today.