English National Ballet’s next season offers much for balletgoers around the country to look forward to. With national touring increased, the company are set to perform works by Martha Graham and Crystal Pite for the first time, a world premiere by American choreographer Kameron N. Saunders, and the return of Kenneth MacMillan’s The Sleeping Beauty and Akram Khan’s Giselle.
The season opens at Sadler’s Wells, London from October 1-11, 2025 with a new programme R:Evolution, celebrating four visionary dance innovators. From 1940s New York comes George Balanchine’s dazzling showcase, Theme and Variations, and Martha Graham’s visceral Errand into the Maze. Moving on fifty years, the evening will also include William Forsythe’s Herman Schmerman (Quintet), and coming right up to date, David Dawson’s Four Last Songs. It is perhaps just a little unfortunate that Theme and Variations is also being danced by Birmingham Royal Ballet next season.
The music for three of the works, by Tchaikovsky, Menotti and R. Strauss, will be performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic, conducted by Music Director, Maria Seletskaja, with soprano Madeleine Pierard singing Strauss’ masterwork.
Photo Camilla Greenwell
The season’s second new mixed bill, Body & Soul, will have performances at Sadler’s Wells (March 19-28, 2026), then Plymouth Theatre Royal (April 30-May 2). The programme includes a world premiere from noted commercial dancer Kameron N. Saunders, whose recent work includes performing with Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan. Saunders promises to bring something new in a work examining how we find our authentic self in the face of crushing societal pressure and expectation. A new score composed by Brandon Finklea and Harold Walker III will be played live by the ENB Philharmonic.
Completing Body & Soul is the evening’s title work, Body and Soul (Part 1) by Crystal Pite. A human response to bereavement, it will be receiving it’s UK premiere.
Honouring the company’s commitment to the classics, Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s The Sleeping Beauty returns and will tour to Liverpool’s Empire Theatre (October 23-25, 2025); Manchester’s Palace Theatre (November 19-22, 2025); Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (November 26-29, 2025) and, for the first time, the Royal Albert Hall, London (June 18-23, 2026). It features costumes and sets by legendary designers Nicholas Georgiadis and Peter Farmer.
by Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith
Photo Johan Persson
Following it’s 2024 success, it’s no surprise that ENB’s new Nutcracker returns to the London Coliseum at Christmas (December 11, 2025-January 11, 2026). That will be followed at the Coliseum by Akram Khan’s Giselle (January 15-18, 2026), which celebrates its 10th anniversary with its first performances in the West End. Khan’s iconic take on the tragic tale of love, betrayal, and redemption features an imposing set from Academy Award-winner Tim Yip and powerful score by Vincenzo Lamagna.
Younger audiences are not forgotten as ENB and the English National Ballet School present My First Ballet at Sadler’s Wells’ West End venue, the Peacock Theatre, in April 2026, as well as embarking on a national tour for the first time since 2019 (further details to be announced).
Returning in spring, Emerging Dancer shines a light on rising talent throughout the Company. To be held in Spring 2026 at the Mulryan Centre for Dance, the event will be streamed to digital audiences and will include The People’s Choice Award, as chosen by audience members, and the Corps de Ballet Award, for an Artist of the Company who has gone above and beyond, both on stage and off.
For more details of the season, and to watch the season trailer, click here.