New Orleans Ballet Association's 2026-2027 Season
Continuing its long-standing advocacy for world-class dance, the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) has announced its 2026-2027 Main Stage Season.
This season features five acclaimed engagements at the Mahalia Jackson Theater, aiming to bring world-class dance to the Big Easy and throughout the Gulf South, and will feature artists and companies from across the United States and abroad, offering audiences a wide array of dance experiences rarely seen on center stage together.
For over 50 years, NOBA has presented dynamic dance companies and artists from all over the world during their Main Stage Seasons. NOBA also provides education programs that provide more than 5,500 tuition-free dance and wellness classes and workshops annually to all ages throughout the Great New Orleans area. The internationally-renowned, award-winning program was established in 1992 and has served over 33,000 individuals of all backgrounds.
NOBA is supported by part of a grant from Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and the NEA, a federal agency; as well as a community arts grant by the City of New Orleans, as administered by and managed by Arts New Orleans.
All performances deliver a rare opportunity for celebrated internationally-renowned artists to share their native regions with audiences and feel closer to home. This year's highlighted artists include: Pilbolus, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Argentina's Tango After Dark, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Houson Ballet.
Pilbolus
The season will open on October 17, 2026, with Pilobolus, displaying inventive dance theater that transforms the human body using athletic, collaborative, and imaginative visual images. The company combines dance, theater, and shadow play to shape the human form, with a collaborative creative process, into unexpected visual images. Praised by Dresdner Morgenpost as "astonishing, virtuosic, amazing," the performance emphasizes their athletic and structured storytelling for their audience of all generations.
Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Alonzo King LINES Ballet will return to New Orleans for the first time in 15 years to take center stage on November 14, 2026. The company, founded by acclaimed choreographer Alonzo King, is celebrated for blending classical ballet and contemporary innovation. LINES Ballet earned international recognition for their works of striking beauty, athleticism, and spiritual depth. As The San Francisco Chronicle described King as "one of the few bonafide visionaries in the ballet world today," his company expands the possibilities of ballet while rooted in classical structure.
Argentina's Tango After Dark
Led by World Tango Champion Germán Cornejo, Argentina's Tango After Dark will take the stage on Febuary 20, 2027. This theatrical production will showcase 10 dancers and an ensemble of musicians performing Astor Piazzolla's historic compositions. The choreography balances the tradition of Argentine tango roots with contemporary staging, complex footwork, and precise musical timing. "A sizzling display of tango. Sharp, intimate, and intense," The Live Review described the production.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
On March 13 and 14, 2027, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will take the stage with a two-performance engagement. Nearly having spent seven decades touring internationally and led by Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack, their work mirrors African American experiences. In one performance, Program B will feature Alvin Ailey's 1960 masterpiece, Revelations. The New York Times reported, "The totality of Alvin Ailey...physical and spiritual beauty."
Houston Ballet
The Houston Ballet will conclude the season on April 17, 2027, with their production of Madama Butterfly. This sweeping full-length ballet, choreographed by Staton Welch and set to Giacomo Puccini's bellowed score, combines literature and opera to portray a love story to life. Through powerful choreography and captivating 19th century Japanese visual designs by Peter Farmer, Madama Butterfly will take audiences across three continents in this performance. The Houston Ballet was named "one of the nation's best ballet companies" by The New York Times, as Julie Kent and Stanton Welch AM lead as artistic directors.
2026-2027 Main Stage Season Ticket Information
NOBA will offer two options for subscriptions for the 2026-2027 Main Stage Season. The Grand Series Subscriptions will be available until October 17, 2026, and offers up to 20 percent off all performances, plus a robust assortment of benefits. The Build Your Own Season Subscription will be available until March 13, 2027, and will offer up to 15 percent off three or four productions of your choosing. Prices will vary depending on production choice and seat location.
Subscribers are encouraged to purchase tickets to the season early to benefit from the additional perks included in the plan. All packages can be purchased at NOBAdance.com or by calling (504) 522-0996 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
