The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s 2026 Season

To celebrate the summer, we return to a much-loved Royal New Zealand Ballet production from 2011: Greg Horsman’s fairytale version of The Sleeping Beauty.

The age-old story of the princess who pricks her finger and falls into an enchanted sleep, only to be wakened by true love, is brought to life in picture-perfect designs by Gary Harris, classical choreography and Tchaikovsky’s magical music. A touch of wizardry from Wellington’s Wētā Workshop adds to the joy and wonder, making this the perfect pre-Christmas treat for audiences of all ages.

More than 42,000 people saw the premiere of this glorious production around New Zealand in 2011. Choreographer Greg Horsman left the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2012 to take up a new role at Queensland Ballet, and this production has now been staged there several times to great acclaim.

This ballet is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 20-minute interval.