Make room on your holiday calendar for a little stage magic! Cincinnati’s Christmas shows bring everything from dancing snowflakes and Scrooge’s ghostly visitors to holiday jazz, festive concerts, and the Grinch.
Whether you’re planning a family outing, a holiday date night, or an evening with friends, there are plenty of ways to make a live performance part of your Christmas traditions.
Here is your complete guide to Christmas shows and holiday performances in Cincinnati for 2026.
Performances take place on selected dates within the ranges listed. Be sure to check the official event pages for exact showtimes, current ticket availability, and admission policies.
Christmas Plays, Musicals & Ballet
🌲The Nutcracker
December 17–27, 2026 | Music Hall Cincinnati Ballet brings The Nutcracker to Music Hall with Victoria Morgan’s beloved adaptation of the holiday classic. Tchaikovsky’s soaring score, performed live by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, accompanies a Christmas adventure filled with brilliant dancing, elaborate costumes, and larger-than-life characters. Both afternoon and evening performances are available.
🌲A Christmas Carol
November 20–December 27, 2026 | Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Follow Ebenezer Scrooge through a life-changing Christmas Eve as three spirits help him discover the importance of kindness and generosity. The Playhouse production brings Dickens’ timeless story to the Rouse Theatre with detailed sets, immersive costumes, and thrilling theatrical effects.
- Age guidance: Suitable for ages 5 and older; children younger than 5 are not admitted. Some ghostly scenes may be frightening for younger children.
- Performance dates and tickets for A Christmas Carol
🌲Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical JR.
December 4–6, 12–13, and 19–20, 2026 | Emery Theater The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati brings Whoville to the stage in this fast-paced 60-minute musical. Follow the Grinch’s sneaky scheme to steal Christmas—and his ultimate discovery that the holiday means much more than presents and decorations.
- Age guidance: Recommended for ages 4 and older.
- Performance dates and tickets for The Grinch
🌲’Twas the Night Before…
December 2–13, 2026 | Aronoff Center Cirque du Soleil puts a breathtaking acrobatic spin on the Christmas classic in this vibrant holiday production. The show combines world-class physical feats with a heartwarming story about friendship and the joy of sharing.
- Age guidance: Recommended for ages 8 and older. Runs approximately 85 minutes without an intermission.
- Performance dates and tickets for ’Twas the Night Before…
🌲David Choate’s Hot Chocolate: An African American Nutcracker
December 4–5, 2026 | Aronoff Center This dynamic production reimagines The Nutcracker through the African American experience. It seamlessly blends classical ballet with contemporary dance, jazz, modern dance, hip-hop, and African diasporic movement.
- Age guidance: All ages welcome. Runs approximately 90 minutes, including an intermission.
- Performance dates and tickets for Hot Chocolate
🌲Cinderella
December 9–30, 2026 | Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (Relaxed performances: December 5–6) Ensemble’s holiday musical offers a playful, contemporary take on Cinderella, complete with a book-loving heroine, a missing sneaker, and a helpful Well-Wisher. It’s a perfect fairy-tale option for families looking for a seasonal theatre outing.
- Age guidance: Children younger than 5 are not admitted.
- Performance dates and tickets for Cinderella
Christmas Concerts in Cincinnati
🌲Home Free: Coming Home for the Holidays
November 22, 2026 | Taft Theatre The all-vocal country music sensation Home Free brings their Coming Home for the Holidays tour to Taft Theatre to kick off the season early in November.
🌲Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party
December 2, 2026 | Taft Theatre Add a high-energy, swing-themed holiday concert to your calendar when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy brings their brassy, retro sound to Cincinnati.
🌲Andrew Peterson: Behold the Lamb of God
December 3, 2026 | Taft Theatre Singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson brings his acclaimed Behold the Lamb of God tour to Taft Theatre for a deeply moving Christmas-season performance.
🌲Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer
December 4, 2026 | Music Hall Ballroom Music Hall’s magnificent theatre organ takes a starring role in this concert presented by Friends of Music Hall. The evening also features choral music and dance, all centered around a festive The Night Before Christmas theme.
🌲Cincinnati Men’s Chorus: Our Holiday Wishlist
December 5–6, 2026 | Memorial Hall The Cincinnati Men’s Chorus presents a heartwarming seasonal concert centered on holiday wishes, generosity, and joy in Memorial Hall’s intimate setting.
🌲Celtic Angels Christmas
December 8, 2026 | Memorial Hall Traditional Christmas songs meet beautiful Irish melodies in a performance featuring talented vocalists, live musicians, and world-class Irish step dancers.
🌲Straight No Chaser: Making Spirits Bright
December 9, 2026 | Taft Theatre The famed a cappella group Straight No Chaser brings their Making Spirits Bright tour to Cincinnati for a captivating evening of tight harmonies and holiday classics.
🌲Holiday Pops
December 11–13, 2026 | Music Hall The Cincinnati Pops fills Music Hall with glorious seasonal music, joined by local choirs, dancers, and special guests. John Morris Russell conducts, with acclaimed vocalist Gaby Moreno among the featured artists. Afternoon, evening, and a special Friday morning concert are available.
🌲The Phil DeGreg Trio Plays A Charlie Brown Christmas
December 14–15, 2026 | Memorial Hall Hear the Phil DeGreg Trio perform Vince Guaraldi’s iconic A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack along with other seasonal jazz favorites.
🌲Christmas with Chris Tomlin
December 18, 2026 | Taft Theatre Contemporary Christian music staple Chris Tomlin brings his beloved Christmas concert to Cincinnati, featuring special guest Terrian.
🌲Rocky Mountain High Experience: John Denver Christmas
December 18–19, 2026 | Aronoff Center Performer Rick Schuler pays tribute to legendary folk artist John Denver with a beautiful mix of familiar acoustic songs and holiday music inspired by Denver’s classic Christmas specials.
- Age guidance: Recommended for ages six and older.
- Performance dates and tickets for John Denver Christmas
🌲An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine
December 18–20, 2026 | Memorial Hall Cincinnati’s own Over the Rhine returns to Memorial Hall for their beloved series of intimate, acoustic Christmas concerts.
Holiday Movies with Live Music
🌲Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert Live to Film
November 28–29, 2026 | Music Hall Watch the complete beloved movie while the Cincinnati Pops performs the score live to the picture. Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the Muppets appear on the big screen alongside Michael Caine’s unforgettable Scrooge.
🌲The Nightmare Before Christmas Film Screening with Live Musical Performance
December 12–13, 2026 | Memorial Hall Memorial Hall pairs a screening of the Tim Burton stop-motion classic with live performances of its iconic songs, brought to life by puppets and human performers from River City Puppets.
Holiday Comedy Shows
🌲Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)
December 11–27, 2026 | Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (Preview performance: December 10) What starts as a traditional reading of A Christmas Carol quickly turns into a fast-moving comedy that roasts familiar holiday stories, characters, and traditions. Expect hilarious references to pop-culture favorites like Rudolph, The Grinch, and It’s a Wonderful Life.
- Age guidance: Rated PG-13 for adult humor. The theatre specifically advises that this show is not recommended for anyone who still believes in Santa.
- Performance dates and tickets for Every Christmas Story Ever Told
🌲The Twelve Dates of Christmas
November 7–December 27, 2026 | Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park After a very public breakup, Mary finds herself navigating a year of highly awkward dates and holiday mishaps. This sharp one-woman comedy offers a great holiday outing for older teens and adults at the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre.
- Age guidance: Recommended for older teens and adults due to strong language and adult relationship themes.
- Performance dates and tickets for The Twelve Dates of Christmas
🌲O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy
November 27–29, 2026 | Aronoff Center James & Jamesy turn a standard Christmas tea party into an imaginative, wildly chaotic adventure involving a world flooded with tea. Brilliant physical comedy, quick wordplay, and heavy audience interaction are central to this unusual holiday hit.
🌲Sister’s Christmas Catechism
December 6, 2026 | Aronoff Center Sister tackles a pressing Christmas mystery: what actually happened to the Magi’s gold? This highly interactive comedy combines a humorous retelling of the Nativity with audience participation.
Before You Book Your Christmas Show
When finalizing your holiday plans, always check the venue’s official ticket page for the specific performance you want to attend. Double-check start times, age guidance, and any necessary accessibility accommodations. Keep in mind that matinees, relaxed performances, and evening shows may have entirely different schedules or booking requirements.
If you’re bringing children, be sure to check both the recommended age and the minimum admission age, as they aren’t always the same (and as noted above, some of Cincinnati’s holiday comedies include adult humor!). Enjoy the show, and have a wonderful holiday season!