The Australian Ballet has unveiled one of its biggest and boldest seasons yet. Season 2027 brings together grand-scale storytelling, landmark Australian premieres, classics returning to The Australian Ballet repertoire for the first time in nearly 50 years, and some of the most influential contemporary works of our time, creating an extraordinary season of scale and ambition.
“Season 2027 is about the breadth of scale of what we offer our audiences. Each ballet shares an insight into a world that only this company and these dancers can show in Australia. Whether it is one of the greatest fairy tales ever created, or a world that stretches the imagination, 2027 brings storytelling to the heart of performance,” said The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Hallberg.
Across five productions, Australia’s national ballet company brings its full force to the stage, where effortless dance meets athleticism and storytelling. Accompanied by the country’s premier orchestras, the season is set to some of the greatest music ever written for ballet, spanning the iconic melodies of Tchaikovsky, magnetic Liszt and mesmeric contemporary minimalism.
Season 2027 is a significant milestone for The Australian Ballet, with every mainstage production supported by philanthropy. Made possible through the remarkable generosity of the company’s donors, the season is a testament to what can be achieved when artists and audiences come together to realise a shared creative vision.
Melbourne audiences will welcome The Australian Ballet home to the refurbished Ian Potter State Theatre for the company’s first full Melbourne season in the revitalised venue, marking a new chapter for both the company and one of Australia’s most iconic performing arts spaces.
The curtain rises on 2027 with David Hallberg’s reimagining of Anne Woolliams’ original Swan Lake, returning to Melbourne and Sydney. Celebrating 50 years in The Australian Ballet’s repertoire, this landmark production brings together Tchaikovsky’s soaring score performed by a full live orchestra, exquisite sets and costumes, and Australia’s finest dancers in one of the world’s most beloved ballets.
Back by popular demand following its acclaimed Australian premiere in 2022, Kunstkamer returns to Melbourne and Sydney in 2027. Created by four of the world’s most groundbreaking choreographers, the work is a major artistic collaboration that has become a standout in The Australian Ballet’s contemporary repertoire.
Melbourne audiences will experience the long-awaited Australian premiere of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling. Created at the height of MacMillan’s career, this acclaimed work is one of his most significant full-length ballets, renowned for its dramatic intensity and raw emotional power. The production will be exclusively performed in Melbourne.
For the first time in 47 years, Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella returns to The Australian Ballet, joining the global Ashton Worldwide Celebration, honouring the influential choreographer’s life and legacy. The Australian Ballet is the only company in the Southern Hemisphere performing Cinderella across the five-year event. Made possible by the generosity of its supporters, this major revival brings a masterwork of the 20th-century ballet canon back to Australian audiences, premiering in Adelaide before touring to Melbourne and Sydney.
Mixed Bill S27: Modern Masters will feature George Balanchine’s classical masterpiece Duo Concertant, Jerome Robbins’ vibrantly comedic The Concert and William Forsythe’s groundbreaking The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude. Together, the program brings together classical precision, contemporary athleticism and theatrical wit. Melbourne audiences will also experience Balanchine’s Kammermusik No. 2, while Sydney audiences will see Ballet Imperial.
“Season 2027 is one of the biggest seasons we’ve ever presented; a year of grandeur, rich storytelling and masterful choreography. I believe this season reflects the diverse tastes of our audiences, offering something that resonates with every person who walks through our doors,” said David Hallberg.
“The scale of this season would not have been possible without the commitment of our philanthropic community. Their belief in what this company gives audiences allows us the confidence to realise our artistic hopes, take creative risks and continue to share our artform across the country. I am profoundly grateful for their support in making this season possible.”
Beyond the mainstage season, The Australian Ballet will continue to connect with audiences across Australia through Storytime Ballet, and its annual On Tour program, bringing ballet to communities including Shepparton, Taree and Wagga Wagga, while the company’s Education and Outreach program continues to inspire young audiences with performances and workshops in schools across the country.
Principal Packages (Melbourne) go on sale 9 September. Principal Packages (Sydney) go on sale 16 September. Create Your Own Packages go on sale 14 October, while single tickets go on sale 11 November 2026. For more information on the 2027 Season, visit: www.australianballet.com.au for details.
Images: Marko Juusela, Bryce Latham, Henry Berlin, Adam Elmes, Yichuan Wang and Cameron Holmes – photo by Stephanie Cammarano | Swan Lake (Hallberg) featuring Artists of The Australian Ballet – photo by Pierre Toussaint (2023) | Ballet Imperial (Balanchine) featuring Robyn Hendricks and Artists of The Australian Ballet – photo by Kate Longley (2026)