Christmas Shows in Providence 2026: A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker and More

Providence’s holiday stage season runs from early November to New Year’s Eve: Trinity Rep’s A Christmas Carol, Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday show at PPAC, the Boston Pops, Handel’s Messiah and Ballet RI’s The Nutcracker. Dates and times below are from each theater’s own page; every performance is also on our holiday events calendar.

At a glance

• A Christmas Carol, Trinity Rep: November 5 to December 31
• ’Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil, PPAC: November 24 to December 6
• The Christmas Show, The VETS: Friday, December 4
• Boston Pops Holiday Concert, PPAC: Sunday, December 13
• Handel’s Messiah, The VETS: Sunday, December 13
• The Nutcracker, Ballet RI at The VETS: December 17 to 27

A Christmas Carol at Trinity Rep

Trinity Rep’s 50th-anniversary production of Dickens’ story, with original music by Richard Cumming, directed and choreographed by Taavon Gamble, in the Dowling Theater at 201 Washington Street. As listed on Trinity Rep’s page when we loaded it on October 26:

• Previews November 5 to 10, with a limited number of pay-what-you-wish seats on November 5 and November 10 (these can sell out; check Trinity Rep); opening night is November 11.
• Most weeknight shows are at 7:30 PM; weekends and many holiday-week days have 12 PM and 6 PM shows, with a few 2 or 2:30 PM matinees.
• Noche Familia, Friday, November 13: pay what you wish (at least $25 adults, $15 kids), with limited live captioning in Spanish. Seats are limited and can sell out.
• Sensory Friendly Plus performance, Saturday, November 21 at 12 PM.
• Open captioning December 16 to 20.
• No shows on December 25 or 28. The run closes December 31.

Trinity Rep’s page didn’t show regular ticket prices. Our restaurants near PPAC guide covers the blocks around Trinity too.

’Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil at PPAC

Cirque du Soleil’s holiday show plays the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset Street, November 24 to December 6:

• Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25 at 7 PM
• Friday, November 27 at 4 and 7:30 PM; Saturday, November 28 at 1, 4 and 7:30 PM; Sunday, November 29 at 12, 3 and 6:30 PM
• Wednesday, December 2 at 7 PM; Thursday, December 3 and Friday, December 4 at 7:30 PM
• Saturday, December 5 at 1, 4 and 7:30 PM; Sunday, December 6 at 12 and 3 PM
• BankNewport Family Night, Wednesday, December 2 at 7 PM: buy one regularly priced ticket and get one of equal value free for a child 18 or under.

The Christmas Show at The VETS

The Christmas Show, Friday, December 4 at 7 PM (doors an hour before), is a one-night-only, 90-minute variety show of music, dance and comedy from Trinity Presents, this year honoring America’s 250th birthday and military service. Tickets are sold online, at (401) 421-ARTS, or at the PPAC box office.

Sunday, December 13: the Boston Pops and Messiah

• Boston Pops Holiday Concert with Keith Lockhart at PPAC, 3 PM and 7 PM: “Sleigh Ride” and other Pops favorites, a holiday sing-along and a visit from Santa. About two hours with one intermission.
• Handel’s Messiah at The VETS, 3 PM (doors 2 PM): the Rhode Island Philharmonic and the Providence Singers, conducted by Christine Noel. Tickets from $25, sold only by the Philharmonic (tickets.riphil.org or 401-248-7000), not the VETS box office.

The Nutcracker, Ballet RI at The VETS

Ballet RI’s Nutcracker runs December 17 to 27 at The VETS, 1 Avenue of the Arts. Tickets are $36 to $130 through The VETS; groups of 10 or more book through PPAC.

• Thursday, December 17 at 7 PM, and Friday, December 18 at 7 PM
• Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20 at 1 and 6:30 PM
• Wednesday, December 23 at 6:30 PM
• Saturday, December 26 at 1 and 6:30 PM, and Sunday, December 27 at 1 PM
• Meet the Stars ($65) is offered at every 1 PM matinee: a swag bag and a chance to meet the dancers after the show.

Make a night of it

Parking near PPAC and The VETS is in our parking guide. For the rest of the season, see tree lightings, holiday markets, Christmas lights, the Providence Rink and things to do in December. Everything else on stage is on our theater page.

Sources: PPAC: Cirque du Soleil; PPAC: Boston Pops; Ballet RI; The VETS: Messiah; The VETS: The Christmas Show, checked November 3, 2026.

A Christmas Carol: Trinity Rep, checked October 26, 2026.