Top holiday shows to see in New York on Broadway and beyond

Check out our list of Broadway and Off-Broadway holiday shows — including plays, musicals, concerts, operas, and more — to get you in the festive spirit.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, because holiday theatre is back for the season. As festive decorations start to line the streets of New York, many marquees will light up with the names of Christmas shows and holiday spectaculars that are only playing for a few months.

Get yourself and your family in the festive spirit with these shows, many of which give fresh twists to beloved tales you know and love, like The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol. Many productions of timeless tales also put fresh spins on them, making for an unforgettable holiday outing.

Get tickets to holiday shows on New York Theatre Guide.

The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute returns as The Metropolitan Opera's special holiday presentation for families. See the story of a noble prince, equipped with a flute that can charm anyone, as he goes on a quest to save a princess. At just an hour long, performed in English, and filled with plenty of whimsical stagecraft, this musical fairytale will charm anyone of any age.

Get The Magic Flute tickets now.

Nutcracker Rouge

This is one holiday special that's just for the adults. Nutcracker Rouge is a sexy take on the classic tale of The Nutcracker, performed by Company XIV. The company has performed Nutcracker Rouge to acclaim since 2013, and the show includes a mix of burlesque, opera, and circus entertainment in its reimagining of Clara, the Nutcracker, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and more. Audiences are immersed into the sensual side of the Land of Sweets, and the experience includes cocktails, champagne, and treats.

Get Nutcracker Rouge tickets now.

Big Apple Circus

The Big Apple Circus isn't holiday-themed, but it's a beloved NYC holiday tradition. The iconic blue Big Top pops up in Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park every year, and under it is a family-friendly spectacle of acrobats, stuntpeople, clowns, animals, and so much more. The 2024 theme is Hometown Playground, with the acts all paying homage to the diverse, bustling boroughs of the Big Apple.

Get Big Apple Circus tickets now.

A Christmas Carol: The Musical

Ever wanted to hear Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future sing? Then see A Christmas Carol: The Musical, back in New York for another year. The story of how the miser Ebenezer Scrooge changes his ways on Christmas Eve remains the same, but it's set to festive original music.

Get A Christmas Carol: The Musical tickets now.

Yuletide Factory

The Cirque Mechanics troupe is bringing holiday cheer circus-style. A festive group of acrobats turns a boring old assembly plant into the Yuletide Factory, manufacturing Christmas spirit in bulk. Be amazed as they bounce off trampoline walls, do tricks inside a German wheel, and more.

Get Yuletide Factory tickets now.

A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday

Everyone's dancing merrily in the new old-fashioned way at A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday, a swing dance show set to big-band renditions of Christmas classics like "Sleigh Ride" and "Winter Wonderland." And if the performers make you want to dance, you can — audience members are invited on stage to dance in a post-show jam session after each performance.

Get A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday tickets now.

Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes

One of New York's most iconic holiday shows, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular has been celebrating the season for nearly 90 years. The Rockettes perform in their signature precision dancing style as reindeer, Santa Clauses, tourists, and, in perhaps the most famous number, toy soldiers. Classic Christmas tunes come together with modern elements, like a 3D-simulated sleigh flight through the city with Santa and a tale of two young boys trying to find the perfect gift for their sister. Whether you've never seen the Spectacular or go every year, this New York holiday tradition is sure to get you in the spirit.

The Nutcracker

New York City Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker is a beloved holiday tradition. With gorgeous dancing, colorful costumes, special effects, and a massive Christmas tree, this family-friendly ballet takes audiences on an adventure to the Land of Sweets alongside young Clara and her Nutcracker prince. The Nutcracker is one of the best-known holiday shows for a reason — after decades, the magic remains, and this production is an NYC bucket-list item.