Where to watch and listen to The Royal Ballet and Opera this Christmas
By the Royal Ballet and Opera
Friday 19 December 2025
There are many ways to enjoy performances from The Royal Ballet and Opera from your own home this Christmas. The perfect accompaniment to your festive celebrations can be found across TV, radio and on RBO Stream.
On TV
The Nutcracker – Thursday 25 December 2025 at 11.25am (GMT) – BBC Two (Catch up on BBC iPlayer)
Peter Wright's enchanting production of The Nutcracker airs on BBC Two this Christmas Day. Follow Clara (Sophie Allnatt) and Hans-Peter/The Nutcracker (Leo Dixon) as they travel to The Kingdom of Sweets, thanks to the magic and guidance of Herr Drosselmeyer (Thomas Whitehead). There they will meet the iconic Sugar Plum Fairy (Anna-Rose O'Sullivan) and Her Prince (Marcelino Sambé). This timeless ballet continues to be a much-loved winter tradition for audiences of all ages to enjoy.
There is so much to enjoy, including close-ups of the action, set and costumes. Spot the magic Christmas Tree and the remarkable designs of Julia Trevelyan Oman, under the lighting designs of Mark Henderson. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House bring Tchaikovsky's glittering score to life, with Andrew Litton conducting.
On the radio
BBC New Generation Artists Festive Concert – Saturday 27 December 2025 at 7pm (GMT) – BBC World Service (Catch up on BBC iPlayer)
For the past 25 years, the BBC’s New Generation Artists scheme has helped to nurture the talents and careers of some of today’s top classical musicians. The concert’s musical journey takes us from the cities of South America to the depths of the Russian countryside with stop offs on the way in the Scottish Highlands, Paris and Madrid. It was recorded in the Crush Room at the Royal Opera House earlier this year.
It features some of the world’s most exciting young classical and jazz musicians, including Scottish jazz pianist, Fergus McCreadie – whose albums have topped the UK Jazz & Blues charts and earned him a Mercury Prize nomination; the dazzling soprano, Erika Baikoff, the Spanish multi-award-winning Arod String Quartet; and talented French guitarist Thibaut Garcia.
The Makropulos Case – Until Monday 29 December 2025 at 7pm (GMT) – BBC Sounds
Until Monday 29 December The Royal Opera’s critically acclaimed new production of The Makropulos Case, directed by Katie Mitchell, is available to listen to on BBC Sounds. Mitchell collaborates with new Music Director Jakub Hrůša to bring her characteristic feminist perspective to The Royal Opera’s first ever production of Janáček’s masterpiece.
Leading the cast is soprano Ausrine Stundyte as Emilla Marty and Heather Engebretson who made her role debut as Krista, alongside tenor Sean Panikkar as Albert Grego who returned to The Royal Opera following an stand-out performance in Barrie Kosky’s Das Rhinegold (2023).
On RBO Stream
New releases – December 2025
Royal Ballet and Opera performances are available to watch on demand all year round on RBO Stream. Discover over 130 full-length performances from classics such as The Magic Flute, Carmen, Swan Lake and Cinderella to modern masterpieces including Anna Nicole, Like Water for Chocolate and Woolf Works. Delve into unique series such as the Spotlight on... dancers of The Royal Ballet and Unmissable Opera.
This month two new productions have been released; Swan Lake (2024) and Madama Butterfly (2024). Watch some of ballet and opera's most iconic works with extra behind-the-scenes content and interviews with the cast and creatives.