Access becomes art
Wednesday 12 November 2025 marks the return of World Ballet Day, a global celebration of dance. Building on over a decade of innovation, this year’s theme focuses on radical accessibility – inviting artists and audiences to experience ballet in transformative new ways.
Ballet companies worldwide will stream and share content for Access becomes Art: World Ballet Day 2025 from their individual platforms. Other companies include The Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Northern Ballet, The Norwegian National Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.
Join the celebration and watch behind-the-scenes footage, rehearsals, and newly-commissioned works live via www.worldballetday.com.
Watch live
The Royal Ballet livestream will be available from Wednesday 12 November 2025. Please revisit this page to watch.
The Royal Ballet's programme
At the heart of the celebration, curated and conceived by choreographer and Artistic Director of Fall for Dance North Festival Robert Binet, is a collaboration with blind artist and assistant professor of Disability Studies Devon Healey, whose Immersive Descriptive Audio invites listeners into the inner world of dance through sensation, sound, and storytelling.
At the centre of the programming is a brand-new six-minute work commissioned by The Royal Ballet, featuring choreography from: Sir Wayne McGregor (Resident Choreographer, The Royal Ballet), Bim Malcomson, Rebecca Myles Stewart and Tiler Peck. The choreography will be woven together with Immersive Descriptive Audio (IDA) by Healey and set to music by acclaimed composer Max Richter. IDA develops a rapport between blindness and sight through a soundscape giving voice to that which does not always appear. IDA is not merely a description of a performance; it is performance.
“World Ballet Day has always been about opening doors. This year, we’re exploring new ways of approaching the creative process and inviting the world to experience what dance can be when we embrace new collaborative perspectives.” – Kevin O'Hare CBE, Director of The Royal Ballet
Creatives
Kevin O'Hare CBE
Robert Binet
Max Richter
Devon Healey
Sir Wayne McGregor
Bim Malcomson
Rebecca Myles Stewart
Tiler Peck
Create & Dance Sensory Learning
The Royal Ballet and Opera's Create and Dance programme aims to inspire creativity through dance with free award-winning teacher CPD, curriculum-based resources and live lessons for primary and secondary students.
The programme offers several resources for Sensory Learners and children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD). You can view our sensory resources for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland here.
Watch more
Access scheme
The Royal Ballet and Opera is for everyone. We want everyone to have the best experience with the Royal Ballet and Opera - whether they are attending a performance or event, using our building or watching on Royal Ballet and Opera Stream.
Join our Access Scheme to customise your account with your own access requirements.
Accessible Royal Ballet performances
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Pointe Shoe Appeal
Every season The Royal Ballet dance through over 6,000 pairs of pointe shoes, but that’s just the beginning of the story of what is on our dancers’ feet throughout the year. Our ballet footwear team work on everything from pointes to flats, character shoes to ballet boots, and all manner of colours, designs and embellishments..
Pointe shoes will of course be a constant presence on our stage throughout our 2025-26 Season, but the variety of productions being staged will require shoes in all manner of styles and colours.
Your support for our Pointe Shoe Appeal goes towards covering all the shoes required to bring each production to life on our stages, supporting the dancers of The Royal Ballet throughout the Season.
For people, not profit. Making world class ballet and opera for everyone.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)