In a milestone moment for Queensland Ballet, new Artistic Director, Ivan Gil-Ortega, has unveiled his inaugural 2026 season, an formidable program signaling the start of his creative management since his appointment in February 2025.
Introducing contemporary new inventive voices and new collaborations, the season contains a wealthy collection of works that can showcase the corporate’s distinctive artistry.
Minister for Training and the Arts, the Hon John Paul Langbroek mentioned Queensland Ballet’s 2026 season represents the perfect ballet has to supply, showcasing the corporate’s creative excellence and its dedication to the cultural vibrancy of Queensland.
“Queensland Ballet continues to set a nationwide benchmark for creativity and efficiency, and this inaugural season by Ivan Gil-Ortega, captures all the pieces from drama to mythology to moments of pure magnificence and transcendence,” Langbroek mentioned. “I encourage audiences throughout our state to expertise these outstanding performances that includes our distinctive Queensland Ballet dancers, the acclaimed Queensland Symphony Orchestra and our excellent Brisbane Chorale and Canticum Chamber Choir.”
Gil-Ortega mentioned Queensland Ballet is coming into a brand new period, a chapter outlined by connection, collaboration, and inventive ambition. “The 2026 season captures dance in all its breadth, timeless classical masterpieces, daring new choreographic voices shaping the artform’s future, and beloved ballets reimagined for as we speak’s audiences. Queensland Ballet’s season balances discovery and custom, and is designed to tell, enlighten and broaden audiences’ understanding of dance.”
He added, “I’d additionally prefer to acknowledge the visionary assist of the Ken Talbot Basis, our Principal Guardian from 2026. With heartfelt gratitude we thank them for his or her extraordinary, persevering with guardianship of Queensland Ballet, enabling us to dream large on and off the stage. Hand-in-hand with them, we are able to’t wait to interact with as many individuals as doable, in areas and locations all through Queensland together with our beloved Talbot Theatre.”
Messa da Requiem, 27 March – 4 April, 2026, Glasshouse Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre Introduced in affiliation with QPAC and beneficiant assist from the Messa da Requiem Giving Circle.
“I’m delighted to welcome one of many world’s most audacious and pioneering choreographers, Christian Spuck, to Queensland Ballet,” Gil-Ortega mentioned. “Christian is the Director of Staatsballett Berlin, and can carry his epic interpretation of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem – a monumental work of unimaginable scale and depth, and in addition to The Seventh Blue, as a part of the Strings triple invoice. Messa da Requiem unites Queensland Ballet, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Chorale and Canticum Chamber Choir. This landmark collaboration guarantees to be a profound and unforgettable expertise which is bound to resonate deeply with our audiences. By way of these works, I’m introducing Queensland audiences to the canon of Christian Spuck, a choreographer whom I’ve recognized and labored with since 1995.”
Gil-Ortega continued, “Christian is just not solely meticulous in his analysis, however he brings a deep philosophical understanding and mental rigour to each venture that he undertakes. His works mirror each precision and poetry, resonating with audiences on a number of ranges. His inventive imaginative and prescient and choreographic mastery have earned him worldwide recognition. For the dancers it will likely be an unforgettable expertise to work underneath his steering and produce his dynamic artistry to life.”
Elastic Hearts, 30 April – 2 Might, 2026, Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre. Introduced in Affiliation with HOTA.
Following Messa da Requiem, Queensland Ballet will introduce Brisbane audiences to the cutting-edge work of internationally acclaimed Australian director and choreographer Garry Stewart, who will carry pop icon Sia’s music to life in Elastic Hearts, in an emotionally charged and visually spectacular celebration of humanity.
Strings – Triple Invoice, 28 – 31 Might, 2026, Playhouse, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
The winter season continues with the premiere of three modern ballets Edward Clug’s, Chamber Minds, Christian Spuck’s The Seventh Blue and Goyo Montero’s Chacona. Collectively, these contrasting works will showcase the dancers’ versatility and the evolving language of ballet.
“That is a unprecedented alternative for our audiences to expertise the newest creations from among the world’s most influential choreographers, works which can be shaping ballet’s future,” mentioned Gil-Ortega. “Premiering these works in Brisbane, after which touring them throughout Queensland, we hope to introduce a complete new era of individuals to the facility and fantastic thing about world-class ballet.”
Hamlet, 19 June – 18 July, 2026, Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
“In an Australian first, I’m additionally thrilled to current Hamlet by Romanian visionary director, Leo Mujić, providing audiences a contemporary and unforgettable tackle Shakespeare’s basic story,” Gil-Ortega defined. “Celebrated for his storytelling and hanging, modern motion language, Leo’s productions have captivated audiences throughout Europe and North America. We’re honoured to introduce his distinctive imaginative and prescient to Australian dance lovers.”
Pink Driving Hood and the Wolf, 26 June – 4 July, 2026, Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
In the course of the vacation season, Queensland Ballet continues its dedication to cultivating younger audiences with its standard sequence, My First Ballet, designed particularly for kids underneath eight. In 2026, choreographer, Academy of Queensland Ballet, Paul Boyd, brings to life Pink Driving Hood and the Wolf, a playful tackle Little Pink Driving Hood. Narrated by Sarah McIntosh and set to Shostakovich’s music, it’s an interesting and accessible introduction to ballet for younger audiences.
Gala Academy of Queensland Ballet, 6 – 8 August, 2026. Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre.
Soirée, 24 – 26 September, 2026. Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centtre. Introduced in affiliation with Phillip Bacon Galleries.
The Soirée and Gala programmes have turn out to be each a cherished custom and a necessary coaching floor, giving Academy college students, Jette Parker Younger Artists and Academy Pre-Skilled dancers the chance to shine on stage and expertise the joys of performing for a reside viewers.
The 2026 Gala program spans classical ballet, dynamic neo-classical and modern works, and culminates within the Academy Défilé, for a finale that showcases the unity and spirit of the Academy.
Uniting visible artwork, dance and reside orchestral music, Soirée will function the work of seminal artist, Jeffrey Good. Introduced in collaboration with Philip Bacon Galleries and Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, the artworks of Good will probably be remodeled into revolutionary choreography and storytelling.
The Academy of Queensland Ballet – first established by Queensland Ballet founder Charles Lisner in 1953 — is devoted to nurturing the subsequent era {of professional} artists, wanted throughout Australia and internationally.
At present, Academy alumni make up 52 p.c of Queensland Ballet’s Firm, and since 2015, greater than 340 graduates have secured contracts with lots of the world’s main dance firms.
Bespoke, 2 – 17 October, 2026, Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
Bespoke, Queensland Ballet’s modern sequence, returns in 2026 with an expanded imaginative and prescient. For the primary time, choreographers, composers, designers had been invited to precise their curiosity to collaborate with Queensland Ballet for this modern season. Providing a uncommon platform for rising creatives to experiment and develop daring new works, Gil-Ortega’s imaginative and prescient for Bespoke is to rework it right into a platform to highlight contemporary inventive voices from throughout Australia.
“I used to be skilled underneath one of many 20th centuries most prolific choreographers, John Cranko, who believed in growing not solely dancers, but additionally musicians, choreographers and designers. That philosophy has stayed with me all through my total profession,” Gil-Ortega defined.
The Nutcracker, new fee, 9 December – 19 December, 2026, Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
“A spotlight I’m significantly enthusiastic about is the world premiere of British director, Derek Deane’s, The Nutcracker, which I specifically commissioned for Queensland Ballet,” Gil-Orega mentioned. “This new manufacturing is made doable by means of the generosity of the Ken Talbot Basis. This new fee from the identical visionary inventive crew behind the massively profitable Strictly Gershwin, options hanging new characters and lavish designs by Lez Brotherston OBE, the famend affiliate artist with New Adventures and Matthew Bourne, in a reimagined basic to enchant households for years to return.”
Govt Director Dilshani Weerasinghe mentioned the 2026 season is grounded in cross-cultural collaborations and celebrates Queensland Ballet’s lengthy ties to Europe, relationship again to its founding by French born, Charles Lisner. “Ivan not solely brings his personal lived-in expertise as a Principal dancer with Stuttgart Ballet and Dutch Nationwide Ballet, but additionally a world perspective, new concepts and contemporary tastes which can be formed by his worldwide profession.”
Weerasinghe continued, “At Queensland Ballet, we inform tales that join with folks. Ivan’s first season introduces a dynamic group of choreographers whose contemporary and compelling views mirror the world round us. That is about making certain ballet stays related, shifting and accessible. Underneath Ivan’s management, we are going to take our audiences, our artists and our supporters, on a journey of renewed objective: to ship daring productions that join deeply with various audiences, amplifies sector collaboration, and generates lasting cultural and financial worth for our Firm, and our State.”
For extra info, go to www.queenslandballet.com.au.
