Holiday shows in San Diego 2026: Grinch, Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol
The Old Globe's Grinch runs Nov 4 to Dec 31 (ages 3+, 1 hr 20 min), Cygnet's A Christmas Carol runs Nov 24 to Dec 24, and Golden State Ballet's Nutcracker plays the Civic Theatre Dec 17 to 23.
- Grinch run
- Nov 4 to Dec 31
- Grinch age guidance
- Ages 3+
- Nutcracker, Civic Theatre
- Dec 17 to 23
- Cheapest Nutcracker found
- $30
Old Globe, opens Sun, Nov 8
Under 3 only at 10:30 am all-ages shows
Golden State Ballet with the San Diego Symphony
San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Balboa Park
The short version
- Old Globe Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: Nov 4 to Dec 31, 2026, opens Sun, Nov 8, runs 1 hr 20 min with no intermission, ages 3+
- Cygnet Theatre A Christmas Carol: Nov 24 to Dec 24 at The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Rd
- Golden State Ballet Nutcracker at the Civic Theatre: Dec 17 to 23; San Diego Civic Youth Ballet in Balboa Park: Dec 9 to 20, $30
- Free Globe Christmas Tree Lighting: Sun, Nov 8 at 6 pm on Copley Plaza
Three holiday standards cover most families: the Grinch at the Old Globe, a Nutcracker somewhere in the county, and A Christmas Carol. All three are confirmed for 2026. Ticket prices are the weak spot, since several theaters had not published them on pages we could read, so the table says so rather than guess.
San Diego holiday shows, 2026
| Show | Venue | 2026 dates | Price and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! | Old Globe, Shiley Stage, Balboa Park (1363 Old Globe Way) | Nov 4 to Dec 31; opens Sun, Nov 8 | Prices on theoldglobe.org or (619) 234-5623; ages 3+; 1 hr 20 min, no intermission |
| ¡Cómo el Grinch robó la Navidad! (Spanish-language Grinch) | Old Globe, Shiley Stage | Nov 19 to 22 (4 performances) | Spanish-language world premiere; price not published in the release |
| Ebenezer Scrooge's BIG San Diego Christmas Show | Old Globe, White Theatre | Nov 20 to Dec 27; opens Tue, Nov 24 | Comic holiday revue, all ages per the Globe; prices on theoldglobe.org |
| A Christmas Carol | Cygnet Theatre at The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Rd, Liberty Station | Nov 24 to Dec 24 | Listed as all ages (KPBS); prices on cygnettheatre.org or 619-337-1525 |
| Cygnet's A Magical Holiday | The Joan, Liberty Station | Dec 2 to Dec 24 | All ages (KPBS); prices on cygnettheatre.org |
| Lamb's Festival of Christmas | Lamb's Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave, Coronado | Nov 20 to Dec 27 | Tickets are $20 less Nov 20 to Dec 6; full prices on the Lamb's site |
| The Nutcracker, Golden State Ballet | Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave | Dec 17 to 23 (11 performances, see below) | Reported $39 to $143 and 2 hr 10 min with one intermission (KPBS) |
| The Nutcracker, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet | Casa del Prado Theatre, 1600 Village Place, Balboa Park | Dec 9 to 20 | $30; Fri 7 pm, Sat 2 and 7 pm, Sun 2 pm per KPBS |
| The Nutcracker, City Ballet of San Diego | Concert Hall, California Center for the Arts, Escondido | Dec 19 to 23 (6 performances) | Prices on the California Center box office |
| The Nutcracker, Encinitas Ballet | San Dieguito Academy Performing Arts Center, 800 Santa Fe Dr | Sat, Dec 12 and Sun, Dec 13 | Prices not listed; up to $10 discount and a 5% card fee mentioned |
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
- Venue
- Old Globe, Shiley Stage, Balboa Park (1363 Old Globe Way)
- 2026 dates
- Nov 4 to Dec 31; opens Sun, Nov 8
- Price and notes
- Prices on theoldglobe.org or (619) 234-5623; ages 3+; 1 hr 20 min, no intermission
¡Cómo el Grinch robó la Navidad! (Spanish-language Grinch)
- Venue
- Old Globe, Shiley Stage
- 2026 dates
- Nov 19 to 22 (4 performances)
- Price and notes
- Spanish-language world premiere; price not published in the release
Ebenezer Scrooge's BIG San Diego Christmas Show
- Venue
- Old Globe, White Theatre
- 2026 dates
- Nov 20 to Dec 27; opens Tue, Nov 24
- Price and notes
- Comic holiday revue, all ages per the Globe; prices on theoldglobe.org
A Christmas Carol
- Venue
- Cygnet Theatre at The Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Rd, Liberty Station
- 2026 dates
- Nov 24 to Dec 24
- Price and notes
- Listed as all ages (KPBS); prices on cygnettheatre.org or 619-337-1525
Cygnet's A Magical Holiday
- Venue
- The Joan, Liberty Station
- 2026 dates
- Dec 2 to Dec 24
- Price and notes
- All ages (KPBS); prices on cygnettheatre.org
Lamb's Festival of Christmas
- Venue
- Lamb's Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave, Coronado
- 2026 dates
- Nov 20 to Dec 27
- Price and notes
- Tickets are $20 less Nov 20 to Dec 6; full prices on the Lamb's site
The Nutcracker, Golden State Ballet
- Venue
- Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave
- 2026 dates
- Dec 17 to 23 (11 performances, see below)
- Price and notes
- Reported $39 to $143 and 2 hr 10 min with one intermission (KPBS)
The Nutcracker, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet
- Venue
- Casa del Prado Theatre, 1600 Village Place, Balboa Park
- 2026 dates
- Dec 9 to 20
- Price and notes
- $30; Fri 7 pm, Sat 2 and 7 pm, Sun 2 pm per KPBS
The Nutcracker, City Ballet of San Diego
- Venue
- Concert Hall, California Center for the Arts, Escondido
- 2026 dates
- Dec 19 to 23 (6 performances)
- Price and notes
- Prices on the California Center box office
The Nutcracker, Encinitas Ballet
- Venue
- San Dieguito Academy Performing Arts Center, 800 Santa Fe Dr
- 2026 dates
- Sat, Dec 12 and Sun, Dec 13
- Price and notes
- Prices not listed; up to $10 discount and a 5% card fee mentioned
Sources: theoldglobe.org, cygnettheatre.org, lambsplayers.org, sandiegotheatres.org, sdcyb.org, cityballet.org, KPBS, Active.com. Checked October 28, 2026.
Which show for which kids
| The Grinch | The Nutcracker | A Christmas Carol | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best ages | 3 and up; the Globe lets under-3s in only at 10:30 am all-ages shows | Most ballets welcome all ages; Golden State Ballet notes Family- and Sensory-Friendly Matinees | Cygnet lists it as all ages; the story has ghosts, so know your kid |
| Length | 1 hr 20 min, no intermission | About 2 hr 10 min with one intermission at the Civic Theatre | Run time not published on the pages we read |
| Good for | First live theater for preschoolers and early elementary | Kids who like music and dancing; a dressy night out | Tweens, teens and adults who want the story |
| Heads up | Anyone 12 and under must sit with an accompanying adult; every attendee needs a ticket | Matinee dates are the easier choice for small kids | Runs Wed to Sun only; check cygnettheatre.org for the exact schedule |
The Grinch
- Best ages
- 3 and up; the Globe lets under-3s in only at 10:30 am all-ages shows
- Length
- 1 hr 20 min, no intermission
- Good for
- First live theater for preschoolers and early elementary
- Heads up
- Anyone 12 and under must sit with an accompanying adult; every attendee needs a ticket
The Nutcracker
- Best ages
- Most ballets welcome all ages; Golden State Ballet notes Family- and Sensory-Friendly Matinees
- Length
- About 2 hr 10 min with one intermission at the Civic Theatre
- Good for
- Kids who like music and dancing; a dressy night out
- Heads up
- Matinee dates are the easier choice for small kids
A Christmas Carol
- Best ages
- Cygnet lists it as all ages; the story has ghosts, so know your kid
- Length
- Run time not published on the pages we read
- Good for
- Tweens, teens and adults who want the story
- Heads up
- Runs Wed to Sun only; check cygnettheatre.org for the exact schedule
The Grinch at the Old Globe
This is the 29th year of the Globe's Grinch, directed by James Vasquez, on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage. Per KPBS, showtimes run Tuesday to Friday at 7 pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 am, 2 pm and 5 pm, though times vary by week. Public ticket sales opened Sept 16; the box office is open Tuesday to Sunday from 1 pm. The free Globe Christmas Tree Lighting is Sunday, Nov 8 at 6 pm on Copley Plaza, the same day the show opens.
Nutcracker options by area
- Downtown: Golden State Ballet at the Civic Theatre, with the San Diego Symphony. Thu Dec 17 and Fri Dec 18 at 7:30 pm; Sat Dec 19 at 2 and 7:30 pm; Sun Dec 20 at 1 and 5:30 pm; Tue Dec 22 and Wed Dec 23 at 1 and 5:30 pm. KPBS lists only Dec 17 to 20, so trust the Civic Theatre's own page.
- Balboa Park: San Diego Civic Youth Ballet at Casa del Prado, a student production at $30, the cheapest we found.
- North County: City Ballet of San Diego in Escondido (Dec 19 to 23) and Encinitas Ballet (Dec 12 and 13).
Grinch and Scrooge
A Christmas Carol
Nutcracker
Venue addresses.
See these on the full San Diego mapPair a show with holiday events in December, check Balboa Park admission before a Globe visit, and see Christmas lights in San Diego for an after-show drive.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on October 28, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Event dates, times and prices are set by the organizers and can change or sell out. Confirm with the organizer's own page before you plan around them.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
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SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- Primary2026 holiday season
The Old Globe · Checked October 28, 2026
Grinch, Spanish Grinch, Scrooge dates; tree lighting; sales dates
The Old Globe · Checked October 28, 2026
Run time and age guidance
San Diego Theatres · Checked October 28, 2026
Civic Theatre dates and showtimes
Cygnet Theatre · Checked October 28, 2026
A Christmas Carol and A Magical Holiday dates; venue
- PrimaryThe Nutcracker 2026
San Diego Civic Youth Ballet · Checked October 28, 2026
Dates, venue, $30 price
City Ballet of San Diego · Checked October 28, 2026
Escondido performance schedule
KPBS · Checked October 28, 2026
Price range and run time (secondary)
Coming up where this tip helps
Calendar
The Nutcracker Holiday Tradition Returns
Sat, Nov 21 · 3pm, 6pm
Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center · La Jolla
Experience a classic holiday ballet performance accompanied by a local chamber chorale, perfect for families.
2 tips for going
A Christmas Carol
Nov 24 – Dec 20 · 7pm
Cygnet Theatre · San Diego
A seasonal production of a classic holiday story presented on stage. It is a traditional event suited for families with children over five.
1 tip for going
How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Rooftop Cinema Club
Sun, Nov 29 · 2:30pm
Porto Vista Hotel & Suites · Downtown & Gaslamp
Watch holiday-themed movies on a rooftop cinema screen. This experience is suited for couples or groups looking to enjoy seasonal films outdoors.
3 tips for going
The Grinch at Rooftop Cinema Club (pet friendly)
Sun, Nov 29 · 12pm
Porto Vista Hotel, 1835 Columbia Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Enjoy a holiday movie on a rooftop cinema. This pet-friendly event is great for couples or friends looking for a festive outing.
2 tips for going