Queensland Ballet announces its 2026 season under Ivan Gil-Ortega
Queensland Ballet has unveiled its 2026 season, and it’s one that speaks to continuity, ambition and connection. Under Artistic Director Ivan Gil-Ortega, the company enters a new chapter not by changing course, but by building on the remarkable foundations laid by Li Cunxin AO. It is a season that honours what Queensland Ballet has become, while looking outward with fresh curiosity and confidence.
Gil-Ortega, who trained at Stuttgart’s John Cranko School and danced with Stuttgart Ballet and Dutch National Ballet, brings an international eye and a love of collaboration to the stage. His first full program gathers some of the world’s most sought-after choreographers, including Christian Spuck, Leo Mujic, Derek Deane, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Goyo Montero, alongside new Australian commissions set to the music of Sia, INXS and the Bee Gees. The mix feels deliberate: global in outlook, yet grounded in homegrown creativity.
Audiences can expect grand scale and emotional power from Christian Spuck’s Messa da Requiem, presented in partnership with Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Opera Australia at QPAC’s new Glasshouse Theatre. Garry Stewart’s Elastic Hearts turns Sia’s music into a raw and joyous dance conversation about resilience. Leo Mujic’s Hamlet reimagines Shakespeare’s brooding prince for a new generation. And for families, Paul Boyd’s The Adventures of Little Ruby Red offers a gentle introduction to ballet through storytelling and humour.
The year will end with something truly special: a new production of The Nutcracker, created especially for Queensland Ballet by Derek Deane, with designs by Lez Brotherston. It is a festive tradition reimagined for a new era, full of colour, character and warmth.
At the Thomas Dixon Centre, the company will showcase its breadth in Strings, a triple bill by Goyo Montero, Christian Spuck and Edward Clug; Bespoke, a contemporary platform for new creative voices; and the Academy’s Gala and Soirée, the latter inspired by the paintings of Jeffrey Smart. These programs highlight the depth of talent within the company and the vibrancy of its next generation of artists.
Offstage, Gil-Ortega’s reputation continues to grow. In 2026 he will serve as a finalist judge at three of the world’s leading ballet competitions: the Prix de Lausanne, Beijing International Ballet Competition and Youth America Grand Prix, making him the only Australian-based artist invited to all three. His expertise is in high demand, with major American companies such as San Francisco Ballet and Oklahoma City Ballet now seeking his advice on how to secure today’s most influential choreographers.
And closer to home, support for Queensland Ballet has never been stronger. The company’s recent Giving Day raised an extraordinary $2.4 million, the highest amount in its history, reflecting the depth of community pride and belief in its future.
Queensland Ballet 2026 Season
• Messa da Requiem – Christian Spuck | 27 March to 4 April | Glasshouse Theatre, QPAC
• Elastic Hearts – Garry Stewart | 30 April to 2 May | Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
• Strings – Triple Bill by Montero, Spuck and Clug | 28 to 31 May | Playhouse Theatre, QPAC (touring Toowoomba and Cairns)
• Hamlet – Leo Mujic | 19 June to 18 July | Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
• The Adventures of Little Ruby Red – Paul Boyd | 26 June to 4 July | Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
• Academy Gala | 6 to 8 August | Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
• Soirée – Inspired by Jeffrey Smart | 24 to 26 September | Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
• Bespoke | 2 to 17 October | Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
• The Nutcracker – Derek Deane | December | Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Building on a decade of extraordinary growth and artistry, Queensland Ballet’s 2026 season feels both expansive and intimate. It is a celebration of what has been achieved, and an invitation to imagine what comes next, together.
Look out in the coming days for our interview with Ivan.