30+ Memphis Holiday Shows to Kick Off the 2026 Season
30 Memphis Shows To Kick Off The Holiday Season
From Nutcrackers and Scrooges to rock 'n' roll Christmas parties, here's every Memphis holiday show on our radar this year, in date order.
From Nutcrackers and Scrooges to rock 'n' roll Christmas parties, here's every Memphis holiday show on our radar this year, in date order.
The Memphis holiday season starts early this year, with the first shows already open in Overton Square. Below are 30+ concerts, plays, ballets and parties, sorted by when they open.
Did we miss your show? Email us and submit it to our calendar here.
Don't miss this season
If you only make it to a few, start here. Each one also appears in the full list below, in date order.
- Ballet Memphis' The Nutcracker · Orpheum Theatre · Dec. 12–13 and 18–20. The city's signature holiday ballet, now running two weekends.
- A Christmas Carol '26 · Theatre Memphis · Dec. 4–23. Scrooge's 49th straight December on the Lohrey stage.
- Disney's Frozen · Playhouse on the Square · Nov. 13 – Dec. 20. The big family musical of the season.
- Magic of Memphis · Cannon Center · Dec. 5–6. The Memphis Symphony's holiday spectacular, Dancing Santas included.
- Lucero Family Christmas · Minglewood Hall · Dec. 12. Memphis' hometown rock 'n' roll Christmas party, this year with Son Volt.
- Drew & Ellie Holcomb's Neighborly Christmas · Orpheum Theatre · Dec. 22. The Americana duo's annual hometown holiday show.
Quick picks
- For kids: Frozen, Elf the Musical Jr., NutRemix, Home Alone in Concert, Magic of Memphis
- Free (check before you go): Christmas Fiesta at the Dixon
- Date night: Lucero Family Christmas, A Swingin' Christmas Cabaret, Jimmy Smith Christmas Cookin'
- Grown-ups only: The Night Shift Before Christmas, Mama Dearest! Here We Go Again
Now playing
Narnia | The Circuit Playhouse · Nov. 6 – Dec. 20
The four Pevensie kids step through the wardrobe and into a land stuck in endless winter under the White Witch. It's Playhouse's family-friendly pick for fans of the C.S. Lewis books.
Mama Dearest! Here We Go Again | Friends of George's · Nov. 6 – 21
Joan Crawford, a few Hollywood divas and a pile of ABBA songs collide in this campy holiday musical comedy. Expect catfights.
Disney's Frozen |Playhouse on the Square · Nov. 13 – Dec. 20
Anna sets out to find Elsa after her sister's powers freeze the kingdom solid. Playhouse's mainstage holiday musical this year, running alongside Narnia across the street.
Week of Nov. 16
Christmas with the Petersens | Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center · Nov. 20
The family bluegrass band brings its Christmas show to Bartlett, heavy on harmonies and holiday standards.
Elf the Musical Jr. | Hattiloo Theatre · Nov. 20 – Dec. 6 (no show on Thanksgiving)
Hattiloo Youth Theatre takes on Buddy, the oversized elf who heads to New York to find his dad. Not part of season subscriptions, so buy single tickets.
The Night Shift Before Christmas | The Circuit Playhouse · Nov. 20 – Dec. 20
A Christmas Carol riff for grown-ups: a late-shift worker at a Texas burger chain gets a visit from the ghost of her best friend. Irreverent, and not for kids.
Dean Z's Rockin' Christmas Show | Graceland Soundstage · Nov. 21, 7 p.m. · $43.50–$67.50
The 2013 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist champ and his 12-piece band close out Graceland's Holiday Lighting Weekend with rockabilly and swing versions of Christmas classics. Make a weekend of it: the free lighting ceremony is Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., and the pajama-friendly Jingle Jam party is Nov. 20.
NutRemix | Germantown Performing Arts Center · Nov. 21 (2:30 and 7:30 p.m.), Nov. 22 (2:30 p.m.)
New Ballet Ensemble moves The Nutcracker to Beale Street, mixing Tchaikovsky with jazz, hip-hop, Memphis jookin, flamenco and West African dance. Note the new venue: it's at GPAC this year, not the Cannon Center.
Thanksgiving week
Home Alone in Concert | Orpheum Theatre · Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m.
The Memphis Symphony Orchestra plays John Williams' score live while the movie runs on the big screen. A good post-turkey family outing.
Week of Nov. 30
Kortland Whalum: "Soul of the Season" | The Green Room at Crosstown Arts · Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. · $30–$40
Kortland Whalum's soulful holiday set kicks off a busy December in the Green Room.
A Swingin' Christmas Cabaret | Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Tabor Stage · Dec. 4 – 20 (Fri–Sat 7:30 p.m., Sun 4 p.m.)
A world-premiere, 1950s-style Christmas cabaret, and the first show of its kind for TSC. About an hour, no intermission. The Dec. 4 performance is a preview.
A Christmas Carol '26 | Theatre Memphis, Lohrey Theatre · Dec. 4 – 23
Theatre Memphis stages Scrooge's big night for the 49th year in a row, with all the song and dance you remember. Tickets aren't part of the season membership, and weekend shows go fast.
Magic of Memphis | Cannon Center · Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 6, 2:30 p.m.
The Memphis Symphony's holiday tradition packs local choirs, guest performers and the Dancing Santas into one nonstop show. It's two weeks earlier than last year.
Clara & the Nutcracker | Tennessee Ballet Theater at the Michael D. Rose Theater, University of Memphis · Dec. 5 – 6
Tennessee Ballet Theater's take on the classic, from the Christmas party to the Kingdom of Sweets.
Harry Connick Jr.'s The Happy Elf | Harrell Performing Arts Theatre, Collierville · Dec. 5 – 12
A cheerful elf tries to save Christmas for a gloomy town in this musical built on Harry Connick Jr.'s songs.
Week of Dec. 7
Mark Edgar Stuart & The Blueshift Ensemble's 5th Annual Xmas Show | The Green Room at Crosstown Arts · Dec. 10
The Memphis songwriter's yearly holiday show, with guests Jad Tariq and Sarah Spain.
Black Nativity | Hattiloo Theatre at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center, University of Memphis · Dec. 11 – 13
Langston Hughes' gospel retelling of the Nativity story, adapted by Patdro Harris, as part of Hattiloo's 20th season. Public tickets go on sale Nov. 3.
The Last Christmas... Almost! / La última Navidad... ¡Casi! | TheatreWorks at the Evergreen · Dec. 11 – 20
A bilingual English-Spanish holiday play in the pastorela tradition.
Lucero Family Christmas | Minglewood Hall · Dec. 12, 7 p.m.
Memphis' hometown rock 'n' roll Christmas party is back, this time with Son Volt and The Narrows. A dollar from every ticket goes to Music Export Memphis.
Christmas Fiesta | Dixon Gallery & Gardens · Dec. 12
Opera Memphis, Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group and the Dixon celebrate Christmas traditions from Latin America and the Caribbean with caroling, a bilingual play and art activities. It has been free in past years.
Germantown Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Concert | Germantown Performing Arts Center · Dec. 12
The GSO's annual holiday program of seasonal favorites.
Ballet Memphis' The Nutcracker | Orpheum Theatre · Dec. 12 – 13 and Dec. 18 – 20
Clara, the Mouse King and the Sugar Plum Fairy are back at the Orpheum, and this year the run stretches across two weekends. More chances to make it a family tradition.
Memphis Jazz Orchestra and Chris Hazelton: Jimmy Smith Christmas Cookin' | The Green Room at Crosstown Arts · Dec. 13, 6 p.m. · $25–$35
A big-band tribute to Jimmy Smith's soul-jazz Christmas album, led by organist Chris Hazelton.
Week of Dec. 14
Alice Hasen's "Fiddle Christmas" | The Green Room at Crosstown Arts · Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. · $20–$30
Memphis violinist Alice Hasen gives the holiday songbook the fiddle treatment.
"Holiday Extravaganza": Jeff Hulett & The Hand Me Downs feat. Me & Leah | The Green Room at Crosstown Arts · Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. · $18–$25
A laid-back night of local holiday music to cap off the Green Room's December run.
Esprit de Corps Dance Company's The Nutcracker | Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center · Dec. 18 – 20
If you'd rather stay in the suburbs, Bartlett has its own Nutcracker.
Christmas week and after
Handel's Messiah | Memphis Symphony Orchestra, churches around town · Dec. 21 – 23
The MSO and Chorus perform Handel's oratorio in sanctuaries across the city. Check the schedule for the location nearest you.
Drew & Ellie Holcomb's Neighborly Christmas | Orpheum Theatre · Dec. 22
The Memphis-raised Americana duo's annual hometown holiday show moves later this year, right before Christmas.
Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis | Orpheum Theatre · Dec. 26, 3 p.m. · $35.35–$116.10
Fifteen musicians on 20-plus instruments play the Mannheim Christmas catalog with a full multimedia show. A post-Christmas matinee for anyone not ready to pack up the tree.
