The celebrated Ballet Icons Gala marks its 20th anniversary at the London Coliseum on Sunday 15 February 2026 at 7pm. Renowned as one of the most prestigious events in the global dance calendar, the Gala brings together leading dancers and choreographers from the world’s top ballet companies.
This landmark edition will feature a breathtaking programme of classical and contemporary masterpieces, including world premieres and exclusive anniversary commissions. The English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the evening, ensuring a spectacular celebration of two decades of ballet excellence.
Audiences can look forward to much-loved classics, rarely performed gems and exciting contemporary works by choreographers including Edwaard Liang, Wayne McGregor, Angelin Preljocaj, Marco Goecke, Jason Kittelberger, Mthuthuzeli November and Jean-Christophe Maillot.
A highlight of the programme is the UK premiere of Asylum, a piece by award-winning choreographer Antonia Franceschi presented in collaboration with New York non-profit Vildwerk Foundation, addressing the global environmental crisis.
The glittering cast includes Eleanora Abbagnato, Timofej Andriyashenko, Braylon Browner, Antonio Casalinho, Sarah Chun, Reece Clarke, Travis Clausen-Knight, Margarita Fernandes, Mathew Golding, Francesca Hayward, Isaac Hernandes, Catherine Hurlin, Fumi Kaneko, Jason Kittelberger, Lucia Lacarra, Maia Makhateli, Nicoletta Manni, Paul Marque, Vadim Muntagirov, Marianela Núñez OBE, Natalia Osipova, Anna Rose O’Sullivan, James Pett, Patricio Reve, Marcellino Sambé, Yana Salenko, Riho Sakamoto, Daniil Simkin, Timothy van Poucke and Edward Watson MBE.
Founder and Artistic Director Olga Balakeets said: “It is a great source of pride for me to reach this milestone in a project that began 20 years ago, celebrating the 80th birthday of one of the world’s most renowned prima ballerinas and ballet icons, the legendary Maia Plisetskaya. Twenty years on, we are here discovering and presenting the new ballet icons of today, while at the same time showcasing the very best of this remarkable art form—ballet.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
