It’s the most magical time of the year! New York City is known for being home to the world’s best shows, so what would the holiday season be without watching some of the best Christmas shows?
There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to explore the city’s holiday decorations and watching a festive show!
These Are The Best Christmas Shows in New York
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01
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Broadway Show in Midtown Manhattan
The Radio City Spectacular is undoubtedly the most popular Christmas show in NYC. The Rockettes have performed at the iconic Radio City Music Hall since 2931 and have created a holiday tradition for many visitors and locals. The precision dance group makes your jaws drop for 90 minutes. It’s the most famous annual Christmas show in New York that everyone looks forward to. Because it is so popular, there are up to 5 performances on a single day.
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02
The Nutcracker
Other Events in Upper East Side
Another classic among the best Christmas shows in NYC is The Nutcracker, a two-act ballet. It was originally performed in 1892 and therefore looks back at a long-standing tradition. The shows’ popularity only increased over the years so that even today, we can enjoy the wonderfully performed ballet performances. In fact, there are several different versions of the Nutcracker ballet in NYC, ranging from the well-known George Balanchine version to “Nutcracker Rouge”, an erotic reimagination of the holiday classic. For many, the Nutcracker is not only their favorite ballet but also their favorite Christmas show in NYC.
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03
A Christmas Carol
Broadway Show in Theatre District
When talking about Christmas Shows in NYC, we cannot forget A Christmas Carol. The classic story by Charles Dickens returns to Broadway for the holiday season. The tale is guaranteed to capture your attention with its magical new interpretation. The musical tells the story of a bitter man who has a change of heart after being visited by four ghosts that transport him in the past, present, and future. During the dazzling musical performance, expect to hear cherished carols such as “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World”.
Did you know? The timeless tale is a new version adapted by Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s playwright Jack Thorne. It’s almost a guarantee that A Christmas Carol will also make it to your favorite Christmas shows in New York.
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04
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child
Broadway Show in Theatre District
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is an original new story by J.K. Rowling. The story takes place many years after Harry Potter’s last adventure “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” at the end of which, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Draco are bringing their own children to the Hogwarts Express.
That’s where the story picks up. When Harry Potter’s son Albus first arrives at Hogwarts, not only must he face the challenge of living up to his famous father’s reputation but also must carve his own path in the school’s hallowed halls. Nothing is ever simple in Hogwarts and Albus’ adventure is both nostalgic for fans of the original series and packs plenty of its own twists and surprises for seasoned and new viewers alike.
We can’t tell you more at this point, as we don’t want to reveal the entire story for you. At each viewing, fans are given collectible buttons with the phrase #KeepTheSecrets, reminding us not to give away any spoilers.
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05
The Magic Flute – Holiday Presentation (selected dates December 16, 2022 – January 6, 2023)
Other Art & Culture in Upper East Side
Just in time for the holiday season, you can catch Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous Magic Flute at the New York Opera House. The shortened family-friendly version will definitely be a highlight!
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06
Joy of Christmas! at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (December 9 & 10, 2022)
Building in Harlem & Washington Heights
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine is the largest cathedral in the world and when you enter it, you will be amazed by the ceiling height and the many details.
In this beautiful setting, the Christmas concert “Joy of Christmas!” will be performed by the Cathedral Choir and Orchestra on two days in December. Click here for tickets to Joy of Christmas!.
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07
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live (December 22 – 24, 2022)
Broadway Show in Theatre District
Experience the popular Peanuts with Charlie Brown in this interactive musical. As they tour the US, you can also visit the Christmas show in NYC. From December 22 – December 24, they will be performing at The Palladium Theatre NYC in Times Square.
Image: A Charlie Brown Christmas website
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08
Peter & the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev with Isaac Mizrahi at Guggenheim Museum (December 10 & 11, 2022)
Museum in Upper East Side
Our Highlight
First off, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is an architectural masterpiece. Second, but most importantly, it is the permanent home of a large collection of art named after its founder. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright the bizarrely shaped building is one of the most famous in NYC. Not only is the outside spectacular, but it is constantly expanding its permanent collection. Also, many special exhibitions are showcased here throughout the years. It is definitely worth a visit!
In December there will be a Christmas concert. What they say: “Isaac Mizrahi narrates and directs Sergei Prokofiev’s charming children’s classic, accompanied by live orchestra, and the cast, wearing costumes by Mizrahi, performs choreography by John Heginbotham, bringing the 30-minute story to life for the young and young at heart.”
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09
A Child’s Christmas In Wales at the Irish Repertory Theatre (December 1 – 31, 2022)
Other Events in Chelsea
From December 1-31, 2022, Irish Repertory Theatre brings its joyous Christmas classic, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas to the stage for the sixth time. Charlotte Moore’s musical adaptation of this “unforgettable day at the end of the unforgettable year” features heartwarming contemporary and traditional Christmas music interwoven with the beloved story of this snowy Christmas day in Wales.
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10
A Christmas Carol at the Merchant’s House (December 23 – 29, 2022)
Museum in NoHo
The Merchant’s House Museum is a preserved house of a wealthy merchant family from the 19th century (to be exact: 1832) with fully restored rooms. It shows in a rather unique way how it looked like in New York City at that time.
It has been an official museum of the City of NYC since 1936 and includes an exhibit of more than 3,000 items. In addition, there are tours of Noho, small concerts and performances, and virtual events.
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11
The Nutcracker at Brookfield Place (December 2 – 4, 2022)
Mall in Battery Park City
The small shopping centre in Brookfield Place should not be forgotten. You also have a wonderful view of the water and the yachts in North Cove Yacht Harbor. Much like the Shops at Columbus Circle, there’s a special you won’t want to miss this holiday season: The New York Theatre Ballet is performing Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the Winter Garden. Tickets are available here.
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12
Big Band Holidays at Lincoln Center (December 16 – 18, 2022)
Building in Upper West Side
Lincoln Center at dusk and water fountains, New York, New York
The famous Lincoln Center is indisputably the cultural hotspot of New York. Even if you don’t have tickets for an upcoming event, you have to visit New York to see it! There is always something going on here. Lincoln Center consists of several theatres and concert halls, and the world-famous Metropolitan Opera is located here. The Lincoln Centre is one of the world’s largest performing arts centers consisting of numerous buildings providing a total of 61,000 m² of cultural space in the centre of New York.
During the holiday season I can highly recommend Big Band Holidays. This Christmas concert takes place at the Rose Theatre and is really popular among New Yorkers.
New York is home is the epicenter of entertainment and surely does not disappoint during the holiday season. There are plenty of Christmas shows in New York that are worth watching, ranging from classics to modern adaptions of your favorite tales. Please know that you can’t return home without having seen at least one of the best Christmas Shows in NYC!
Other Christmas Shows in NYC you shouldn’t miss:
- Z100’s Jingle Ball (December 9, 2022)
- The Elf on the Shelf: The Musical
Christmas shows in NYC
My personal favorite
When thinking about my favorite Christmas shows in New York, I don’t have to think very long. It’s probably no surprise that the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes is my personal favorite. I love watching the show over and over again. In fact, it is a family tradition to watch the spectacle every year. For us, it’s the ultimate Christmas show in New York City though I do enjoy all other shows as well. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting during the holiday season. Because of the many daily shows, you can flexibly integrate the show into your schedule.
