# The Nutcracker with kids in Des Moines, 2026

> We found three Nutcrackers in and around Des Moines with 2026 dates posted: three ballet company productions. The closest, The Nutcracker by Ballet Des Moines in Des Moines, is about 1 miles out. Each card has the run time, the youngest age the company allows and the ticket price as posted.

- Last checked: 2026-11-09
- 3 Nutcracker shows with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/nutcracker/
- Santa visits (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/santa/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/llms.txt

## Nutcracker shows

- **The Nutcracker by Ballet Des Moines** at Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines, IA · about 1 mile away. When: Dec 10 – Dec 13. Time: Dec 10 and 11 at 7 p.m.; Dec 12 at 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec 13 at 1 and 5 p.m. Price: Not listed. Ages: All ages. Type: Ballet company. Run time: Not listed. The Heartland Youth Choir sings with the company. The Dec 13 Nutcracker Tea at 11 a.m. is sold out; the 3:15 p.m. seating was still listed. Official page: https://www.balletdesmoines.org/nutcracker2026 (checked 2026-11-11)
- **The Nutcracker by Iowa Dance Theatre** at Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines, IA · about 1 mile away. When: Dec 11 – Dec 12. Time: Not listed. Price: Not listed. Ages: Children of every age. Type: Ballet company. Run time: Not listed. A Civic Center tradition since 1997. Official page: https://www.iowadancetheatre.org/nutcracker-2026/ (checked 2026-11-11)
- **The Nutcracker Ballet at Stephens Auditorium** at Stephens Auditorium, Iowa State University, Ames, IA · about 35 miles north. When: Sat Dec 12 and Sun Dec 13. Time: Sat Dec 12 at 1 and 7:30 p.m.; Sun Dec 13 at 1 p.m. Price: Not listed. Ages: Not listed. Type: Ballet company. Run time: Not listed. A December tradition at Stephens since 1981, with more than 150 local dancers from central Iowa and guest professionals as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. Official page: https://www.center.iastate.edu/the-nutcracker-ballet/ (checked 2026-11-11)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6. Lists refresh Monday and Thursday. The email goes out Thursday evening.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Where can kids see The Nutcracker in Des Moines in 2026?
The Nutcracker by Ballet Des Moines at Hoyt Sherman Place: Dec 10 – Dec 13. Price: Not listed. The Nutcracker by Iowa Dance Theatre at Des Moines Civic Center: Dec 11 – Dec 12. Price: Not listed. The Nutcracker Ballet at Stephens Auditorium at Stephens Auditorium, Iowa State University: Sat Dec 12 and Sun Dec 13. Price: Not listed.

### Is there a sensory-friendly Nutcracker near Des Moines?
Not one we could confirm on an official page for 2026. We add one as soon as a company posts it.

### How old should kids be for The Nutcracker?
It depends on the company. The Nutcracker by Ballet Des Moines: All ages. The Nutcracker by Iowa Dance Theatre: Children of every age. A full Nutcracker usually runs about two hours with an intermission, so a matinee is easier with preschoolers.

### How do you check these Nutcracker shows?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Nov 9, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).