Holiday Shows in Des Moines 2026

The holiday season is truly a special time of year to catch a holiday musical or show in Des Moines, Iowa. You can make it a date night or you can include the entire family. Go to dinner at your favorite downtown Des Moines restaurant, catch your favorite holiday show filled with Christmas music, and then drive to look at holiday lights in Des Moines. You can definitely create a great holiday tradition! Whether it is listening to Christmas carols live or taking in the talented performing arts, there is a show for all ages. Take a look at this year’s list below and create a new Christmas tradition this season.

Check out these other fun holiday guides to help you plan this season:

A Christmas Carol

Stephens Auditorium

November 5-8.; Purchase tickets here.

This new adaptation frames Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol within the rich tradition of the Victorian ghost story. A dynamic and haunting chorus drives the action, while large‑scale puppetry brings Scrooge and his spectral visitors to life. Blending ensemble storytelling with innovative design, the production centers the power of community—asking what we owe one another as we shape our shared present and imagine a more hopeful future.

A Motown Christmas

Hoyt Sherman

November 16 at 7 p.m.; Purchase tickets here.

A Motown Christmas features a world-class vocal group, assembled from past and present members of Motown’s most legendary groups…The Miracles and The Contours feature the music and memories of Motown’s most legendary artists.

Annie

Des Moines Playhouse

December 4-27; Purchase tickets here.

This December, Annie takes center stage in a dazzling production filled with showstopping numbers, lively choreography, and the timeless story of a plucky orphan who refuses to give up. Annie is determined to find the parents who left her at the orphanage run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. She eventually finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a loveable mutt named Sandy. This heartwarming adventure reminds us that hope can shine in even the toughest times.

The Nutcracker Ballet at Stephens Auditorium

Stephens Auditorium

December 12-13. Purchase tickets here.

Stephens Auditorium’s Nutcracker Ballet production dates back decades as one of the historic performing arts venue’s proudest and best-known traditions. The production puts area youth and adults on stage alongside world-class performers, resulting in a spectacular holiday celebration that features stunning production values.

Performances are on Saturday at 1 pm and 7:30 pm and on Sunday at 1 pm.

Sara Evans: Holiday Road Tour

Hoyt Sherman Place

December 18 ay 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets here.

Multi-platinum entertainer Sara Evans is at the top of her game. As the fifth most-played female artist at country radio in nearly the last two decades — her five No. 1 singles include “No Place That Far,” “Suds In The Bucket, “A Real Fine Place To Start,” “Born to Fly,” and “A Little Bit Stronger”. Several of those #1’s spent 2 weeks in the top spot and were certified platinum by the R.I.A.A. Overall, she’s had 15 songs chart in the top 20.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

Stephens Auditorium

December 20 at 6 p.m. Purchase tickets here.

CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE dazzles with a brilliantly breathtaking holiday spectacular for the entire family. As the original cirque holiday theatrical event, this annual tradition wraps a Broadway-style production around awe-inspiring contemporary circus arts. Guests of all ages will be on the edge of their seats as a cast of holiday characters come to life, captivating audiences while defying gravity. Broadway World exclaims, “Lose yourself for 90 minutes and go back to those wonderful dreams you had as a kid.”

Ballet Des Moines Presents The Nutcracker

Hoyt Sherman Place

December 10-13

Multiple showings. Check out dates, times, and purchase tickets. 

Join Ballet Des Moines as they introduce a new cast of characters into the annual holiday tradition of The Nutcracker.

The mission of Ballet Des Moines is to enrich lives through inspiring dance performances, inclusive education and outreach programs, and innovative community partnerships.

A Christmas Carol

Des Moines Civic Center; Stoner Theater

December 11-20; Buy tickets here.

Follow the transformative journey of Ebenezer Scrooge as he navigates past, present, and future, discovering the true meaning of Christmas. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of this holiday classic, filled with festive cheer and heartfelt redemption. This timeless production captures the magic of the season, bringing Dickens’s characters to life on stage through an enchanting ensemble and daring designs.

The Nutcracker at DSM Civic Center

Des Moines Civic Center

December 11 & 12; Purchase tickets here.

Iowa Dance Theatre presents The Nutcracker Ballet. Experience the adventures of a girl named Clara as she journeys to a distant land where a prince battles mischievous mice, flowers waltz, and a Sugar Plum Fairy delights children of every age.

Iowa Dance Theatre has produced the ballet at the Des Moines Civic Center since 1997. The Nutcracker is choreographed and directed by a team of dance professionals from Central Iowa. Set to the timeless music of Tchaikovsky, Iowa Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker Ballet is a great holiday experience for the whole family.

Christmas with the Choral Society

First Baptist Church of Greater Des Moines, Johnston, Iowa

December 11 & 12 at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets here.

Another grand tradition in Des Moines. Do not miss The Choral Society this Christmas season. The one you come back for, year after year. Attend an inspiring program of great works and seasonal favorites, all in celebration of the Christmas spirit. Together with a chamber orchestra, piano, and soloists, the Des Moines Choral Society will fill the cathedral with the joy of the season!

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

Des Moines Civic Center

December 21 at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets here.

Mannheim Steamroller have been innovators of the neo-classical genre for over 40 years, blending the finest orchestral sections with electronic elements and a hint of rock to arrive at their remarkably unique sound. Not only are their live performances sonically robust, but they’re visually stimulating as well, featuring an incredible light show and illustrations that dance across giant projection screens. Whether they’re playing originals like “Catching Snowflakes on Your Tongue” or classics like “Joy to the World,” Mannheim Steamroller will have fans in the holiday spirit this season on their 2026 Christmas tour.