Nutcracker Ballet in San José, Costa Rica, on 4 December

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SAN JOSÉ · BALLET

The Nutcracker ballet comes to San José, Costa Rica, with 11 performances from Friday 4 December to Sunday 13 December 2026. The shows are at the Teatro Popular Melico Salazar, and the ticket agency eticket.cr lists them as coming soon.

For a US visitor, this Nutcracker ballet is a Christmas outing in the Costa Rican capital. The listing does not yet name the company or the final prices, so this guide separates what is confirmed from what is not.

What the Show Is and Why It Matters

The Nutcracker is a Christmas ballet to music by the Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, first staged in Saint Petersburg in 1892. Many US families treat a Nutcracker night as a December tradition.

The San José listing is titled Ballet El Cascanueces 2026, which is the Spanish name of the Nutcracker ballet. It gives no description, so we cannot say which version of the story or choreography will be shown.

In plain English: eticket.cr is a Costa Rican ticket agency, and the Melico Salazar is a public theatre in the city centre. A performance with a numbered seat means you buy a specific seat, not a general place.

There are 11 performances in ten days, which is a long run for one theatre. Several Nutcracker ballet shows fall at midday or in the late afternoon, so a visitor can fit one around a day of sightseeing.

The listing names no company, orchestra, choreographer or lead dancers. We therefore do not know whether the Nutcracker ballet will have live music or a recording.

Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/expat-cities/san-jose/”>San José expat guide</a> explains neighbourhoods, transport and costs in the capital. Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/costa-rica-travel-guide-costs/”>Costa Rica Travel Costs 2026</a> guide covers hotel, food and transport prices.

Dates, Times and Tickets

The agency lists Friday 4 December at 7 in the evening, and Saturday 5 December at 2 in the afternoon and 7 in the evening. It also lists Sunday 6 December at noon and at 5 in the afternoon.

Weekday shows are Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 December at 7 in the evening. The run ends with Saturday 12 December at noon, and Sunday 13 December at noon and at 5 in the afternoon.

Every performance of the Nutcracker ballet is marked coming soon on the agency’s site, which we opened on 29 October. The data behind the page shows sales at the box office as enabled and online sales as not yet active.

No sale date is published, so check the agency’s page each day and ask the theatre’s box office. Buy only from the agency, its authorised sales points or the theatre, never from a stranger on social media.

The agency lists one price category, a numbered adult seat, and says its service charges are included in the price. The page also offers a seating map, so you can pick your seat when sales open.

The agency’s page data gives the lowest price as 19,800 colones (about US$44), and the page says prices are in colones. The same page shows US$250 on screen, and which figure is right is unconfirmed, so every price here is unconfirmed.

The Theatre and How to Get There

The agency gives the address as Teatro Melico Salazar, Avenida 2 at Calle Central, which is in central San José. The agency does not publish a seat count.

San José numbers its streets so that Avenida Central and Calle Central cross near the middle of downtown. A taxi driver or a map app will find the theatre by its name.

The agency also lists a show called Voces Inmortales at the hall on 12 and 13 November. It is a separate event and not part of the Nutcracker ballet.

Most US visitors arrive at Juan Santamaría airport, which serves San José from Alajuela, north-west of the city. Allow time for traffic, because the evening trip into the centre can be slow.

The photo of the theatre at night shows a taxi rank on the street in front. We have not verified how late taxis run, so agree on a pick-up plan before the curtain falls.

If you travel on Sunday 6 December, note that the San José marathon runs the same day. Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/san-jose-marathon-costa-rica-2026-guide/”>San José Marathon guide</a> covers the race.

Visitors in November can also catch a free music weekend. Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/506-jazz-fest-san-jose-costa-rica-2026/”>506 Jazz Fest in San José</a> guide has the dates.

Tips for US and Foreign Visitors

The US State Department, Washington’s foreign ministry, says US citizens do not need a visa for stays of under 180 days in Costa Rica. It adds that a return ticket is required and that officers may permit up to 180 days but are not required to.

The State Department’s page for Costa Rica says to exercise increased caution because of crime. It says petty crime is common and that violent crime also affects tourists.

The same page says armed robbers usually target smartphones, wallets and purses, and advises against resisting someone with a weapon. At a ballet night, carry only what you need and keep your phone out of sight in the street.

Dress for a Nutcracker ballet evening, but plan your way home before you go. Order a licensed taxi or a ride-hailing car to a well-lit pick-up point instead of walking a long way after dark.

The US Embassy is at Calle 98, Via 104, in the Pavas district of San José, and its telephone is +506 2519-2000. The after-hours emergency number is +506 2220-3127, according to the State Department page.

Costa Rica uses UTC-6 all year, so 7 in the evening in San José is 8 in the evening in New York. Chicago shows the same clock time as San José in December.

Costa Rica’s currency is the colón, and the rate we use is 454.55 colones per US dollar on 29 October 2026. Dollar amounts here are rounded, and your card’s rate will differ.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

The on-sale date and the final ticket prices are not published, and the agency’s page shows two different figures, 19,800 colones (about US$44) and US$250. The age limit, the running time and any intermission are not stated either.

The company, cast, choreography and orchestra of the Nutcracker ballet are not named in the listing. We also found no statement on whether the theatre or another organiser runs the production.

The theatre’s own website is blocked to automated readers, so the theatre has not confirmed the dates in this guide. The dates, times and address come from the ticket agency’s listing, read on 29 October 2026.

Dates and times for the Nutcracker ballet can change before sales open, so confirm them before you book flights. We will update this guide when the sale date and prices appear.

More: Costa Rica news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Nutcracker ballet in San José?

The ticket agency lists 11 performances from Friday 4 December to Sunday 13 December 2026. Weekday shows start in the evening, with afternoon shows on weekends.

Where do I buy tickets for the Nutcracker in San José?

Start with the agency eticket.cr, which lists every show as coming soon with no on-sale date. Its data shows box-office sales enabled and online sales not yet active.

Do US citizens need a visa to see the ballet in Costa Rica?

No, US citizens need no visa for stays under 180 days, according to the State Department. A return ticket is required.

Sources: eticket.cr, Ballet El Cascanueces 2026, performance list (dates, times, venue, sale status), accessed 29 October 2026; eticket.cr, Ballet El Cascanueces 2026, Saturday 5 December 7 p.m. (address, price, fees, sale status), accessed 29 October 2026; eticket.cr, Teatro Popular Melico Salazar venue page (other listed shows), accessed 29 October 2026; US State Department, Costa Rica country information (entry requirements, safety, embassy), accessed 29 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief