The 2026 Twin Cities holiday theater season is starting up and provides choices for the whole family. Ranging from A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie to Dr. Seuss's Christmas-stealing Grinch, take a look at some of our great live theater options and consider giving the gift of an experience this season instead of something out of a box!
A Christmas Carol
The Guthrie Theater
Minneapolis, MN
November 11th, 2026 – December 27th, 2026
The Guthrie's cherished tradition returns this holiday season!
The curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited one cold Christmas Eve by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns Scrooge to turn from his callous, hard-hearted ways. That night, three spirits carry Scrooge through time—into the shadows of his past, the fragile realities of the present, and the lonely fate that awaits if he doesn't have a change of heart. Featuring original music and bursts of festive joy, this faithful adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novella brings the streets of Victorian London to life, celebrating the transformative power of compassion and second chances.
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Children's Theatre Company
Minneapolis, MN
November 3rd, 2026 - January 3rd, 2027
Climb up to snowy Mount Crumpit and revel in the holiday story that makes hearts grow three sizes! In this hit musical spectacular, the grumpy green Grinch hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the cheerful Whos of Who-ville—snatching trees, swiping stockings, and sneaking away with every last present. But when one small voice and a spark of holiday spirit shine through, the Grinch begins to discover the true meaning of Christmas. Filled with music, mischief, and Seussian charm, this joyful production sparkles with laughs, warmth, and a little holiday magic for the whole family.
Based on the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.
Holiday Concerts: Handel's Messiah
The Ordway
Minneapolis, MN
December 17th, 2026 - December 20th, 2026
Celebrate the holidays with one of classical music's most beloved traditions. Bring the whole family to the Ordway's extremely popular annual performances of George Frideric Handel's Messiah—an iconic masterpiece for orchestra and choir that has captured the hearts of listeners worldwide. As the director of Dunedin Consort, Scotland's Baroque Ensemble, John Butt brings a lifetime of expertise leading Messiah. It's an event like no other, complete with full orchestra, a roster of renowned vocal soloists, and the local choir The Singers. Experience the magic of Messiah this holiday season!
Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol
Yellow Tree Theatre
Osseo, MN
November 27th, 2026 - December 27th, 2026
In this fast-paced one-person comedy, witness Jacob Marley like you've never seen him before! What happens to Ebenezer Scrooge's mean, sour, pruney old business partner after the original story ends? Chained and shackled, Jacob Marley is condemned to a hellish eternity. He's even given his own private tormentor: a malicious little hell-sprite who thoroughly enjoys his work. Desperate, Marley accepts his one chance to free himself: to escape his own chains, he must first redeem Scrooge.
So begins a journey of laughter and terror, redemption and renewal, during which Scrooge's heart, indeed, is opened, but not before Marley–in this irreverent, funny, and deeply moving story–discovers his own.
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