Sadler’s Wells 2026/27: The Season, and Where to Eat Around It

Sadler’s Wells is one of the pillars of contemporary dance in this country, and it is a ten minute walk from our door. Across the main house and the Lilian Baylis Studio the programme covers a lot of ground — American modern dance, English National Ballet, tango, and a Matthew Bourne Christmas — and a good number of runs include matinees, which opens up lunch beforehand or a relaxed dinner afterwards.

Main stage: autumn 2026

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — New Works & Legacy, 15 to 19 September 2026. Celebrated modern dance works alongside repertory favourites from the company’s back catalogue.

English National Ballet — Rhythm Riot, 24 September to 3 October 2026. A high-energy programme from the ENB.

London City Ballet — Firebird, a double bill, 22 to 24 October 2026.

Tango After Dark, 5 to 9 November 2026.

Christmas and into the new year

Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, 1 December 2026 to 17 January 2027. Bourne’s Blitz-era reworking of the Prokofiev score, and the family booking of the season — it runs long, but the December and early January dates go first.

Lilian Baylis Studio

The smaller room inside the same building is where to look for new work at close quarters.

Breakin’ Convention — Open Art Surgery, 26 September 2026. Works in progress from hip hop dance theatre artists, shown and discussed with the audience.

Georgia Tegou — In the Quiet of Us, 19 to 21 November 2026.

Dates are as published at the time of writing; confirm with Sadler’s Wells before booking travel.

Timing dinner around a performance

Main house curtain is usually 7.30pm and the walk takes ten minutes, so a 5.45pm table leaves room for three courses without watch-checking; our pre-theatre menu is designed for it. For matinees, lunch beforehand or a late, unhurried dinner afterwards both work — the kitchen is still serving well after most performances come down. The full Sadler’s Wells guide has the step-free access detail, bus routes and the history of the site.