Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is gearing up for a significant moment this winter as the company heads back to New York City Center for its annual holiday season residency.
Running from December 3, 2025, through January 4, 2026, the 2026 slate marks the first full season programmed by new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack, who steps into the role with a long history within the Ailey legacy as both a performer and an educator, per Uptown Magazine.
The season opens with a high-profile Gala evening honoring Ailey Board Chair Daria L. Wallach. Oscar winner Colman Domingo will serve as honorary chair, while Ciara will be on hand to introduce a live-choir presentation of Revelations.
The full program for Opening Night leans heavily on live music. It features the company debut of Medhi Walerski’s Blink of an Eye, a fresh take on Judith Jamison’s A Case of You accompanied by vocalist Samara Joy, and a finale built around Ailey’s signature masterpiece.
Graf Mack’s first season also rolls out five world premieres that expand the company’s range. New works from Maija García, Matthew Neenan, Jamar Roberts, Fredrick Earl Mosley, and Artist in Residence Jawole Willa Jo Zollar—who created her piece alongside Samantha Figgins and Chalvar Monteiro—bring a mix of influences, from Afro-Caribbean storytelling to gospel-driven movement.
Across the five-week run, Ailey will spotlight several themed programs, including a tribute to both Alvin Ailey and Judith Jamison, a night dedicated to Ailey classics, and an evening centered on all-new choreography.
Multiple performances throughout the engagement will feature live musical accompaniment, especially for selections of Revelations, and Saturday family matinees will include a post-show Q&A hosted by former company member Amos Machanic.
Fans of the repertory staples won’t be left out. Returning works include Ronald K. Brown’s Grace, Alonzo King’s Following the Subtle Current Upstream, and Ailey’s Cry—alongside a new staging of Jamison’s intimate duet A Case of You set to Diana Krall’s interpretation of the Joni Mitchell song.
Once the curtain comes down in New York, the company won’t stay home for long. A 20-city national tour kicks off in January and runs through May, with scheduled stops in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and several additional major markets.
Tickets start at $45, with all performances taking place at New York City Center.