Dutch National Ballet 2025-2026 Season, Shows, Reviews

byCherilyn J. Lee

January 1, 2020 - Updated on January 26, 2026

Dutch National Ballet - 2024

♦ Location: Amsterdam, North Holland – Netherlands

♦ Artistic Director: Ted Brandsen

♦ Orchestra: Dutch Ballet Orchestra

♦ Affiliated School: Dutch National Ballet Academy

♦ Founded in 1961 when Nederlands Ballet and the Amsterdams Ballet merged

♦ Official Website of Dutch National Ballet

Table of Contents

Dutch National Ballet 2025-2026 Season

Three Members of Dutch National Ballet Given French State Honor

On January 22, 2026, it was announced that Ted Brandsen, director and choreographer, Olga Smirnova, prima ballerina and principal dancer, and choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, associate artist of the Dutch National Ballet, have all been appointed ‘Chevallier des Arts et Lettres’ (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Ministry of Culture.

The ceremony for Brandsen and Smirnova will be helon March 5 at the French residence in The Hague and their awards presented by Francois Alabrune, Ambassador of France to the Netherlands.

Alexei Ratmansky will receive his knighthood at a date yet to be determined in New York.

The French State Award for Arts and Letters recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the artistic or literary field, and individuals who have contributed to the influence of the arts and letters in France and worldwide.

Anna Ol winner of the Alexandra Radius Prize 2025

On September 11, 2025, during the premiere of Monument, the opening program of Dutch National Ballet’s 2025-2026 Season, Principal Dancer Anna Ol was awarded the Alexandra Radius Prize 2025.

“After ten years as a principal with the Dutch National Ballet and countless wonderful roles, this award is both a celebration of the past and an inspiration for the future.

It’s special to discover that my dedication and artistry have touched others. This award makes all those years of hard – but deeply enjoyable – work even more meaningful.”

– Anna Ol

2025 marks the 36th year that the annual Alexandra Radius Prize has been awarded to a distinguished DNB dancer for their excellence during the prior season. This year’s jury consisted of:

Alexandra Radius (former principal with the Dutch National Ballet)
Alexander Zhembrovskyy (former principal with the Dutch National Ballet and owner of the dance and fitness studios named after him)
Astrid van Leeuwen (dance journalist and publicist)
Frederik Redelé (board member of the Dutch National Opera & Ballet Fund)
Joan Termeer-Blom (Friend of the Dutch National Ballet)