FAQ

Currently, we are selling 2023 Season Packages. Visit sfballet.org/subscribe to learn more.

Nutcracker tickets go on sale to the general public on September 6. Visit sfballet.org/nutcracker.

Repertory single tickets will go on sale fall 2022. Sign-up for our monthly E-news to receive the announcement.

You may select specific seats online—you can even see the view from different seating sections before you make your choice. If you have questions about specific seating locations or need accessible seating, we can help. Please contact Ticket Services at 415-865-2000.

Repertory Season Discounts

Season Tickets

Purchase Season Tickets and save up to 30% off the regular ticket price.

Student, Senior, and Military Rush

Rush tickets are not available for Nutcracker. During the Repertory Season, full-time high school and college students can purchase tickets to SF Ballet based on availability for that day's performance for as little as $24 to $32. US military personnel and seniors (65 and older) can purchase same-day tickets for $32, subject to availability.

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Ballet Fans Ages 21–39

Young adult ballet fans ages 21–39 are invited to join The List to access last-minute ticket discounts and exclusive invitations to insider events.

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We hold your Will Call tickets at the SF Ballet Box Office located in the Main Lobby of the War Memorial Opera House (301 Van Ness Avenue at Grove Street) where performances take place. The Ballet Box Office is open only on performance days, starting four hours before the performance. We suggest arriving at least 45 minutes prior to the performance because the lines can get long and you want to be in your seat before the lights dim. Parking, traffic, and transportation delays are unpredictable, so plan to arrive early as latecomers will not be seated until intermission during Repertory Season.

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If you haven't received your tickets or if you misplaced them, you can print your tickets at home. Simply log in to your account, select the Tickets & Performances tab, find your performance, and check the box next to each ticket you would like to reprint. Or call Ticket Services at 415-865-2000 and we'll have your tickets waiting for you at the Box Office in the Opera House.

At this time, for health and safety reasons, we will not sell standing room tickets. Please check back later for updates about upcoming performances.

Nutcracker is most magical for children ages 5 and up. Please note that we do not allow children under 3, including babes in arms. We encourage you to see our helpful tips on Taking Kids to the Ballet.

Repertory Season performances, including story ballets, are often more than two-and-a-half hours long and are best for children ages 8 and up. Please note that we do not allow children under 5, including babes in arms.

Please keep in mind that Repertory Season performances may not be appropriate for younger children, even the story ballets, as they are often more than 2 ½ hours long.

Everyone entering the Opera House, regardless of age, must have a ticket, and children must occupy their own seat next to an accompanying adult. No lap sitting.

Consider selecting an aisle seat when bringing your children in case a quick exit is needed for an unavoidable visit to the restroom, or for a talkative or restless child. Please be aware that if you leave your seat, it is unlikely that you will be able to return to it while the performance is in progress.

If your child does need a break during a performance, or you cannot return to your seat, we encourage you to visit our Family Viewing Area in the North Dress Circle Lounge. This comfortable space features a monitor to watch the performance along with children’s books and quiet activities such as an opportunity to write letters to dancers. It is available during all Nutcracker performances and for some weekend performances of the story ballets.

Anyone (of any age) creating a disturbance will be asked to leave the auditorium and these tickets will not be refunded.

Full-length ballets are evening-length works typically with three acts. Some full-length works are called story ballets because they follow a narrative and are often based on classic tales from literature or opera such as Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Romeo & Juliet. Some full-length ballets like Jewels and Shostakovich Trilogy are abstract.

A triple-bill ballet program has something for everyone, featuring a selection of three or four unrelated short works that make up an evening of entertainment. The individual works may be based on a story, or they may be more abstract—the works may be classical or contemporary. A triple-bill program can be an excellent introduction to ballet, providing a variety of complementary dances, choreographers, and styles.

Call Ticket Services at 415-865-2000 to exchange your subscription tickets. Principal Package Subscribers can exchange tickets in advance with no fee. CYO Subscribers can exchange tickets in advance for a fee. For an additional $10 fee, same-day exchanges are available to subscribers up to 2 hours before the performance.

Exchanges within 2 hours of the performance are not allowed. If you are unable to exchange your tickets within two hours of the performance, call Ticket Services before the performance begins to return tickets for a tax-deductible donation.

All exchanges are subject to availability and any price differential may apply when exchanging into alternate dates.

If you have to miss a performance due to the following reasons related to COVID, please call Ticket Services at least two hours before your performance, and they will work with you to exchange your tickets for another performance or explore other options. Otherwise, all ticket sales are final and there are no refunds.

• You or someone in your group has tested positive for COVID-19 during the 14-day period preceding the performance.
• You or someone in your group is not feeling well and exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
• You or someone in your group feel you represent a serious transmission risk for reasons such as you are caring for someone who has COVID-19.

Please allow extra time to present your vaccination card and ID before entering the Opera House or going to the Box Office. If your tickets are at Will Call, it’s best to be at the Box Office at least 45 minutes prior to the performance because the lines to pick up tickets can be long. Remember to allow plenty of time for transportation, traffic delays, and parking.

We sympathize with you, but for the sake of the performers and other audience members, there is no late seating while a work is in progress during the Repertory Season. Latecomers will be asked to stand until an appropriate break in the action—which might be at intermission. For Nutcracker, late seating is at the discretion of management.

Transportation, traffic, and parking are unpredictable, so allow extra time. Make your outing stress-free by arriving early to visit a favorite shop or restaurant, or enjoy dinner and drinks in the Opera House.

You should wear whatever you like and what makes you comfortable. You will see some people in gowns and you’ll see others in jeans. If you are looking for an opportunity to wear that new cocktail dress or suit, do it. If you prefer to dress more casually, then, by all means, come as you are. However, we do ask that if you choose to wear a hat, please remove it once indoors.

At this time, we are no longer offering opera glasses rentals.

Yes. Seats on the left side of the theater are odd-numbered and seats on the right side are even-numbered, with a few exceptions. Seats in the center section of Grand Tier Center and Balcony Circle are numbered consecutively from seats 101–114. Center Boxes are consecutively numbered 1–8, with three seats in the first row, three seats in the second row, and two seats in the third row.

Don’t worry. Simply show your ticket to your usher and they will help you find your seat. Or, view our Seating Charts.

Drinks are NOT allowed in the auditorium.

The War Memorial Opera House, where SF Ballet performances take place, is located at 301 Van Ness Avenue at Grove Street in the Civic Center neighborhood. The Opera House is within walking distance of MUNI, BART, and other transit systems.

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Yes. The Opera House has accessible seating on the Orchestra and Dress Circle levels. Call 415-865-2000 for more information and to purchase accessible seating.

Persons with wheelchairs may enter and exit the Opera House through the front doors (Van Ness Avenue), Taxi Ramp (Grove Street), and Carriage Entrance (north side).

Accessible restrooms are located on all floors except the Orchestra and Balcony levels.

Accessible public telephones are on the Orchestra, Mezzanine, Grand Tier, and Dress Circle levels. Public telephone with "TDD" is located on the Orchestra level in the northeast corner of the lobby across from the elevator.

Accessible drinking fountains are located on all floors except the Balcony level.

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Yes. Lost & Found is located at the north coat check room on the Main Lobby level of the Opera House. If you realize you’ve left something behind after you’ve left the Opera House, please email wmpac-lostandfound@sfgov.org or call 415-621-6600, 9:00 am–4:00 pm Monday–Friday, except city holidays.