The 20th anniversary edition of the Ballet Icons Gala will take place at the London Coliseum on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 7pm.
It will bring together world-class dancers from leading companies including The Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Dutch National Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, La Scala Theatre Ballet and Berlin State Ballet.
Olga Balakeets, founder and artistic director, said: “It is a great source of pride for me to reach this milestone in a project that began 20 years ago, celebrating the 80th birthday of one of the world’s most renowned prima ballerinas and ballet icons, the legendary Maia Plisetskaya.
“Twenty years on, we are here discovering and presenting the new ballet icons of today, while at the same time showcasing the very best of this remarkable art form—ballet.”
The gala will feature both classical and contemporary works, including world premieres and commissions.
The programme will include pieces by leading choreographers such as Edwaard Liang, Wayne McGregor, Angelin Preljocaj and Marco Goecke.
There will also be a special collaboration with New York’s Vildwerk Foundation.
Together, they will present the UK premiere of Asylum, a work by choreographer Antonia Franceschi addressing the global environmental crisis.
Performances will be set to a live soundtrack by the English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dancers set to perform include Eleanora Abbagnato (ex-Paris Opera Ballet), Timofej Andriyashenko (La Scala Ballet), Isaac Hernandes, Catherine Hurlin, Nicoletta Manni, Paul Marque, Vadim Muntagirov, Marianela Núñez OBE, Natalia Osipova, Marcellino Sambé, Yana Salenko, Daniil Simkin and Edward Watson MBE.
They will be joined by Francesca Hayward, Reece Clarke, Fumi Kaneko, Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Patricio Reve.
Other international stars on the bill include Braylon Browner, Mathew Golding, Jason Kittelberger, Lucia Lacarra, James Pett and Travis Clausen-Knight.
The event will also feature an exclusive photography exhibition showcasing highlights from 20 years of the Gala.
The event traces its roots to a project that began 20 years ago, celebrating the 80th birthday of Maia Plisetskaya.
The London Coliseum is located on St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4ES.
