NJPAC Holiday Shows and Events in Newark 2026

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark has a full holiday season on the calendar for December 2026, from a two weekend outdoor market to brass carols, ballet and a day after Christmas circus. Here is our rundown of the holiday shows and events at NJPAC, with dates, times and where each one takes place on the campus.

NJPAC Holiday Market

• Town: Newark
• Where: New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102, in an outdoor heated tent
• When: Thursday, December 10 through Sunday, December 13, and Thursday, December 17 through Sunday, December 20, 2026. Thursday through Saturday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The NJPAC Holiday Market brings more than 30 curated vendors together under a heated tent across two long weekends. NJPAC says shoppers will find embellished clothing, decorative home goods, handcrafted jewelry and accessories, paintings and other one of a kind finds, with a focus on small, local shops.

Food and drinks are available for purchase, and shoppers are entered to win NJPAC ticket and merchandise giveaways. It is an easy stop to pair with an afternoon or evening show.

Event details

Christmas with Canadian Brass

• Town: Newark
• Where: Victoria Theater, Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Stage, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102
• When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 3 p.m.

The Canadian Brass quintet brings an afternoon of cheerful carols and holiday classics built for families. The lineup is Joe Burgstaller and Mikio Sasaki on trumpet, Jeff Nelsen on horn, Keith Dyrda on trombone and Chuck Daellenbach on tuba.

The New Jersey Youth Chorus Coriste ensemble joins the program, and NJPAC promises the group’s trademark musicianship along with plenty of playful banter between songs. Tickets are sold through the NJPAC event page.

Event details

The Nutcracker, State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine

• Town: Newark
• Where: Prudential Hall, Betty Wold Johnson Stage, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102
• When: Sunday, December 13, 2026, 3 p.m.

The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine performs the holiday classic in Prudential Hall with hand painted sets, more than 200 costumes and a winter wonderland setting. Tchaikovsky’s score includes favorites like the Waltz of the Flowers, the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Snowflakes.

NJPAC lists the performance under both dance and family programming, which makes it a good first ballet for younger audiences.

Event details

Kwanzaa Family Festival and Marketplace

• Town: Newark
• Where: New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102
• When: Saturday, December 19, 2026, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: Free festival, RSVP through the event page

NJPAC’s free Kwanzaa Family Festival fills the afternoon with family programs built around the seven principles of Kwanzaa, including a candle lighting ceremony, drumming and dance, arts and crafts and creative projects led by partner artists.

The Artisan Marketplace spans two floors with dozens of local Black owned vendors selling handcrafts, jewelry, soaps, clothing and art, while local musicians, dancers and artists perform live in the Prudential Lobby.

Event details

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

• Town: Newark
• Where: Prudential Hall, Betty Wold Johnson Stage, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102
• When: Saturday, December 26, 2026, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Cirque Dreams Holidaze returns the day after Christmas with a circus spectacular wrapped in a Broadway style holiday show, reimagined for 2026. Expect aerial acts, jugglers, acrobatics, singers, dancers and a cast of Christmas characters.

The show is part of NJPAC’s Columbia Bank Family Series. The event page also lets you book parking and dinner reservations at Nico Kitchen and Bar before the show.

Event details

We will keep adding holiday shows, markets and family events from across Essex County as the season fills in, so check back with Shop Essex County for more.