Cast & Creatives

The 2026 cast features over 30 international stars including: Francesca Hayward, Vadim Muntagirov, Marianela Núñez OBE, Natalia Osipova, Fumi Kaneko, Reece Clarke, Anna Rose O'Sullivan (The Royal Ballet); Isaac Hernández, Catherine Hurlin (American Ballet Theatre); Paul Marque (Paris Opera Ballet); Nicoletta Manni, Timofej Andriyashenko (La Scala); Marcellino Sambé, Daniil Simkin, Edward Watson MBE, Eleanora Abbagnato, Matthew Golding, Lucia Lacarra, Maia Makhateli, Ksenia Ovsyanick and many more.

The Ballet Icons Gala is founded and directed by Olga Balakeets. The 2026 20th Anniversary Gala features choreography by Wayne McGregor, Angelin Preljocaj, Marco Goecke, Edwaard Liang, Jason Kittelberger, Mthuthuzeli November and Jean-Christophe Maillot, plus a UK premiere of Asylum by Antonia Franceschi. Accompanied by the English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra.