45+ Amazing Christmas Concerts In Washington, D.C. (2023)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… concerts, that is.

Get ready to see the Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Choral Arts Society of Washington, and many more theater and dance companies, orchestras, ballet companies and even a few drag queens.

Why We Love Christmas Concerts in Washington DC

Christmas is, hands down, one of the most wondrous times of the year. As the weather turns brisk, twinkling lights shine bright against the blanket of snow that covers the city.

There are decorations on every corner and you can hear the constant jingle of Christmas carols no matter where you are – almost like magic! The cherry on top is to enjoy the season with your friends and family as you attend one of many Christmas plays, concerts, and musicals in Washington, D.C.

I’ve always been a theater and music nerd, so Christmas in Washington DC is one of my happiest times of year.

Performances of the The Nutcracker in Washington DC

The Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker

• Address: Warner Theatre
• Date: December 2-30
• Tickets: starting at $49
• Website

No matter your age, there’s something about The Nutcracker that makes you reminiscent of childhood traditions, winter wonderlands, and that warm fuzzy feeling that often comes along with the holidays.

Add to it the original period costumes, stunning set designs, and Tchaikovsky’s magical score, and you’ve got one of the best Christmas performances of the year. The charming Washington Ballet is sure to take you back to 1882 Georgetown for the few hours that you’ll be there – don’t miss it at Warner Theatre!

Dorrance Dance: Nutcracker Suite

•  Address: Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
• Date: November 30-December 2
• Tickets: starting at $29
• Website

Ballet West – The Nutcracker

• Address: Kennedy Center Opera House, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
• Date: November 22 – 26, 2023
• Tickets: starting at $75
• Website

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

• Address: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852
• Date: Dec. 19-22
• Website

MANASSAS BALLET THEATRE: THE NUTCRACKER

• Address: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Cir, Manassas, VA 20110
• Date: December 14-24, 2023
• Website

VIRGINIA NATIONAL BALLET – THE NUTCRACKER

• Address: Capital One Hall, Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA 22102
• Date: December 22-23
• Tickets: starting at $59
• Website

Additional performance at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on November 24 at 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM.

NUTCRACKER! MAGICAL CHRISTMAS BALLET (The Moscow Ballet)

• Address: Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA 22102
• Date: December 3 – 4, 2023
• Tickets: starting at $34
• Website

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet!

• Address: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda, MD 20852
• Date: December 2 at 3pm & 7pm
• Tickets: $30 – $175
• Website

Washington National Cathedral

Joy of Christmas Concert

• Address: Washington National Cathedral
• Date: December 11th
• Website

One of the most popular musical traditions in Washington, D.C., the Joy of Christmas Concert hosted by the Washington National Cathedral is anticipated by people all year long. The Cathedral Choral Society brings you exciting new versions of old classics that you can sing along to.

If you only have time to attend one Christmas event in D.C. this year, make it this amazing cinematic production!

Handel’s Messiah

• Address: Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
• Date:
• Website

Christmas with The King’s Singers

• Address: Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
• Date: Dec. 15
• Website

Christmas Day Organ Recital

• Address: Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
• Date: Dec. 25 at 1:30 p.m
• Tickets: Free Admission
• Website

Christmas Concerts at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

A Family Christmas

• Address: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Date: December 16th
• Website

Perfect for children ages 5 and up, A Family Christmas is a one-hour concert hosted by the Choral Acts Chorus at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. If you haven’t gone before, this will surely become your favorite holiday sing-along of the year.

They’ll be performing all the familiar classics along with visits from Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and the big man Kris Kringle himself.

A Candlelight Christmas

• Address: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Date: December 16
• Tickets: $19– $109
• Website

Two-time Grammy winners, The Washington Chorus, invites you to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for their annual ‘A Candlelight Christmas’. The festive concert welcomes the entire family, young and old, to witness this lively 75-minute holiday music experience.

Artistic Director, Eugene Rogers, guides The Washington Chorus in their lovely signature candlelight processional; be ready for the audience carol sing-along to join in on the fun!

Christmas Music Concert

• Address: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Date: December 20th
• Website

The Choral Arts Symphonic Chorus and Youth Choir are accompanied by a full orchestra for this beloved Christmas Music Concert. The Kennedy Center Concert Hall comes alive with seasonal musical treats, so much so that even the grouchiest of attendees will find the holiday spirit.

You’ll see performances of all your favorite Christmas carols and classics, including masterpieces performed by soprano Esther Heideman.

A Jazz Piano Christmas

• Address: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Date: December 4th
• Website

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and NPR come together for their annual sell-out event, A Jazz Piano Christmas. You’ll hear renditions of all of your favorite seasonal classics performed by some of the best jazz pianists in the industry.

This year, there are scheduled performances by Eric Reed, Patrice Rushen, and Gerald Clayton.

ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH MUSIC AND WORSHIP ARTS PRESENT“Do You Hear What I Hear?” – A Christmas Celebration

• Address: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Date:  December 5 at 8pm
• Tickets: $40-$105
• Website

Celtic Woman – Christmas Symphony

• Address: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Tickets: $29-$99
• Date: Nov 24 – 25, 2023
• Website

THE CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON PRESENTS: O Night Divine!

• Address: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Date: December 24 at 2pm
• Tickets: $15- $71
• Website

THE CAPITOL BONES BIG BAND PRESENTS: A Christmas Brass Spectacular!

• Address: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Date: December 19 at 7:30pm
• Tickets: $60-$70
• Website

Concerts by the NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

NSO Pops | A Holiday Pops! with Norm Lewis

• Address: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Date: December 8 – 9 (free concert on December 7)
• Website

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

• Address: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC 20566
• Date: December 14 – 18, 2023
• Tickets: $15-$40
• Website

The Music Center at the Strathmore

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

• Address: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda, MD 20852
• Date: December 1 at 8pm
• Tickets: $28 – $114
• Website

The American neoclassical, new-age, holiday, and progressive rock music group Mannheim Steamroller first debuted in 1974. Their adaptations of modern Christmas music brought them great success and they’ve been celebrating the holiday season with their fans for over 35 years.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas celebrates the traditional music of Christmas that we’ve all come to know and love. You’ll hear renditions of ‘Deck the Halls’, ‘I Saw Three Ships’, ‘We Three Kings’, and more.

Bach’s Epic Christmas Oratorio

• Address: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda, MD 20852
• Date: December 9 at 7pm
• Tickets: $25 – $89
• Website

The Washington Bach Consort presents ‘Bach’s Epic Christmas Oratorio’ at The Music Center at Strathmore this holiday season. This European Christmas tradition is the ultimate seasonal musical experience with its polished performances.

 Musicians and soloists with the Washington Bach Consort will perform four of the six cantatas that comprise the composer’s magnificent ‘Weihnachts-Oratorium’.

Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour

• Address: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda, MD 20852
• Date: December 3 at 8pm
• Tickets: $28 – $98 + VIP
• Website

Seán Heely Celtic Christmas

• Address: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda, MD 20852
• Date: December 8 at 8pm
• Tickets: $28 – $54
• Website

The Washington Chorus presents: A CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS

• Address: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda, MD 20852
• Date: December 15 at 8pm
• Tickets: $15-$79
• Website

SAMARA JOY: A Joyful Holiday featuring The McLendon Family

• Address: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda, MD 20852
• Date: December 23 at 8pm
• Tickets: $38.50 – $92.50
• Website

Dumbarton Arts & Education

A Celtic Christmas

• Address: 3133 Dumbarton Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
• Date: December 3 and December 10th at 4pm
• Website

Helicon: Winter Solstice

• Address: 3133 Dumbarton Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
• Date: December 9 at 7:30pm
• Website

Lincoln Theatre

Preservation Jazz Hall Band – Creole Christmas

• Address: Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Date: November 25 at 8pm
• Tickets: $55
• Website

Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC Holiday Show

• Address: Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Date: December 2-3 & 9-10
• Tickets: $25- $65
• Website

CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

• Address: Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Date: December 18-19
• Tickets: $35-$55
• Website

A Christmas Carol at the Ford Theatre

• Address: Fords Theatre, 511 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
• Date: November 17 – December 31
• Tickets: $49-$111
• Website

Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Eve & Other Stories

• Address: Capital One Arena, 601 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
• Date: December 14
• Tickets: starting at $50
• Website

Renowned rock band, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, comes to Washington, D.C. to celebrate 25 years of Christmas Eve & Other Stories this December. The rock opera is based on their debut studio album, which later became one of the best-selling Christmas albums of all time in the U.S.

Attendees will get a chance to see the band perform some of their best hits live; keep your eyes and ears peeled for crowd favorites like ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, ‘A Mad Russian’s Christmas’, and ‘The First Noel’.

CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE

• Address: MGM National Harbor Resort & Casino, 101 MGM National Ave, Oxon Hill, MD 20745
• Date: December 15- 18
• Website

An Irish Carol

• Address: Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
• Date: December 2-31
• Website

Nightly Caroling at the Willard Hotel

• Address: The Willard Center, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
• Date: December 1 to 23, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
• Tickets: FREE
• Website

A JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS

• Address: Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305
• Date: December 20-21
• Website

GIRL NAMED TOM – ONE MORE CHRISTMAS

• Address: Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305
• Dates: December 11-12
• Website

Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show 

• Address: Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
• Date: December 8-17
• Website

HOT 99.5’s Jingle Ball presented by Capital One

• Address: Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
• Date: December 11 at 7:30 p.m.
• Tickets: starting at $25
• Website

JINKX AND DELA HOLIDAY SHOW

• Address: Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA 22102
• Date: December 7-8
• Tickets: starting at $99.50
• Website

A Drag Queen Christmas

• Address: Warner Theatre, 513 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
• Date: November 16 at 8pm
• Tickets: $39-$54

Additional reporting by Shahnaz Hossain