National Ballet of Japan Nominated for the 26th National Dance Awards

The National Ballet of Japan has been nominated for the "Stef Stefanou Award for Outstanding Company" at the 26th National Dance Awards in the UK.

The National Dance Awards is one of the most prestigious dance awards in the UK, held annually since 2000 by the Dance Section of the Critics' Circle. The awards are given by the section, which consists of more than 60 dance writers and critics, making it the only award hosted by a professional dance critics' organization in the UK.

For the 2025 season, a total of 379 companies, choreographers, dancers, and creative artists (an increase from 365 the previous year) were eligible, from which the final candidates were shortlisted.

This time, there were a total of 10 nominations for international companies visiting the UK, and the National Ballet of Japan, which performed "Giselle" at the Royal Opera House in July 2025, was named as one of them.

Following its performance, the London production of "Giselle" received rave reviews from many media outlets, including major international newspapers, earning high praise including 5-star ratings. It was also selected as one of the best performances of 2025 by The New York Times and The Daily Telegraph.

The final selection results will be announced at the award ceremony to be held at The Coronet Theatre in London on June 15, 2026.