Guthrie Christmas Carol tickets for the 2026 season cost $36 to $161, with handling fees included, and the show plays November 11 – December 27, 2026 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. The 2026 run is the theater's 52nd production of the story, and it comes with a new Scrooge. This guide is for families, friends and groups traveling to the Twin Cities for the holidays. It pulls together the things out-of-town visitors need to know: what the night costs, how long it lasts, who it suits and how to plan around it, so the show is something everyone can look forward to.
TLDR
- Dates: The 2026 run plays November 11 – December 27, 2026, and the preview performances that open it are the cheapest, starting at $36.
- Tickets: Single tickets cost $36 to $161 with fees included, and the Guthrie offers discounts for seniors, students, children and groups.
- Length: Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes, including an intermission.
- Age: The Guthrie suggests the show for ages 8 and up.
- Scrooge: BroadwayWorld reports that Andrew May is the new Ebenezer Scrooge for 2026.
Ready to Plan Your Holiday Trip to Minneapolis?
Roami offers modern vacation rentals for urban group travel, with fully furnished apartments from studios to multi-bedroom units in buildings we manage ourselves. In Minneapolis our building is Century Plaza, and in Saint Paul it's The Fitz. See our Minneapolis stays and our Saint Paul stays, all booked direct on roami.com. Your family or group can stay under one roof, share meals and come back after the show to the comfort of a home with the consistency of a boutique hotel. Tell us your dates and group size, or call +1-833-305-3535, and we'll help you plan a Twin Cities stay around the show.
What Is the Guthrie's A Christmas Carol About?
A Christmas Carol follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold, greedy man who is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. Three more spirits follow. The Guthrie calls its version a faithful adaptation of Dickens' novella, with original music, so the story on stage stays close to the book. The spirits show Scrooge his past, the Christmas present going on around him and a future he can still avoid. By the end, he has a real change of heart, and his joy on Christmas Day is the payoff of the night. It's the kind of story about kindness, compassion and hope that works for grandparents and kids sitting in the same row. With this many productions behind it, the show has been part of the Twin Cities theater community's holidays for decades.
Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in about six weeks, and it was first published on December 19, 1843, according to Wikipedia. The first edition sold out by Christmas Eve, so readers loved it from the start. In 2026, director Addie Gorlin-Han leads the production. Lavina Jadhwani wrote the adaptation, and the staging is based on Joseph Haj's original direction.
Approximately 315 props help create Scrooge's London on stage, according to the Guthrie. Part of the magic is simply how much there is to look at.
Who Is Playing Scrooge and the Ghosts in 2026?
BroadwayWorld reports that Andrew May is the new Ebenezer Scrooge at the Guthrie. Here is the main cast for the 2026 run, as the Guthrie lists it:
- Andrew May as Ebenezer Scrooge
- Charity Jones as Marley and Townsperson 2
- Erik Ohno Dagoberg as Young Scrooge
- Paul de Cordova as Mr. Fezziwig and Townsperson 1
- Eric Sharp as the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Father
- Regina Marie Williams as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Mrs. Fezziwig
- Nathan Huberty as the Ghost of Christmas Future and Belle's Husband
Several actors play two roles, so watch for familiar faces showing up as a second character.
How Much Does a Night at A Christmas Carol Cost?
Single tickets to the Guthrie's 2026 A Christmas Carol cost $36 to $161, handling fees included. The cheapest regular seats are at the preview performances in November that open the run, starting at $36. The Guthrie also offers discounts for seniors, students, children and groups.
For families with a child who is sensitive to noise or crowds, the relaxed performance in late November is adapted for sensory sensitivities, and tickets cost $32 for adults and $16 for children. That also comes in under the preview price.
The spread is wide. A child at the relaxed performance pays a small slice of what a top seat costs, so for a big group, the date and section you choose shape the budget more than anything else. To save, pick a preview night or the relaxed performance, and buy the whole group's seats in one order so you can sit together. If grandparents join the trip, ask about the senior rate when you order. The ticket isn't the whole night, so add parking or a rideshare and dinner before the show to your budget. Decide early who is paying for what, which saves sorting it out on the night.
Is the Guthrie's A Christmas Carol Good for Kids and Groups?
Yes, for most families with school-age kids. The Guthrie suggests the show for ages 8 and up, and it includes an intermission, so younger viewers get a break. If you're wondering about intense moments, the Guthrie's content note lists loud noises, strobe lights, haze and fog, so check whether any of that could bother someone in your group. Think about each child's comfort level with loud sound and dark scenes before you buy. If anyone in your group has felt overwhelmed by noise or flashing lights before, the relaxed performance is the one to attend.
For guests who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or low vision, the Guthrie offers ASL-interpreted and audio-described performances. The 2026 dates include Saturday, November 28 at 1 p.m., with a second date in early December.
What families and groups should know about the 2026 show
For a first theater trip with kids, the show is short enough for an evening out, and the intermission gives everyone a natural point for the restroom or a stretch. For a family with younger kids, we recommend a matinee or the relaxed performance.
How to Plan Your Night at the Guthrie with Family or Friends
The easiest plan is to choose your date first, buy everyone's tickets in one order, book a stay where the whole group can be together, then work out the ride and dinner around curtain time. The steps below put that in order for families and groups coming from out of town.
- Pick the date. Previews in November cost the least, and a Saturday matinee keeps the day early for younger kids. If you want a weekend close to Christmas, buy early rather than wait.
- Buy through the box office. Order online or in person at the Guthrie box office, and ask about group and family discounts before you check out. Read the exchange and refund rules first, because plans can change when a group travels.
- Book your stay. Choose a Roami apartment with enough bedrooms for everyone, in Minneapolis or Saint Paul. Roami stays are for visitors, so guests can't book in their own city of residence.
- Plan the ride and dinner. Decide whether you'll drive or take a rideshare. A nice way to start the night is an early dinner together, so nobody rushes to their seat.
- Arrive early. Give yourselves time to find your seats, take a family photo and settle the kids before the first act.
- Head back quietly. Evening shows can let out after 9 PM, when quiet hours start at Roami (9 PM to 8 AM), so keep the return to the apartment calm. Our house rules also prohibit events, parties and gatherings of any kind.
Roami manages whole buildings in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Miami, New Orleans and Denver, and every stay is booked direct. When you stay with Roami, your group keeps one home base for the whole trip. You can learn more about Roami and how our stays work. If the Guthrie is one stop on a longer holiday season, our guide to Christmas in New Orleans has ideas for another city we serve.
Frequently Asked Questions About A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie
Is the Guthrie Christmas Carol Scary for Kids?
It has a few scary parts, so it depends on your child. The ghosts are meant to frighten Scrooge, and the Guthrie's content note mentions loud noises, strobe lights, haze and fog. Telling kids the story before you go helps, because they'll know Scrooge ends up happy. An aisle seat also makes a quick break easier if someone needs one.
Is There an Intermission in A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie?
Yes, the Guthrie's 2026 production has an intermission, and the running time the theater lists already includes it. The break is the best time for restroom trips with kids, so nobody misses part of the second half. If your group is large, agree on a meeting spot before the show, because the lobby can get busy during the break.
Where Do You Park for the Guthrie Theater?
The Guthrie directs drivers to the city-owned Riverfront Ramp on South 2nd Street, directly across from the theater. The ramp's rate goes up on days when U.S. Bank Stadium hosts an event, so check the stadium schedule for your show date before you drive. For a large group, one or two rideshares may be simpler than parking several cars, and you won't have to look for spots in winter weather.
Can We Stay in Saint Paul and Still See the Show?
Yes. Saint Paul and Minneapolis sit side by side, so a stay at The Fitz, our Saint Paul building, works for a night at the Guthrie. Give yourself extra travel time on show nights, especially in winter weather, and decide ahead whether you'll drive or take a rideshare. If you'd rather stay in Minneapolis, our Century Plaza building is the other option.
Should We See a Matinee on the Day We Arrive in Minneapolis?
It's usually easier to see the show on a full day in town than on arrival day. Roami check-in is at 4 PM, so an afternoon show could leave your group carrying bags around before you can get into the apartment. Check-out is at 11 AM on your last day, which leaves time for a morning out but not an evening show.
Planning to see the show in 2026? Check dates at Century Plaza in Minneapolis or The Fitz in Saint Paul, or send us your dates and group size and we'll help you find a stay for the season.
