10 Ballet Rising Stars Who Are Taking the World by Storm in 2026

From Tokyo to Paris to Vienna, these ten young dancers are redefining what ballet can be.

Introduction: A New Generation Emerges

Ballet has always been a young person's art. The physical demands of the form — the flexibility, the strength, the stamina — favor the young. But every generation produces a handful of dancers who, even among the young and talented, stand out. These are the dancers who don't just execute the steps but transform them, who don't just perform the choreography but embody it, who make audiences forget they are watching a performance and believe, for a moment, that they are witnessing something inevitable.

In 2026, we are seeing the emergence of a particularly exciting generation. These dancers have grown up in a globalized ballet world — they have been exposed to multiple training methods from an early age, they have access to training resources that previous generations could only dream of, and they are entering a professional landscape that is more open, more diverse, and more competitive than ever before. The result is a group of dancers whose technical ability is extraordinary and whose artistic vision is mature beyond their years.

This article profiles ten of the most exciting rising stars in ballet today. The list is subjective — there are dozens of talented young dancers we could have included. But these ten represent, in our view, the most compelling combination of technical excellence, artistic maturity, and professional trajectory. They are the dancers we believe will define the next decade of ballet.

1. Anastasia Volkova (Russia, age 19)

Trained at the Vaganova Academy, Volkova is being called "the new Pavlova" by critics who have seen her perform. Her extension is extraordinary — over 180 degrees in all directions — but it is her musicality that sets her apart. She doesn't dance to the music; she becomes the music. The Mariinsky has already offered her a soloist contract, which she has not yet accepted, reportedly weighing offers from three other major companies.

What makes Volkova special is not just her physical gifts but her intelligence. She studies choreography, she understands the history of each ballet she performs, and she brings a level of intellectual engagement to her dancing that is rare in someone so young. She is not content to be a prodigy — she wants to be an artist.

2. Liam Chen (Canada, age 21)

Chen trained at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School before moving to Europe, where he has been a member of the Stuttgart Ballet's corps for two seasons. His elevation is among the highest in the current generation — his jumps seem to hang in the air — and his partnering skills have already drawn praise from some of the most demanding principal dancers in the company. He is expected to be promoted to soloist within the year.

Chen represents a growing trend in ballet: the multi-disciplinary dancer. In addition to classical ballet, he is trained in contemporary dance, hip-hop, and acrobatics. This versatility makes him invaluable to choreographers who are increasingly creating works that blend classical and contemporary vocabulary.

3. Sofia Marchetti (Italy, age 20)

Trained at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, Marchetti is a dramatic dancer of extraordinary intensity. Her Juliet has already been called "the best since Guillem" by Italian critics. She has a rare ability to convey emotion through movement — every gesture, every glance, every breath is purposeful and communicative. The Paris Opera Ballet has expressed strong interest.

What sets Marchetti apart is her commitment to character. She doesn't just dance a role; she inhabits it. She studies the psychology of each character, she researches the historical context, and she brings a level of dramatic preparation to her performances that is usually associated with actors rather than dancers.

4. Yuki Nakamura (Japan, age 18)

The youngest dancer on our list, Nakamura trained at the prestigious Sato Ballet Academy in Tokyo before moving to Europe. She is a technician of breathtaking precision — her turns are fast, clean, and seemingly endless. But it is her artistry that has caught the attention of the ballet world. She brings a unique aesthetic sensibility, informed by Japanese concepts of beauty, that is entirely her own.

Nakamura has been compared to Sylvie Guillem for her extension and her fearlessness, but her quality of movement is distinctly her own. She is currently a student at the Royal Ballet School, and her graduation performance is one of the most anticipated events of the season.

5. Emma Schmidt (Germany, age 22)

Schmidt trained at the Palucca Hochschule in Dresden and is now a member of the Hamburg Ballet. She is a Balanchine dancer par excellence — fast, precise, musical, and endlessly inventive. John Neumeier has reportedly choreographed a role specifically for her, an extraordinary vote of confidence for a dancer so young.

Schmidt's strength is her speed. She moves with a clarity and precision that makes even the most complex choreography look simple. But she is not just a technician — she has a deep understanding of musical phrasing that allows her to find meaning in the spaces between the steps.

6. Diego Fernandez (Spain, age 23)

Fernandez trained at the Victor Ullate School in Madrid and is now a member of the English National Ballet. He is a virtuoso dancer with a flair for the dramatic — his Don Quixote is already legendary among London audiences. He combines Spanish passion with classical precision, creating a style that is uniquely his own.

Fernandez is also a choreographer. He has created several short works for the ENB's emerging choreographers program, and his work has been praised for its musicality and its emotional depth. He is one of the few dancers on this list who may eventually transition to a full-time choreographic career.

7. Olivia Thompson (United Kingdom, age 21)

Trained at the Royal Ballet School, Thompson is a lyrical dancer of extraordinary grace. Her Swan Lake has already been performed to critical acclaim, and she is being groomed for principal roles. She has a quality of movement that is both expansive and intimate — she fills the stage while remaining emotionally present and accessible to the audience.

Thompson is also an advocate for mental health in ballet. She has spoken openly about the pressures of ballet training and the importance of psychological support for young dancers. Her advocacy has made her a role model for a generation of dancers who are demanding a healthier, more sustainable approach to their art.

8. Kim Min-jun (South Korea, age 20)

Trained at the Korea National University of Arts, Kim is a power dancer with extraordinary ballon and elevation. He won the Helsinki International Ballet Competition at 18 and has been offered contracts by three major companies. He is currently deciding between the American Ballet Theatre and the Stuttgart Ballet.

Kim represents the growing dominance of Asian dancers in international ballet. Korean, Japanese, and Chinese dancers are increasingly filling the top ranks of the world's best companies, bringing with them a level of technical excellence that is raising the bar for everyone.

9. Camille Laurent (France, age 22)

Trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School, Laurent is a classicist of the highest order. Her style is pure Paris Opera — elegant, precise, and deeply musical. She has been called "the embodiment of French ballet" by critics who have seen her perform. She is currently a quadrille at the Paris Opera, but her promotion to coryphée is considered a formality.

Laurent is also a student of ballet history. She has written articles for ballet publications and is known for her deep knowledge of the Paris Opera's repertoire and traditions. She represents the continuity of the French classical tradition at a time when that tradition is evolving.

10. Hannah Gruber (Austria, age 19)

Trained at the Wiener Ballettakademie under Prof. Mihail Sosnovschi, Gruber is our homegrown rising star. She is a versatile dancer who moves seamlessly between classical and contemporary repertoire. Her performance in the academy's recent showcase drew attention from three international companies, and she is considered one of the most promising young dancers in Central Europe.

Gruber embodies the multi-method approach that defines the Wiener Ballettakademie. She has trained in Vaganova, French, and British methods, and she brings elements of all three to her dancing. Her versatility is her strength — she can perform a classical variation with Paris Opera precision and then transition to a contemporary work with Stuttgart Ballet fluidity. This versatility is increasingly valued by companies that perform a wide range of repertoire.

What These Dancers Tell Us About the Future of Ballet

Looking at these ten dancers, several themes emerge. First, the globalization of ballet training is producing dancers of extraordinary versatility. Dancers who have been exposed to multiple methods, multiple traditions, and multiple aesthetic approaches are more adaptable, more employable, and ultimately more artistic than dancers trained in a single tradition.

Second, the technical level of the current generation is unprecedented. Dancers are doing things today that would have been considered impossible a generation ago. The extension is higher, the turns are faster, the jumps are bigger. But technique without artistry is empty, and the dancers on this list are artists first.

Third, the ballet world is becoming more diverse. These ten dancers come from eight different countries, and they represent a range of backgrounds and experiences. This diversity is enriching the art form, bringing new perspectives, new aesthetics, and new stories to the stage.

Finally, these dancers are not just performing — they are thinking. They are engaged with the history and theory of their art. They are advocates for change. They are choreographers as well as performers. They are redefining what it means to be a ballet dancer in the 21st century, and the art form is richer for it.