New full-length Akram Khan postponed at The Royal Ballet

Akram Khan's new full length work titled Carnage and the Divine has been postponed and replaced by two of his other works at The Royal Ballet in London, the United Kingdom.

Responding to my enquiry at the end of December 2025, The Royal Ballet's press officer sent me a press release issued in October 2025.

The press release said;

"The Royal Ballet today announces updates on forthcoming Akram Khan projects with the addition of two exciting works for the 25/26 Season.

"Carnage and the Divine, scheduled to receive its premiere next year in Holland followed by performances at the Royal Opera House in the summer of 2026, has regrettably been postponed due to scheduling and logistical issues."

The two works replacing Carnage and the Divine are Mud of Sorrow and an yet-to-be titled new duet.

Mud of Sorrow, also a duet which Khan created in collaboration with Sylvie Guillem as a part of Sacred Monsters, were already performed by Principal Natalia Osipova and Guest Dancer Patricio Revé in the Osipova/Linbury programme in November 2025.

The other work will be performed by Principal Francesca Hayward and Boston Ballet Principal Jeffrey Cirio in the Spring Gala programme on 14th May 2026.

Initially, it was announced in April 2025 that Carnage and the Divine, which drew inspirations from Alexander Pushkin's Eugene Onegin, would be performed at The Royal Opera House in July 2026. The Royal Ballet press officer did not specify until when it has been postponed.

Khan has been working on Carnage and Divine, also a duet, with the Dutch National Ballet Principal Olga Smirnova with a plan to premiere it in the Netherlands in 2026. I could not find any event of Carnage and the Divine in the Netherlands at the point of writing this article.

Note: I apologise for reporting this rather late. I have asked her to add me to the company's press release distribution list.