As The National Ballet of Canada (NBOC) prepares to enter its landmark 75th anniversary in the 2026/27 season, the company has once again partnered with multidisciplinary studio Bruce Mau Design (BMD) to shape a visual identity that honours the past while boldly stepping into the future.
Reframing 75
Building on BMD’s 2024 reimagining of the NBOC brand, the studio has developed an anniversary design system that moves beyond the traditional commemorative emblem. Treating “75” not as a static badge but as an active narrative element woven seamlessly into the company’s visual language.
Rather than separating the milestone from the brand, the studio integrated the anniversary directly into the organisation’s existing Storyteller Brand framework. The approach ensures that the 75th season feels embedded within the organisation’s ongoing evolution. The result is a flexible design system that can stretch across diverse programming, promotional materials, and artistic expression throughout the full anniversary year.
BMD Partner and CCO Laura Stein shared, “For us, the question wasn’t how to commemorate 75 years, but how to design the next chapter. The National Ballet of Canada has such a powerful legacy, and we wanted the anniversary to live as part of its ongoing story, not as a moment frozen in time, but as a bridge to the present and future.”
A Legacy in Motion
This sense of continuity and transformation also echoes through the artistic direction. Artistic Director Hope Muir has unveiled an exhilarating 2026/27 programme designed not only to celebrate the company’s 75-year history, but to amplify the bold, imaginative spirit that has defined NBOC since its founding.
“Celia Franca founded this company with a vision that was nothing short of audacious,” Muir reflects. “To build a world-class ballet company in Canada in 1951 took extraordinary courage, conviction, and imagination. That spirit of bold ambition still lives at the heart of The National Ballet of Canada today.”
Now entering her fifth season as Artistic Director, Muir sees the anniversary as both a tribute and an inflection point. “With this season, we endeavour to pay tribute to a legacy of storytelling, innovation and transformation, reflecting on our history and the artistic values that have shaped this company, while at the same time looking boldly forward.”
A Story Still Unfolding
The 75th anniversary season promises a rich and inspiring selection of works that range from beloved classics to innovative contemporary creations. The new collection offers audiences a chance to revisit the organisation’s storied heritage while engaging with fresh, bold, and forward-thinking artistry.
Milestones can often feel static, but the NBOC is avoiding the trap of nostalgia. Through the combined vision of BMD and Muir, the 75th anniversary season has become a living narrative. This anniversary is less a look back and more a continuation of an ongoing story, a tribute to the foundations of the past that simultaneously sets the stage for a vibrant, future-ready era of dance.
Subscriptions are now on sale, inviting longtime supporters and new audiences alike to participate in this milestone moment. Step inside the narrative: Explore The National Ballet of Canada here.
